A gingerbread house, self image and my son.

Even gingerbread houses need supporting beams.
Even gingerbread houses need supporting beams.

Last night I helped my son post a picture on his blog page that he writes for his English class.   He needed to learn how to post a picture of our lackluster gingerbread house.  Martha Stewart and I could never be friends.  The roof to the house kept sliding off and I could not figure out how to make that darn thing stick.  My brother, much like our father and his love for duct tape, decided that the solution was to prop the roof up with pretzel sticks.   VOILA!  Problem solved!

As I was going through the images from my son’s computer to find the pretzel gingerbread house, I came across a picture of me.  I was smiling, hugging my youngest child, not worrying about how I looked, or the fact that my stomach was sticking out or the fact that my shirt and sweatpants were too tight.  You heard me, my sweatpants were too tight!  Not realizing that this was a teachable moment, I gasped in horror at the picture and started to obsess in front of my poor eleven year old.  Sometimes I really suck at motherhood.  I quietly deleted the picture as my son looked at me with a puzzled look on his face.

I then went downstairs to my own computer to view flattering pictures of myself.  I also started searching the internet for articles on middle age and weight loss.  I wish I was kidding but I’m not.  The fact of the matter is, I obsess about my body image and it’s stupid and messed up and tiring.  To add insult to injury I’ve been sick and sedentary for three months and am just now getting back into a routine to get healthy.  So it’s just all kind of a mess at the moment.  My body and mind are a bit jumbled and I’m working hard to get back on track.  What else is new….

As I was obsessing, my son quietly entered the room.  He then proceeded to play Bruno Mars “Just the Way You Are.”  MY SON DID THIS.    Some lucky woman’s future husband did this!  He then told me that everything that makes a mom beautiful was inside of me.  I was perfectly made for him and whenever he looks at me he sees beauty.  Then he wiped a tear from his eye and I hugged him so tight and couldn’t, I just couldn’t let him go.

Computer shut.   Ryan became the pretzel beams and held me up while reminding me what is truly important.  My goal is to live my life in a more balanced manner.   I want to be my very best and help make the world a better place.  My challenge is to turn some of that intent and love in towards myself.  Balance…it’s not only for gymnasts.  I have a lot of work to do.


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7 responses to “A gingerbread house, self image and my son.”

  1. Renée Scholl Hoyt via Facebook Avatar
    Renée Scholl Hoyt via Facebook

    Awesome!

  2. Lena Bolivar via Facebook Avatar
    Lena Bolivar via Facebook

    This is the sweetest thing ever!! Boys are the best. ❤️

  3. Karen Wenner Curran via Facebook Avatar

    Love this and can soooo relate. Well said! I am happy to work on balance with you in yiga

  4. Katrina Avatar
    Katrina

    Reading this with tears running down my face, and for a couple of reasons, one because you are beautiful inside and out, and are to hard on yourself……two, because I do the same thing, one reason why there are not many pictures of me with my kids…..and three, because children are honest and have a pure heart, and what he did for you, no doctor, nutritionist, trainer could do, he showed you how you should see yourself for how beautiful you are, not try to change yourself to be what society makes us believe we should be!!!! Sal posts pics of me all the time on social media, and when I see them I cringe, until he tells me that I am beautiful and all his friends like the pics, I don’t see what he sees, but it touches my heart that he sees me that way. A couple of weeks ago, Joseph and I took funny selfies while waiting in the car, he wanted me to post them, and I hesitated, but when I did, he was so proud and happy….that is what I need to remember!

    In losing my sister recently, I have watched her five children post and comment on pics of them with her over their life span, and it is heartwarming, even the not so flattering ones!!!! It opened my eyes that I need to put my insecurities to the side, and give my boys great memories to have as well.

    Your boys are truly amazing, and a mirror of their parents!!!!!!….and just to add, I LOVE the pretzel idea, gives the house more character.

  5. Sue Morris via Facebook Avatar
    Sue Morris via Facebook

    Love this!! You have balance…. in your mind, body & spirit… it comes in all shapes, sizes and forms! Balance, like yoga, is not a goal, destination or end point. It is a journey. It ebbs and flows like the ocean waves coming ashore…. Embrace it. It’s yours.

  6. Julie Bonner Sugg via Facebook Avatar
    Julie Bonner Sugg via Facebook

    I don’t know what we’d do without our pretzels. Sometimes they do as much or as more for us as we do for them. xo

  7. jdlwhitehead Avatar

    So lovely! That’s a good boy. I’m glad to hear another mother obsess about body image–it’s been struggle for me, too most of my life. I tried to cure it with rollerskating for exercise–you can read all about it at my blog “Rollerskating Over Forty.” http://www.jdlwhitehead.wordpress.com

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Lorraine Lundqvist

A blog highlighting my journey through midlife and beyond. Join me as I enjoy the ups and humorous downs of life over 40.

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