“I Will Force Myself to Feel Sexy”: Struggling Mom Posts Raw Photos, Begs Women to ‘Normalize the Mom Bod’

These pictures are some of the hardest I have ever posted.

So why post them? I hope I can help other women the way a few women have helped me.

Back story? Of course!

For as far back as I can remember I have cared too much about how others perceive me. Surprise right? (I know most people have experienced this) I mean inside I still get embarrassed about things I did in elementary school. But I have never wanted people to see that. I want to appear confident, strong, out going and good-looking. That’s a normal thing too, I know that. But when I was 18 I got in a terrible car accident that left me broken in so many ways. I now struggle with PTSD every single day.

I have found ways to manage this, I work with it to make me stronger. For the sake of my life I had to surrender. (Dramatic much? Yes and no) over many years I put aside how others might perceive my mental health and I embrace it! It has been so freeing! (If you struggle with anxiety, depression, bipolar, PTSD , etc. please feel free to share your story with me) Embracing it does not mean I just admit that I have it, I work constantly to better myself and to become mentally healthy.

Now I may feel like I have a grip on my mental health but I placed all those insecurities on my body. I wanted people to see me as cute, pretty, beautiful and sexy. And if I couldn’t pull off a look, I wouldn’t post the picture, I wouldn’t even go out in public. Right before I got pregnant with James was the first time I felt confident in my body, I looked good! I ate healthy and worked out all the time. I was skinny and wanted people to see.

Then I became a mommy. As amazing as being a mom has been (truly the best thing that has ever happened to me) it takes a huge toll on your body. Once again that’s not a surprise to anyone. But even though it’s expected it is not what you see when you sit on your couch weighing your heaviest, breastfeeding your baby in the middle of the night with dirty hair dirty clothes old makeup on your face and let’s be real honest, a runny nose from crying because… Well everything.

But every once in a while some brave woman posts her post baby body. Like the real thing. Not sucking in, not blurring the stretch marks no filters. They are learning to be proud and because of them I have felt better. So I post these in hopes that you, whoever you are, see this and are reminded you are just like every mom out there and you have every right to be proud of your body, not just proud, feel sexy! Put on some music that makes you feel like a sexy beast and dance!

I so badly wanted to post these and include a pre-baby picture when I could where a bikini on the beach and feel hot.

But that wouldn’t help me on my journey to feeling like a hot mama.

So here they are, one is after James, one is at the pool after Theo and the last one is after I have lost a few pounds.

This is my journey. I will try everyday to be healthier than I was the day before and the whole time I will force myself to feel sexy.

Because I am.