Strong Women

My goal in life is to raise healthy, happy children. I want all of them to flourish and thrive, to enjoy the journey of life, and to be where they want to be.

Of course, life isn't all sunshine and daisies, but I think most mothers want this for their children.

One particular aspect that scares the hell out of me is raising a strong daughter. I want her to be strong, confident, happy, and never let anyone treat her like shit. This resonates with me daily as I remember the struggles I have been through.

Would I consider myself a strong woman? No. But I am stronger than I was. I work on it daily to let go of fears and thoughts that were ingrained in me by someone I thought cared for me, to be happy with myself, to know without a doubt that I am worth it.

I lived life drowning in anxiety, fear, self consciousness, and depression, because I allowed myself to be controlled by someone else and their opinion of what I was worth. I am more than my body, my weight, my looks.

The last several years, I have been working on myself. I want my children to remember me as someone who knew her value and didn't accept less. I want them to remember me as a strong mother, a strong wife, a strong person.

Specifically, my daughter. As growing up gets more difficult with each generation, in this day of facebook, social media, body shaming, and cyber bullying, I want to instill in her the knowledge of her own self worth.

Today, I know I am beautiful, I am talented, I am worth more than my weight in gold. I will not be ashamed or lessen my worth out of someone else's opinion of me, and I am allowed to be proud of who I am.

And I know I am lucky to have someone by my side who knows it too.