As a mom who works from home, I rarely get a chance to step outside. When I do, it feels like a special occasion that calls for a little effort. By “effort,” I mean swapping out my loungewear for a pair of denim shorts, running a brush through my hair, slapping on some mascara, and calling it a day.
A few weeks ago, I finally managed to escape my home and treat myself to a long-overdue nail appointment. Walking into the salon, I felt a surge of confidence. As I chatted with the manicurist, everything felt right until I stood up to leave. She suddenly exclaimed, “You’re so brave for wearing shorts! I just can’t with my mom bod anymore.”
Excuse me, what?
I’m a curvy woman, and like many, I have my share of cellulite. My thighs touch, and I don’t exactly fit the mold of the “ideal” body type. But with the summer heat soaring, comfort takes precedence, and that means wearing shorts—no matter what anyone thinks about their supposed weight limits.
It was clear her comment struck a nerve, as she quickly tried to backtrack, listing all the reasons she thought I was brave for donning shorts. Yet, in her efforts to make amends, she only made it worse. I let it slide, though. People often speak without thinking, and believe me, I’ve been there. Her words revealed more about her insecurities than they did about me, and I genuinely felt sorry for her.
She was stunning, and while it shouldn’t matter, she was leaner than I am. It saddened me to think that anyone would feel restricted from wearing what they want, especially during the sweltering summer months. Everyone has the right to dress comfortably, and I mean that wholeheartedly. It’s simply too hot outside to hide away.
Despite my initial reaction, I felt empathy for her. I remembered being in her shoes. For years, I grappled with self-acceptance. As a child, I was conscious of my body at just eight years old, covering up during swim days. By twelve, I was purging after meals to avoid being the only girl with curves. At fifteen, I heard “fat” more times than “beautiful,” and by twenty-three, my ex was constantly criticizing my weight.
Now, I’ve reached a point where I should feel vulnerable about my body, but honestly, I’ve run out of cares to give. When I was at my slimmest, I still felt enormous. I should have embraced the shorts, crop tops, and bikinis that I desired, but my distorted self-image convinced me I was “too fat.”
To illustrate how skewed my perception was, I was a size three during that time. The reasons I held back were all the same: “I’m too fat,” “I have rolls when I sit,” “My thighs have stretch marks,” and “My arms jiggle.”
Seriously, who doesn’t have jiggly arms? Looking back, I realize I was practicing self-loathing for merely being human.
Today, I’m larger than I’ve ever been while not pregnant. My stomach is adorned with countless stretch marks from my pregnancies, and I haven’t seen a size three in ages—and that’s totally fine. Now, I wear a size 12, and while I still have tough days regarding body image, I possess more self-love at this size than I ever did at a three.
I’m a curvy woman, and it’s summer, so I refuse to hide myself for anyone else’s comfort. I’ll be rocking shorts every day as long as the weather allows, because everyone deserves to feel comfortable, regardless of their shape or size.
I may be brave in many aspects of life, but wearing shorts isn’t one of them.
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In summary, feeling comfortable in your skin is essential, especially during the hot summer months. Every body type deserves to wear whatever keeps them cool and confident.