Don’t Miss Out
This spring, as the weather became warmer in Nashville, the kids started asking daily when we would go to the pool.
Being five months postpartum, I have not been super excited about the prospect of swimming. The whole nine months to put it on, nine months to get it off seems to ring especially true with baby #3.
At first it was easy to say the pool wasn’t open and move on, but I knew that would only be true for a few more weeks. Eventually it would be open and then what would my excuse be?
Mommy doesn’t fit in her swimsuit? Mommy doesn’t want to go swimsuit shopping?
And let’s not go into the fact that last year, millions of moms read a post from me encouraging them to put on that swimsuit.
Ahem.
I tried getting out of the shopping, telling my husband that I would go a different time, but he encouraged me to go. While I drove to the mall, I wondered what size I would be, if I would be able to find something to fit my monstrous chest, and how many suits I would try on. As I entered the swimsuit section, I noticed everyone looked miserable.
Misery loves company, right?
I selected about two dozen suits in a variety of sizes and headed to the dressing room. After many, many awful fits, I found two that were good enough. As I left the store, I felt such relief that I had found something and joy as I thought about getting in the pool.
Because you see, while swimsuit shopping when I am at my heaviest ever did not appeal to me, the thought of missing out was worse.
Missing out on the shrieks of joy when they jumped in the pool.
Missing out on the tiny, wet arms wrapped tightly around my neck.
Missing out on the beach ball tossing.
Missing out on the pool with my kids.
The following weekend after I found my new suits, Elias, Adeline and I went swimming.
It was the best.
The kids were elated to get in the pool, despite the water still being a bit cool. They didn’t care about that the swimsuit was the largest I had ever worn. They didn’t care that my stomach wasn’t flat.
They just wanted to be with Mommy, at the pool.
Another summer is here and maybe you need this reminder:
Your kids want to be WITH you IN the water – at the pool, at the lake, at the beach.
If you don’t believe me, just look at these photos from when we recently were at the pool. All the mattered to my kids were those minutes together.
“Mommy, spin me.”
“Mommy, catch me.”
“Mommy, swim with me.”
“Mommy, watch me.”
“Mommy, I love you.”
If this summer you are feeling insecure, I want to encourage you to make the choice to buy that swimsuit, even though swimsuit shopping sucks. After finding my winning suits this year, I returned the duds to the racks. There I noticed a woman who looked particularly down. I said, “swimsuit shopping is never easy is it?” “No, it’s not. Especially when you have wide hips like me.”
I replied, “I think you are beautiful. Maybe try one of these suits. I had one in this style last year and loved it.” She smiled and selected two. I don’t know her story or why she was buying those suits, but I do know that she made the choice to buy them. And that was awesome.
Make the choice to be present, have fun and not miss out.
You will never regret it. In fact, it will likely be the best choice you make all summer.
If this post encouraged you and you think other mamas might need to be reminded to not miss out, please share it on Facebook. We are in this journey together!
Nailed it!
Sharing on my author page, and I hope many other people will do the same. By the way, you look AMAZING.
I clearly remember your wonderful post about this from last year. Shared on Facebook and I will be going swimming with my kids this summer!
This post that tells the story of love and joy. This story is about what really matters!
Thank you for sharing your wisdom and joy.
Went through the same thing myself this year, just a few weeks ago when our new neighborhood pool opened. My daughters were begging to go to the pool all week so one Sunday afternoon, after church, myself and my youngest daughter headed to the mall for Mommy to try on swimsuits. I was surprised I found two I really liked (after many, many awful ones as well!) We went to the pool that afternoon – and many, many times since – and had a blast!! I go to the pool and enjoy the time with my kids and the time just being outside and don’t even think about how I may look to others in my swimsuit. Time is too precious to be bothered by what others may think!!
Such a wonderful post. I would love to know the brand of swimsuit you are wearing. I, too, have a monstrous chest, and I need the kind of support you are getting in your swimsuit. My grandchildren are always grabbing the suit to “hold on”…..while I am hoping to “hold that chest in!”
Enjoy your blog so much. Thank you!
It’s St. John’s Bay from JCPenney
I read your post, and the photos really spoke to me. I, too, dreaded the trip to look for The Bathing Suit. But after I read your post, I decided to look at the bright side of things. Amazingly, I found not only a Beautiful, Colorful, Comfortable Suit, but a matching Cover Up, a bright Scarf to tie on my Sun Hat, Flip Flops, and Sarong Wrap Skirt (all matching the suit perfectly). My final receipt showed 50% off, so I bought all of these items for the price I had planned to pay for the bathing suit. Now I can’t wait to take the kids to the Pool! Thank you for helping me see the cup as half full!!!
I’m the heaviest I have been in awhile but I suck it up (and in) and got a few suits in the spring – the ones that lift up the girls and hide the thighs (sort of) and first day of the season I was in the freezing pool. My kids don’t care & neither do my friends. We have a pool in our neighborhood and spend all summer at it so its dive in or miss out as you said. And to be honest going down the slide or jumping off the diving board (while praying your suit stays on) is the best part ! Swan Dive!!
Jessica- I love your posts. I have the Kiwi Krate being delivered to my grandchildren because of you and countless other things are happening because of you.
Off the topic, I have been frantically searching for a new pair of sunglasses with no success. We leave to go out of the country in 2 weeks. I happen to see Angie Smith in the sunglasses I have been looking for. I know you two are friends would you be kind enough to ask her what brand and where she got them from please.
Thank you and God bless you !
I so needed this– Thank you!! I’m having 5 eye surgeries this summer and have to “take it easy” and not be active. But I can go to the pool with my daughter. Thanks for reminding me not to stress about the lack of exercise (combined with suit wearing) and to enjoy the moment with family– and focus on what I CAN do.
What fabulous photos of you with your kids. You are sooooo beautiful!!!
I HATE swimsuit shopping, so I literally don’t do it.
I only order swimsuits from Lands’ End online so I never have to try them on. They fit well and last forever. In fact I still wear this pink one that I’m wearing in this photo from 2011
http://www.5minutesformom.com/38983/swimsuit-confidence-lands-end/
I’m sadly 15 lbs heavier now than I was in that photo, but the swimsuit still fits fine. (I just don’t look as thin in it.)
The best part of this post is the absolute joy I see on your face and your children as you enjoy those shrieks and laughter from your children. Beautiful words and a beautiful you!
Two summers ago when I was three months postpartum with baby number 7 we went on vacation. Living on a cattle ranch, swimming isn’t something we get the opportunity to do often, but while on vacation there were a number of opportunities. I almost didn’t put my swimsuit in the suitcase because, well, honestly I was thinking thoughts like “There ain’t nobody wants to see that!” I put it in anyway. I can’t begin to describe how much fun two of my younger children and I had in the few minutes we squeezed time in for swimming one morning. Two years later we all still remember our time swimming and want to do it again. Just as you shared in your writing, my children honestly didn’t care that their mother is obese. They were simply ecstatic that I was playing with them in the pool. Thank you for this wise reminder. I needed it this morning.