I thought it was pretty funny when we decided to do a Love Your Body link-up for the SoCal Lady Bloggers website. Loving my body? Ummm… NO. I’ve never loved my body. Ever. I’m too short, too chubby, my hair too thin and straight, my skin isn’t clear enough. My nose isn’t right and my boobs way too saggy. Not much to love, right?

I typically use the excuse that I’ve birthed and nursed three kids so how could I possibly look good? But the funny part is… I look very different when I see myself the way my children see me.

My children think I’m beautiful.

Temera loves my thin, straight hair because she hates her thick, wavy hair.

Amanda loves my flabby arms and tummy because she likes to cuddle up in my arms. She says I’m soft and comfy.

Lauryn loves to sit on my lap and rest her head on my chest. She says she is connected to me and likes the way I smell.

I try really hard to teach my girls that everybody looks different and that’s okay. In the time we live in, that’s not an easy thing to believe. It’s worse when they hear their Mom complaining all the time. Still… it’s hard not to.

So I’m going to try… try and look at the good things.

1. My hair is straight. I don’t have to use a flat iron and blow it out to get the kinks out of it. Rain and humidity are NOT my enemy.

2. I’m short (5’2″) and I’ve never had to worry about being shorter than a guy. Except for one guy I knew many years ago who was only about 5’3″ and was the one time I judged a man by his height.

3. At 45 I don’t really have any wrinkles.

4. Last year I got carded at Trader Joe’s for buying a $2.00 bottle of wine. Winning!

5. My flat feet means it’s almost impossible to wear high heels comfortably. I get to wear flats and be the only one in the room still standing at the end of the night.

6. I can still get away with wearing junior size clothes (the height thing again) which are definitely much cuter than the old lady clothes in the women’s departments.

7. I still have all my own teeth.

8. Never underestimate the power of a push-up bra. With a little help they’re all mine… and they’re fabulous.

9. I’ll never be a model but hey, I get to eat ice cream whenever I want to.

10. My family loves me just the way I am and that’s good enough for me.