Swimsuit Season: Momma Edition

Written pre-covid for an editorial. Yet to be published. I'll +link once it's up!

Summer is on the horizon and that means family trips to the beach and to the pool, yay!

If those thoughts strike up fear and anxiety instead of excitement and joy, you’re not alone. For many of us, summer means swimsuit season and swimsuit season can be insecurity inducing. Girl, bye. Enough is enough! Ditch the plans to watch your family enjoy a day at the pool from the sidelines and head to the beach ready to make this a summer to remember, loud and proud- in your swimsuit!

Here are just a few reasons why you shouldn’t let concerns over your post-baby bod ruin your summer.

1. Summer is short! The season comes and goes and before we know it, it will be time to pack away your tanks and replace them with flannels. Get out and enjoy the sun with your family while you can!

2. Life is short! As hard as it can be to consider, we never know where we will be next summer. So using the excuse of ‘sitting this one out until you can work hard on getting in shape next year’ may mean you’ll miss out on your last chance to have fun with your kids at the beach this year. Worth it? I think not.

3. Memories last a lifetime. Toys break, electronic devices die...but memories truly do last forever. Don’t let your insecurities get in the way of your chance to create lifelong memories with your kids. They are only this little once!

If you’re still struggling with the thought of not giving any Fs about how you’ll feel in a swimsuit, you can always:

1. Go to a family beach. There are several beaches in Chicago that are designated as family friendly. You’ll be surrounded by other mom’s too busy having fun with their kids to judge you or anyone else!

2. Find the perfect suit. A quick Google search produces several cute (& inexpensive) options for swimsuits and cover-ups that are actually sexy! We no longer have to sacrifice style for functionality! (Insert praise hands emoji)

3. Remember that you aren’t alone. It’s totally normal and okay to have hesitations, fears, and insecurities about wearing a swimsuit. And chances are, whenever you do go out with your family, you’ll run into another mom with similar concerns. Remember that it’s important to lift each other up with compliments and smiles! Small gestures can really go a long way in boosting each others confidence.

So rock that swimsuit with pride! Don that bikini with a smile on your face! Show off your assets in that one piece! Find confidence in the fact that you are sexy, you are strong, and you are a mom! Before you cringe at yourself in the mirror again, think about all of the amazing things your body has accomplished. You literally grew a baby human, birthed that baby human, and produced milk to nourish that baby human. Many of us managed to do these things while raising other humans, maintaining our homes, and working. You owe yourself a round of applause and a dose of gratitude! You are a walking superhero, momma!