After embracing the ‘Dad Bod’ craze and how it made him feel, Scotty Schrier explores the importance and necessity of a ‘Mom Bod’ craze.
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I have been following the ‘Dad Bod’ craze, and I have to admit, it’s pretty nice for dads. If you’re not familiar with ‘Dad Bod’, mildly chubby, nay shall I say, doughy guys are now in! Let’s celebrate the average! I mean, seriously, because I have like two hours left at the end of the day on any given day. Should I spend that time at the gym? Not. Going. To. Happen.
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So, while I’ve been sitting here watching the ‘Dad Bod’ thing happening, it struck me: where’s the love for ‘Mom Bod’?
Seriously, do you have any idea how many articles are dedicated specifically to getting women back to their pre-baby bodies? I’m just going to take a stab and say like a billion! Why? Do people really find a woman’s body gross after giving birth?
I’ve heard women talking about not wanting kids because it will, “destroy my body.” I’ve heard other women say they do not want to breastfeed because it will “wreck my boobs.”
My wife has had two kids and I love her body. It wasn’t destroyed. There were not bits of viscera dripping from the walls as my alien children clawed their way out of her. She breastfed both of them and her boobs weren’t transformed into something that looks like The Hulk freaked out on a mountain of Play-doh. Nope. In fact, they are just as attractive to me now as they were the day we met – maybe a little more.
When I see my wife’s body, post babies, I do see that her body has changed. To me, those changes are a physical sign of sacrificial love that fill me with awe.
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When I see my wife’s body, post babies, I do see that her body has changed. To me, those changes are a physical sign of sacrificial love that fill me with awe. Stretchmarks? Yep, she’s got ‘em. Do I care? Not one bit. Why? Because she’s rocking the ‘Mom Bod’. Yes, her body may be a bit more saggy than it used to be. Yes, her boobs are different than they used to be. That’s nature, baby! Gravity, children, putting up with a husband’s endless shenanigans – they all conspire to change a woman’s body. My wife’s body is a roadmap of love, dedication, self-sacrifice, and devotion – and I love it.
So, let’s hear some love for the ‘Mom Bod’! Rock those stretchmarks! Tummy a bit saggy? Who cares? Rock it! Got some extra love in your love handles? Awesome!
Hell, even if you hit the gym and worked your way back to where you wanted to be, that’s great too! Why? Because everyone should feel comfortable in their own skin. You’re a mom. You’ve got the bod. Just go out there and feel beautiful in it. Why? Because, double standards are for jerks and assholes. If we celebrate ‘Dad Bod’, then let’s get on board with ‘Mom Bod’!
So what can we do to bring some much needed love to the ‘Mom Bod’ – especially if we are dads who are owning the newly-hip ‘Dad Bod’? #Hashtag. Yes, get on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and use this hashtag: #RockingTheMomBod.
Why? Because, women deserve the right to feel as comfortable with their beautiful ‘Parent Bods’ as men do!
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Photo: Flickr/Michael Coghlan
Originally appeared on Dads Who Change Diapers
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Hey Scotty, I can appreciate you taking a stand for mom bods, but the issue I have is with the whole issue of being proud of having a dad bod. I’m 44 and do my best to keep active and fit. I do it for myself and because I care about what I look like. Sure, we can say that the reason to stay fit is for health reasons, longevity, or to be good role models for our children, and those things are certainly true. But the reason most men get into shape is to look good and feel more… Read more »
There’s two ways to get someone to find you sexually appealing. One is to look beautiful. The other is to be beautiful.
And herein lies the reasoning behind the “dad bod” craze. It was never about accepting men’s bodies, it was about using that to further push acceptance of women’s bodies.
Heres how it is. If you’re fat, you’re just going to have to accept that you might not be as desirable. Moms can be hot, but you also have to work at it a bit. You are not entitled to male desire by nature of your gender.
I love this piece. It’s so weird because I am a 57 yr old single women who always went for a certain slim type man with lots of hair. Now I just love, and think it’s so sexy to meet a man with a few pounds òn and no hair. I look at their arms and the strength they have now. And no hair is rockin!!! Thanks for this great article. Of course my body has changed too. I am built slim but I have to work much harder now to keep in shape.
Dad bod isn’t like mom bod. Dad bod is slightly doughy but still has muscle and masculinity to it. Mom bod is like ‘hullo, I’ve had kids and stopped giving a shit about how I look so now I’m 200 pounds overweight and I never put out’.
Yeah, no. I’m not buying that.
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Media. Nothing more. Nothing less. The psychology shaming women is unbelievable. That they all buy into it is what is even more so. Nobody should get a pass for being obese. I don’t mean pudgy, but obese. Men women kids whatever. Nore should the ripped be glorified as sex objects because they chose to spend all their time in a gym. That’s equslly unhealthy and plain weird. I go for normal every single time.
Hi Scotty, I am burdened or blessed with a 41 year old body and even though I have trained for half marathons this last eighteen months, and I submit to the discipline of yoga four mornings a week, I can tell you, it’s like turning around a giant freight ship trying to slim this body of mine down. But I’m making progress and I get the old guy jokes from all the other lithe yogis and whippet thin endurance runners. So what? Loving our bodies not as a source of strength and aggression but as nimble, lithe vehicles for life… Read more »
Scotty, Love this piece. Rocked it. Keep writing. It’s time to celebrate the Real Bods out there…
I bet it’s in all those commercials for “Mom Jeans.”
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/mom-jeans/n11727
I hope they do another version of that but with dads and cargo shorts. Just giant shorts with like 800 pockets filled with ALL THE THINGS! 😀