The Swimsuit – A Post About Body Confidence

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Pin Share Flip Save I originally posted this in April of 2008 on my other…

Close up of blue and white striped bikini bottom on the sand with "The Swimsuit A Post About Body Confidence" text overlay.

I originally posted this in April of 2008 on my other blog: Mom On The Run. It came to my mind this week after having 6 of my girlfriends over.  We ALL have daughters turning 8 this year and they’re even more aware of the messages we send them now, then when I originally posted this 5 years ago. As Spring and summer are approaching, I felt it would be worth re-posting because my thoughts remain the same today.

I got an email last week from a friend:

Well, I did it. I bought a bathing suit.  My first one in, oh, 12 years!  Yikes.
Any one else feeling a little shy about wearing bathing suits in public?
I kinda wish I was pregnant so I’d have a valid excuse for having a tummy.  Instead, I shake my fist at Shamrock Shakes and Easter chocolate. 😉

I’ve been really thinking about her email a lot this past week. You see, as a mom to two three daughters I really have to be careful about the messages I send to them.  Being the same-sex as them, I know that they’ll look up to me and learn from me. I want my girls to be confident women and comfortable in who they are, not who society tells them they should be.  Her email made me think about my relationship with my body and my relationship with bathing suits.

Green one piece swim suit with ruffles on top of suit.

You see, I can’t think of a single article of clothing that is more truthful than the bathing suit. It doesn’t hide anything.  It doesn’t lie – all of our flaws are out there for the world to see.

But are they really flaws?  Who says they’re flaws?  Who says we aren’t supposed to have cellulite, spider veins, stretch marks, flabby bellies, love handles, back fat, moles etc…?

Where did we learn that from?

Our first social cues come from our parents, right?

So this is where I come in – if I want my girls to be confident in their bodies, then I have to be too.  I’ve decided that everyone looks good in a bathing suit, myself included.  I will wear my suit along with my cellulite, spider veins and stretch marks proudly.  My girls don’t know what looks good and what supposedly doesn’t.  All they know is that they like swimming, and they like swimming with mommy and daddy.I don’t intend to introduce them to what “looks good” ’cause I truly believe the thing that looks best on everyone is confidence.  

This summer, when I swim with my girls I will strut my stuff proudly and be the role-model I want to be for them.

Summer, here we come!

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Close up of blue and white striped bikini bottom and top, and white sun hat and sun glasses on the sand with "The Swimsuit A Post About Body Confidence" text overlay.

Hello there! I'm Janice and I LOVE salads!! I’m also passionate about cooking EASY, healthy meals. Join me as I share and my family friendly recipes!

Janice Smith, B. Sc. Spec Honours (Kin), ATTH

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11 Comments

  1. Paulin Soleyman says:

    What a great message to send to your girls. You are truly doing them a big favor. I wish we could help more women become aware of these types of messages

    Reply
  2. Runninglovingliving says:

    Great post, we should all be happy in our own skin and show our daughters that it is okay to be proud of our body’s, flaws and all!

    Reply

  3. Awesome awesome post!

    Reply
  4. Jenn Mitchell says:

    Excellent post. I often feel so much more confident about my body now than I did when I was in my teens and early twenties where there was no sign of cellulite, stretch marks, etc. I was so hard on myself! I still kind of hate my cellulite, but I don’t let my daughter know it. I want her to love her body and hopefully shield her from what is “accepted” for as long as possible.

    Reply
  5. Heather Montgomery says:

    you are such a great role model! That green suit looks super cute! Do you have it?

    Reply
    1. Janice - Fitness Cheerleader says:

      No – but I’ve been looking for something similar 🙂

      Reply
  6. Mindy @ Road Runner Girl says:

    What an awesome post! I don’t have girls but I do have two boys and I don’t want them to judge women and their supposedly flawed bodies when they get older.

    Reply
  7. Melissa @ Treats With a Twist says:

    Loved this! I remember swimming growing up and my mom always throwing on her 1-piece and having fun with us. I never thought twice about her body in it and I’m so glad that she gave me that “gift” as a young girl.

    Reply

  8. I missed that costume ever since I have a son. I don’t have time to go in the beach because my baby is too young to travel. Later on if he can manage to walk then we go for a vacation.

    Reply

  9. I just stumbles across this post, and love it – wholeheartedly!!! thanks for the uplifting vibe, and way to teach your girls that this is a free world. Be HAPPY with you YOU are <3 love yourself! and be loved in return..

    Reply

  10. I think it’s important to teach children to be comfortable in their skin & to love their bodies… There are certainly moral standards for clothing, but aside from that, I think acceptance is the most important thing!

    Sarah
    TheWeatheredWord.blogspot.com

    Reply