BeachBody
April 7, 2010 | Category: I'm a Momma, I'm a Traveler
I’ve been vacationing on the exact same piece of Florida sand for the past 20 years. For all you mathematicians, that means I was 11 when I started going.
I remember those first few years, in the height of being an awkward pre-teen, the “must have” beach attire was the one-piece racing Speedo. In high school I wore the stereotypical under-wire bikini. College came around, and I’m pretty sure the bikini stuck around for a few more years (but probably upgraded itself to a string bikini, ohh la la). Upon graduating from college, it didn’t take me long to get married and pregnant. I’ve spent 2 spring breaks in a maternity tankini with a sizable belly bump. And now, 4 month postpartum, I unsuccessfully tried to rock the modest and appropriate momsuit.
I don’t know what it was about this year, but I felt old. Really, REALLY old. I found myself identifying with the older folks instead of the younger kids. I found myself watching (in a non-creapy way of course) these teenage girls on their high school spring break trip. I tried to jog my memory back 15 years to when I was one of those girls. When the only thing on my to-do list was playing beach volleyball and drinking 7/11 slurpies.
It’s cliche but true – but I wish I would have known then what I know now. I wish somebody would have shook me, looked me in the eye, and told me that I will never look as good as I do at that very moment. Told me that my stomach will never be as tight, and my b00bs will never be as perky. Told me to stand up straight and find some freakin’ confidence.
Honestly, I don’t wish for those days back. I’m happy and content with my place in life. I admit that things on my body wiggle and jiggle a bit more than they used to. I’m ok with this (kinda). My body has created and housed 3 perfect little babies, and I have the war wounds to prove it. A photos of me on the beach with a bathing suit on? This is about all you’re gonna get:
Someday, hopefully, I’ll live to be old and gray. The definition of wiggle and jiggle will take on a whole another meaning. I pray I will still be coming down to this Florida beach, sitting under the pier with my gigantic visor on, sipping my senior citizen McDonald’s coffee even though it’s 85 degrees out.
I’ll wish I was again 30 years old, running after these little kids, tracking them down to put more sunscreen on their little bodies before hitting the pool.
I’ll again wish I knew then what I know now…
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17 Responses to “BeachBody”
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Hi, I’m Emily.
April 7th, 2010 @ 2:25 am
I totally hear ya. I so wish I had even a fraction of the wisdom then as I have now… and you're right. Next time we blink, our kids will be grown and we'll be missing this stage.
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April 7th, 2010 @ 3:10 am
First things first, that photo of you and your little guy is super sweet.
Secondly, I love that you took the time to reflect on the past + the future…in order to challenge us to be more grateful in the present. Thank you.
stephanie@metropolitanmama.net
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April 7th, 2010 @ 10:51 am
Isn't that always the truth – we don't know what we've got till it's gone?
Also, that pic of you and your lil guy… SO ADORABLE.
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April 7th, 2010 @ 12:41 pm
Agreed…sometimes I think they should put before and after pictures of my stomach up at high schools to prevent teen pregnancy.
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April 7th, 2010 @ 6:26 pm
great post! I totally agree! And you would still look smokin hot in a swim suit today….you look so good!!!!! love you, friend!
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April 7th, 2010 @ 7:22 pm
Man, if only I knew then, what I know now! Life then would have been completely different!
And why can't we ever pass on this great wisdom to the younger generation? I guess you just don't believe it until you live it yourself!
You and Gage make for an adorable beach picture!
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April 7th, 2010 @ 8:07 pm
Isn't that the truth. Way back before kids I wore a bikini when at the beach but always felt fat. I look back at those pictures now and think "WHAT THE HECK WAS I THINKING?"
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April 7th, 2010 @ 8:13 pm
I was JUST THINKING the same thing the other day about my wedding pictures. I remember being so critical of how I looked when they came back (My face looks fat! I look so bloated! ew, look at my arms!), and now I look at them and think geez, I look so pretty and young!
I had a TON of body images (obvi) throughout high school, college and beyond. I went through treatment in college and assumed I was worlds better (bcause I was, actually), but it wasn't until I had my first baby that I let go of my hangups and really could marvel over what I'd accomplished. I wanted to lose the baby weight, but I knew I would in time (and I did, it took a year to drop 20 pounds, but I was patient!). It just seemed less important somehow to spend so much time worrying whether I looked fat in these jeans when I was devouring an adorable little baby girl full of rolls and dimples that I MADE. My body can fill out my jeans however it wants these days, because DUDE. It made HER? And Him? And That other Him? And this one in here currently?
AM. IN. AWE.
Anyway, this is a lot of words to say that I totally identify with this post. I love this post. Thank you. And Gage? IS DELICIOUS.
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April 7th, 2010 @ 8:15 pm
what a sweet post and great perspective. i weigh more than ever, enough so that when I tell people that Amos is built like me, I have to explain that I was a toothpick growing up, actually until I had him. I had hoped to lose my baby belly by summer, but so far, it's slow going. But for some reason, I'm not freaking out about it…just trying to enjoy these days, like you said!
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April 7th, 2010 @ 8:18 pm
I love this post.
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April 7th, 2010 @ 9:13 pm
I love these thoughts.
I love this season of life and know I will one day miss it so much!
Love the picture of you & your little guy!
LOTS OF LOVE TODAY!
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April 7th, 2010 @ 9:49 pm
good post! I wish i had my high school body back. or college… this sitting on my A$$ job is doing wonders for my butt…
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April 8th, 2010 @ 5:54 pm
Youth is beautiful, but so is wisdom.
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April 9th, 2010 @ 12:23 am
AMEN.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this.
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April 18th, 2010 @ 5:33 am
I look through pictures of myself from when I was a teenager and in my 20's and remember hating how I looked in them. Covering them up, thinking I wasn't pretty enough, etc, etc. But NOW I look at them and I think I was CRAZY for thinking I didn't look good. I looked great!! And now when I think I don't look good I tell myself not to worry. That in 10 and 20 years from now I'll look back and think I looked fabulous.
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April 20th, 2010 @ 4:04 am
Oh, man, if I'd known then what I know now. I hear you on that front.
I love my mama body for what it's done, but I really wish I'd appreciated my 16-year-old body while it lasted.
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