On Body Image and Swimsuits

I can hardly believe I’m actually sharing these photos with you guys. Me. Someone who has never felt comfortable in a bathing suit (even in the pre-baby days when things were a little less wobbly)…posting photos of herself in a swimsuit for God an everyone to see.

Here’s why though. I hate that I get so hung up about wearing a swimsuit – body image issues are the worst. So I’ve decided that as a mom to a little girl, I will be rocking a swimsuit without complaint when I am around my daughter, because I don’t want her to end up with my same hang ups. I want her to be confident in the beauty of her strong and capable body.

And honestly, I’ve wasted way too much of my life hiding my swimsuits with stupid cover-ups. I may not look like Gisele, but my kid doesn’t care. All she cares about is the fact that I am right there next to her, playing in the water. So that is right where I’ll be.

And a cute one-piece like the one Shabby Apple sent me definitely helps the situation too.

On Body Image and Swimsuits
On Body Image and Swimsuits

On Body Image and Swimsuits
On Body Image and SwimsuitsMama’s swimsuit: c/o Shabby Apple

Fern’s swimsuit: Old Navy (old)

Fern’s headband: made by a friend

Mama + Fern’s shoes: Saltwater

Embrace your body today my friends. It may not be perfect, but it is yours, so give it some love…regardless of whether or not you have little eyes watching you!

Love and swimsuits,

Lauren

 

Comments

  1. girlfriend you are rocking that suit! I just had this exact convo with a friend today…we will not have our daughters obsess the way we did about our bodies!

  2. I’ve got the same type of swimsuit as you and LOVE it, I always feel gorgeous in it.

  3. you look amazing in that bathing suit! We’re our own worst critic… a sad reality of being a woman. Good for you for wanting to end body image issues for Fern!

  4. you look great!! and oh my, fern could not get any cuter. that swimsuit and headband combo is just too much. and that smile!

    • I don’t think I’ll ever tire of dressing that kid. It’ll be a sad day when she insists on dressing herself!

  5. What a great post! Fern is lucky to have a momma that will instill confidence in her at a young age. Love the suit!

  6. LOVE this for so many reasons. You are beautiful and such a wonderful mama to that sweet girl.

  7. YOU. ARE. GORGEOUS. And, I’m super proud of you. You have NOTHING to be worried about! You have an amaze-OH body!

  8. I love the swim suits! They are both very cute. I am into the vintage fashion, and these are must haves!

  9. You have no reason to feel self conscious in a swimsuit! You look stunning, and have a gorgeous figure – and a gorgeous baby too, of course! xxx

  10. Oh you look great in that bathing suit! I love Shabby Apple. I had a lot of post-baby worry when it came to bathing suits, especially when we were going to Great Wolf Lodge and everyone would see me, but then once we got there, there were so many people of different shapes, it didn’t even matter where mine fit in. I was there, having fun.

  11. pops just FREAKED out “Fer! Fer! Fer!!!!!!!! HI Fer!!!!! pay a wa wa (translated play in the water) 🙂 baby besties forever

  12. I love this so much! I feel the same way, completely. As soon as I have this next baby I’m gonna hunt for a bathing suit… And them wear it!! With confidence! I tell myself, I’ll never be this young again : )

    • So TRUE!! I look back at my college self that I always thought was so “fat” and that was 25 lbs ago! I’m slowly learning to embrace the me that is here now instead of always trying to change everything.

  13. You look great! Thanks for being so brave!

  14. chelsea mclaughlin says:

    Love your thoughts on body image & daughters. Such an important reminder & you look awesome!

  15. You look great!! I’ve been trying to be brave in a swimsuit–I have SO MANY stretch marks on my legs after pregnancy and am so nervous to let anyone see them but they were part of what brought my sweet girl here so I need to be more brave! And I love your swimsuit!

  16. What a cute swim suit! & you look great!

  17. you are rocking it! You look gorgeous. (And Fern is, as usual, a complete doll).

  18. Can I just tell you how awesome I think you are for sharing this? I cannot even begin to tell you how great I think it is that you have this platform and are willing to share the bad as well as the good. (Not that you look bad here- you look absolutely adorable! We live in a day and age where the Internet allows us create perfect fantasy lives. It is a rare but awesome thing when people are honest about their struggles as well as their success. Through sharing struggles, others find encouragement.
    I am also the mother to a beautiful little girl. Our daughters are very close in age so I love reading about the things you guys are dealing with because we are usually in the same boat. I think about this issue often. Throughout most of my life I had an unhealthy relationship with food. It wasn’t until I had my daughter that I realized how important it is to teach my daughter to be strong and healthy and to love her body. I spent most of my life hating mine and I do not want the same thing for her.
    I appreciate you and your honesty in your writing. Keep it up mama! You are doing a great job!

    • Wow! Thank you so much for your sweet encouragement Denise! It always makes my heart happy to know that others are enjoying and benefitting from my little corner of the interweb.

  19. You. Look. GREAT!

  20. I adore you for this post! I made the same decision last month when I decided to wear a swimsuit to the beach and actually remove my coverup. I ended up being so focused on having fun with my girls that I forgot all about the fact that I looked a couple months pregnant 🙂

    You look great!! And Fern melts my heart, even without the pot belly 🙂

    • Yeah! Get it mama! There’s just something so liberating about not caring. I truly hope our daughters do better at this then we have – we’re learning though!

  21. well you look great! the suit is perfect, but more importantly you’re having fun with your daughter 🙂

    also, love the redesign.

    • Thank you Amy! I’m loving it too. Still getting used to WordPress, but it’s getting there…slowly but surely :).

  22. Oh my gosh, you look so adorable in that suit! You are such a classic beauty and this suit totally works for you. I love the idea of a one piece, but have a hard time finding something that works because I’m so, SO small chested.

    • Actually, this suit would probably be great for you. I’m pretty small chested as well (barely a B) and the cups on this were almost too small for me. They have a few different options in their shop as well. Also, I’ve heard good things about Popina in PDX. Never been though!

  23. You rock! I totally agree and all summer have donned my 2-piece even though I’m still really uncomfortable with some of my flab. I don’t want my daughter to have my body issues.

    • I never rocked the two-piece even in my pre-mama days, but I was definitely always covered up with something else. I think that’s so great you’ve decided to rock your suit with confidence!

  24. Even though you posted this a little while ago, I just had to leave a comment.

    I have a 6yo daughter and I can’t tell you how many times she has caught me looking displeased at my reflection in a mirror. I am trying my best to stop being so concerned for her sake (as well as mine).

    I admire you for sharing this post and being an inspirational person!!

    • Noemi – Thank you for sharing that…helps to know I’m not the only one who struggles. I still definitely have my hang ups, but I’m working on it. I hope you’ll get there too friend.

  25. that suit looks fantastic on you! I’m trying to work on my body image now so I can be confident and strong in front of my future kids as well.

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