Why is Acceptance Hard?

I read and hear time and time again about women who have not only accepted their after-pregnancy body, but have come to love it. What is not mentioned is how they felt about their bodies before their pregnancy. I feel like I was just as amazed as what my body could do to create a life as the next person, but, to be in love with my body? Hmm.

As a woman, I’ve never accepted my body. Well, maybe that’s an exaggeration. I’ve accepted it, but reluctantly. I’ve never been one to diet like crazy. I’ve never had an eating disorder. I’ve never been crazy about exercise. I’ve also never been fat, maybe even slightly below the average woman (no statistic to back that up). I have never been celebrity or model skinny. Size 5/6.

Because I nursed and went back to eating what I used to (no snacking, hardly any dessert) and relatively no exercise, I lost the 55 pounds I gained pretty quickly. Much quicker than I thought so I was pleasantly surprised. Okay, maybe the last 5 pounds were a bit difficult, but you get the point. To say I was happy with my after-pregnancy body would be a bit of an overstatement. But I again, reluctantly accepted it. That could also be because I knew that in a few months, Baby #2 would be on their way.

Oh how I wish I could feel true acceptance. I wish I could be happy with my body. How do they do it? How do they not mind the stretch marks, the sagging breasts, the dark circles under their eyes, the body that will never quite be what it was?