
Kim Kardashian infamously tried to break the internet by posing for nude pictures of her derrière only to be upstaged by Justin Beiber's new underwear campaign and debate over whether the Boy Wonder's lower section was photoshopped. Kardashian did as much for women (and moms) in her post as Heidi Fleiss did for breaking the glass ceiling and upward mobility of women. SO IS OUR CULTURE TODAY. We've heard the battle cry "you're body is not ruined, you're a tiger who earned her stripes." But, reading that on an Instagram feed and slipping into a two-piece on the beach or at a local pool--save a Vegas pool no less, provides little refuge. Enter Rachel Hollis of the  
The Chic Site. (Thank you!) Who--over the weekend---posted a vacation picture of herself seemingly without a care in the world and embracing her body--post three babies.
I have stretch marks and I wear a bikini. I have a belly that's permanently flabby from carrying three giant babies and I wear a bikini. My belly button is saggy... (which is something I didn't even know was possible before!!) and I wear a bikini. I wear a bikini because I'm proud of this body and every mark on it. Those marks prove that I was blessed enough to carry my babies and that flabby tummy means I worked hard to lose what weight I could. I wear a bikini because the only man who's opinion matters knows what I went through to look this way. That same man says he's never seen anything sexier than my body, marks and all. They aren't scars ladies, they're stripes and you've earned them.
She concludes her seemingly innocuous beach-trip post sans kiddos with the battle cry: "Flaunt that body with pride!" And, now it has gone viral. But, not viral in the "oh a celebrity's phone got hacked" or some random Wednesday afternoon video compilation of kittens in costumes set to a Taylor Swift song. It has generated over 10,000 comments--mostly from women expressing gratitude for giving them self confidence, permission to feel comfortable about having fun without being self-conscious, and inspiring them to post pictures of their own post-baby bodies. Why does this matter? No question, being a mom is tough job. And then there's the toll it takes on your body--physically and emotionally. No doubt, your world will never be the same. But, never feeling comfortable to have fun in the sun again? Because you don't look like...what? The double whammy is the fact that after contorting your body to carry a human life, if you are able to find time to lose the baby weight, you now have to deal with the other issues (e.g., flabby skin from actually losing the weight, saggy belly button, and boobs that aren't exactly where they used to be). Wow. Bring on motherhood, right? Absolutely. Even in the depths of crazy mornings, fighting kiddos, the revolt against owning a minivan (regardless of how practical they actually are), and coming to terms with the realization that you'll be wearing maternity clothes post baby and a lot longer then you ever thought you would--there is nothing more fulfilling in life. Nothing. More power to you Rachel Hollis for making time for yourself to run a marathon (that "ME TIME" is invaluable)--it is always hard for us moms to take that time. More power to you for being an inspiration to your kids and family. Thank you also for empowering women and our daughters. And inspiring us all. :)