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Mum’s powerful message about stretch marks
“Where do they come from?” That was the question Allison Kimmey’s young daughter asked about her stretch marks while they were in their swimsuits by the pool.
“Well, when I was a little older than you, I got some stripes when I grew really fast! And some of these stripes are from when I had you growing in my tummy,” Kimmey replied.
As the girl looked more closely at her mum’s belly, Kimmey commented, “They are shiny and sparkly. Aren’t they pretty?”
Kimmey’s daughter replied: “Yes, I like this one the best, it’s so glittery. When can I get some?” To which Kimmey enthusiastically explained that she, too, would one day have “glitter stripes” when she grows up.
In that moment, Kimmey hoped to transform what could have been an exercise in shaming and self-loathing into a lesson in body acceptance and confidence.
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Kimmey felt it was important to share the sweet conversation on her Facebook page, along with a photo of her with her daughter in their bikinis on the beach.
“IT MATTERS HOW WE TALK TO OUR DAUGHTERS ABOUT OUR BODIES!” Kimmey wrote in all capitals in her post.
“They are listening. They are asking. And it is up to YOU to help them shape how they will feel about these things! Will you continue the shame that society has placed on you? Or will you teach her a new way of love? I choose love. Just do you.”
Little did she know that the post would go viral, with162K reactions and over 77K shares.
One woman wrote, “I am amazed by your response, what a fantastic [lesson] you are giving her,” while a second commented, “Glitter stripes! I love how you described them…beauty comes in all shapes and sizes and even the ‘skinny’ people can have glitter stripes.”
A third chimed in, “Amazing. It makes my heart happy when a beautiful mumma teaches her beautiful daughter self love!!!!!”.
Some women also recalled the negative messages they received from their own mothers, and congratulated Kimmey on stopping the cycle of sour self-talk.
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Kimmey isn’t your typical mum, however. She’s a professional self-love guru, and body acceptance is a key focus in her life, according to her website, in which she says, “My calling in this life is to educate, empower, and equip all of womankind to be independent, fierce, self-loving women that are ready to run their life…and this world!”
She also runs a nonprofit for teen girls called GirlPhoria, which she says helps them to become “super happy, insanely in love with yourself, and find your strengths to run this world!”
No doubt Kimmey’s daughter has the most positive role model possible and will grow into a confident, body-positive adult — glitter stripes and all!
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