What's one thing your child has taught you about relationships or body image?

• That both genders can be equal as teammates and gender is way down on the list of 'identifiers.' My son played hockey from the start with boys and girls and by the time HS came around, they could share the locker room and be 'just teammates'

• My daughter is VERY clear about when she doesn't want to do something and VERY clear about when something is not her job. This has been liberating to me as I tend to be someone with an overdeveloped sense of responsibility.

• I have learned that it's ok to be open when talking about your body and that those you love and trust won't judge you. I may never obtain the comfort level my kid has in discussing their body and relationships but I now feel more normal.

• My body feels like a worn rag doll at times, a landscape of scars, bruises, and deep stretch marks. And yet nothing is more grounding than my child telling me it feels soft and safe; nuzzle and all.

• That there are gentler eye to look at my body through. 

• My kids have taught me that the extra few pounds (and occasional self loathing that accompanies saggy tits and muffin tops) I've carried around for the last 10 years are completely irrelevant to the young humans that smoother me with love and who tell me I look beautiful when they notice I've put on mascara or lipstick.

• My child has taught me that uniqueness of ones own Self is something to be celebrated. His utter acceptance of his "differences" was eye opening. I needed to see his relation to his individual aspects, to gain a wide enough perspective to relate it to myself. I'd been blind to it my entire life. He helps me accept my own supposed "flaws" as aspects to be appreciated.

• It's not that serious.... dating and having experiences and adventures without assigning so much pressure or meaning to them. 

• Love is physical and tactile. All bodies are worthy of physical affection.

• Just the active becoming a mother has healed my body image problems beyond anything I ever imagined was possible. What an incredible nurturing, delicious squishy, strong resilient machine I have got going on here! I love when they pinch my rolls and squish them around in delight in this softness They have taught me that kids could care less how I look in a bikini. Kids care about arms being there for them to hug or him being there for them to hold or strong moms that can pick them up and hold them when they don't feel like walking.

• My children have taught me that I am worthy of being treated with respect.

• If you repeatedly practice stretching for the splits - it's absolutely attainable. 

• When she was growing up I stopped commenting about women's appearances like I used to. I used language that was non body shaming and never told her what she could or could not wear. What it made me realize is that my mom shamed me my entire childhood about getting chubby or fat. And I brought that into my adult life. My daughter has not.