“She Really Let Herself Go” (and she did)

This is written to all the mamas out there. Your doing a great job!

A little story about letting yourself go

Molly was sitting in the nursery rocking her baby to sleep. He had colic and needed to be put back to sleep often. As she sat there staring at her beautiful baby she remembered a conversation she had overheard that night at a friends.

“Wow did you see Molly?” Rachel a person she knew from work asked.

“Yeah she really let herself go” Hanna another co-worker responded.

This was the first time Molly had gone out since Theo was born five months ago. She smiled down at Theo’s still open eyes, she placed her head next to his and whispered in his ears.

“They say I let myself go, and I have!” She lifted her head up and smiled even bigger.

She thought about how her life had changed.

“I let go of going out to fancy dinners on Friday nights with my friends, you need to nurse and I don’t want you to have to take a bottle”

“I let go of getting my nails and eyelashes done. If I’m going to stay at home with you we only have one income so I have to cut some things out.” She continued to ponder.

“I used to insist on 9 hours of sleep a night, now I’m lucky if I get 5 hours broken up into chunks.”

“I used to go to the gym now I just workout at home”

She thought a little longer about all the parts of her she had let go of. These are of course things that never defined her, never made her who she was. However, before kids it felt like it was a part of her, without lashes, or manicured fingers, without a perfectly toned physique who was she? But of course she new, she was Molly. Most importantly she was Theo’s Mom!

“They say I let myself go, and I did! I’m so glad that they noticed!” Molly said with a big smile. Just as Theo closed his eyes.

Letting yourself go

Its so often said after a woman has a baby that she has let herself go. Why is this such a bad thing? Motherhood refines us, it prunes us. Once we have children we might not have as much time for friendship’s and we will end up only keeping the people in our lives who mean the most to us. In the process we might cut out unhealthy relationships.

We might give up dinners out, or mani/pedi days. Although this is not a requirement its also not a bad thing. Sometimes we can cut things out and it gives us more room to focus on what truly matters. Sacrificing for the ones we love should never be viewed as a negative thing. It is in fact the only way to have and maintain healthy relationships, you must be willing to sacrifice when necessary.

Of course we know when people say “she let herself go” its often in reference to weight, lets not forget women that pregnancy changes your body!! Its meant to, its normal, its healthy!! The total lack of control I felt over my body in pregnancy, as I watched my belly grow out of control. I gained what’s considered a “healthy” 25lbs and yet I felt huge!!!! I looked huge!!! I was never given that special trampoline so I could “bounce back”.

What I was given is the knowledge that God used my body to do an amazing work! That what he accomplished in my stretch marks, loose skin, and extra weight was a Glory to Him, and a reward to me! I continue to exercise and eat right, not to get my “old body back” but to model a healthy life for my children.

Let’s take back the term “She let herself go” let’s turn this into a positive compliment. When we hear someone say that we can smile and say “I really have, and I appreciate you noticing!”