I’m proud of my forehead wrinkles. Okay, that was a major lie.
“Bad Mommy, Bad Mommy;” we don’t lie in our family. Oops. Okay, the truth is…
I. HATE. THEM.
But, I don’t hate the reason for them, and guess what? The reason for them matters WAY more than how they make me look.
Now, if you were kind, you would say I look beautiful in spite of them.
Oh, wait! That’s not kind.
A kind person would surely say that I look beautiful because they are marks of a life being lived.
Yes, that is the answer I will accept.
Of course, I hesitated to share this photo with the world. Of course, I know that my appearance will most definitely be critiqued by those trolling social media for a way to put someone down in the name of jerkiness.
The truth is, I nitpicked everything about this image since the first moment I viewed it. What didn’t I like?
Those noticeable, pay-me-some-attention forehead wrinkles.
My big, slightly pointy nose.
My small, too-yellow for social media teeth.
Oh yeah, and my way-faded, but I’m too cheap to pay to have them re-done micro bladed eyebrows.
Yet, I am still willing to share this photo.
Why?
Because I share way too few photos of myself as they are “unflattering”.
Do you know what is unflattering?
- An insecure woman.
- An insecure woman who is trying to raise her children to be secure in themselves.
- A woman who can’t see past her imperfect outer appearance.
- A woman who thinks she is imperfect when everyone else thinks she is perfectly her.
- A woman who engages in negative self-talk.
- A wife who doesn’t know her worth.
- A woman who gives any semblance of a hoot about what other people think of how she looks.
To those that think my forehead wrinkles make me less attractive, I challenge you to try to make me feel bad about them.
You will lose, and your efforts will have been wasted.
Now, at the ripe old age of 31, I am more secure in myself, my body, my appearance, and opinions that I ever have been and my newfound confidence (because I sure as hell wasn’t always this confident) didn’t just come with time — it came from motherhood.
So yes, my forehead wrinkles are undoubtedly a result of my little man and the chaos he brings with him everywhere he goes. But there is also no doubting that those racetracks on my forehead are a sign of giving, loving, not sleeping, laughing, and most of all, fully living.
And, I’ll tell you this, you can bite your tongue if you think I will ever, ever apologize for my forehead wrinkles again.
They are a gift from my son and his sisters, and for them, I will forever be grateful.
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Bugger it, I think you look lovely, to be honest what I ‘see’ in that photo is love between mother and son. If that isn’t beautiful I don’t know what is
Very kind words. Thank you very much! 🙂
Thank you for sharing
Thank you for reading. 🙂
I loved the title of this piece because I am also raising a little boy. They run on full octane from the moment their little feet hit the ground and they don’t slow down all day. This article reminds me of a video clip I recently watched with Reese Witherspoon on Super Soul. She made the point that NBA basketball players don’t shy away from who they are; they wear it like a badge of honor. On the flip side society teaches women that we can’t be that way because we come across as too full of ourselves. We’d never hear LeBron James talk about his forehead wrinkles because for men it means they’re distinguished. There are so many double standards and contradictions. Kudos to you for seeing past the box society tries to put us in.
Hi, Jennifer! Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment on the piece. I am so very glad that you enjoyed it and found it relatable. Also, thanks for sharing the video link for your reference. I like the idea that I could say my forehead lines make me look distinguished — those will really help me with my fake-it-til-I-make-it way of figuring out the world of parenting!
A life well lived is a beautiful thing! I’ll take the lines that go with it! 😊
Well said! Great outlook on life and parenting! Thanks for reading and commenting! 🙂
I love this!!! Being a mommy is one of the hardest most rewarding jobs ever!!! Whew there’s so much truth to this… this part
“Do you know what is unflattering?
An insecure woman.
An insecure woman who is trying to raise her children to be secure in themselves.
A woman who can’t see past her imperfect outer appearance.
A woman who thinks she is imperfect when everyone else thinks she is perfectly her.
A woman who engages in negative self-talk.
A wife who doesn’t know her worth.
A woman who gives any semblance of a hoot about what other people think of how she looks.”
LOVE IT!!!
Thank you so much for your extremely kind words, Amanda! I am SO GLAD that you found this piece relatable and grateful that you took the time to read it and leave me words on what you loved about it. I so appreciate the support! Have a wonderful day and thanks again. 🙂
Funny. Didn’t notice any lines. Only saw a joyous mom moment with a cuddly boy! 😀
You rock! Thanks, lady!! 🙂