This past weekend I was at an amazing party celebrating amazing friends and their forever commitment to one another. Simply minding my own business.

As I was preparing my counterpart’s blog for today about calculating your bust size, I couldn’t help but reflect on something a grown man said to me while I was enjoying my time with awesome friends.

I won’t get into all the details of the how or why, but bottom line, he said I had “itty bitty titties”. Hmm… wow… how do you respond to that? Or recover? It actually took me back to 6th grade when a boy put a note in my locker essentially saying the same exact thing. Today, I’m 33 and certainly not that same 11 year old; however, I can’t help but completely identify with my 11 year old self. 22 years later and the sting feels the same. The humiliation is still there. The insecurities are brought on all over again. The hurt doesn’t go away. I’m still very much embarrassed. And feeling ashamed of my body “might” consume me… if I weren’t a strong person. But, I am… I think.

Sure my body isn’t what it use to be. In some ways it’s better and in others it’s just changed. I joke that my belly button is sad and depressed. My OBGYN can feel my chest wall during a breast exam. I’ve been told that my breasts now resemble an orangutan. And I can now add “itty bitty titties” to my list of insults. Awesome.

Getting back to being strong:

• The breasts that are now “itty bitty” are due to gaining weight quickly during my pregnancy.
• I breastfed for a combined 10 months so literally the life was sucked from my breast tissue.
• Breasts are fat and I am significantly lighter than I was pre-baby: 1. because I am thin by nature and 2. because I am ALWAYS on the move chasing after one human or another.
• I am so incredibly lucky to be married to a strong man who encourages me and dotes on me daily. He loves me for my soul… not my face, body, and clearly not my breasts. And when I bring up breast augmentation, he fully supports my decision, but reminds me of how perfect he thinks I am. It could all be a lie, but hey, I fall for it!
• Being a part of Austin Moms Blog, I’m empowered every single day by women who know what it’s like to carry and nurse a child and that power is better than any perky cup size.
• I’m confident in who I am and what I represent, breasts or no breasts.
• Considering it’s Breast Cancer Awareness month, I’m reminded that having small breasts is MINOR in comparison to what others are facing.

We don’t always know what people are going through and right now, my life is tough for an array of reasons. I’m a strong person, but that doesn’t mean that words can’t break my spirit. I’m sure we can all identify with this, right?

We should celebrate our bodies regardless of the size and encourage one another regardless of how we’ve changed, baby or no baby. Whether it’s a joke or simply teasing someone, poking fun at someone’s body part {or lack there of} is hurtful and in spite of how strong that person may be, those words will haunt them.

I chose today’s image for several reasons. Brooklyn Decker lives in Austin. I don’t know if she wants to be a mom or not, but hey, she’s hot. I chose the tag line from the “All About That Bass” lyrics, because the song is actually the opposite of me; however so many identify with the lyrics.

I may not be all about that bass, but I sure the hell am PERFECT from the BOTTOM to the TOP! 

:: Are you in the 91% or the 9% when it comes to body image happiness? ::