The mum tum is wobbly and wrinkled with rolls.

The mum tum is saggy and stretched with folds.

 

The mum tum can make you feel more self aware.

“If I wear that tight top will anyone stare?”

 

The mum tum can make us feel shame of our size.

We squeeze into control pants what we want to hide.

 

We are jealous of others who are only too happy to say

They used to have a mum tum but then it went away!

 

“Why is she so slim?”

“What am I doing wrong?”

All too often woman are singing this song.

 

Stretch marks or tiger stripes, call them what you choose

Either way scars are souvenirs that you never lose.

 

A reminder of the unspeakable gift that you grew inside.

A gift that is denied to so many who have tried and tried.

 

A gift that you nourished, kept safe and warm.

This gift never felt pain, shame, sadness or scorn.

 

A gift that once in this world to them you became

The most perfect being who could ever be named!

 

Your mum tum was soft where they laid their head

Comforted by your smell and the words that you said.

 

The very fact that this miracle was born alive

Is a blessing that to many is tragically denied.

 

I hope you can see how special you are.

How blessed you have been to have come this far.

 

To have flourished new life in the depths of your being.

To have been blessed with the growing reminder that you are daily seeing.

 

It is an emotional journey becoming a mum.

And the wonder of it all is so much more than your tum!

 

So take comfort in the knowledge that you are not alone.

When your child hugs your tum remember that was their first home.

 

When you look in the mirror smile and feel proud

For you have grown brand new humans for crying out loud!

 

My body reminds me of joy and of loss.

And how my arms ached for a baby I wanted whatever the cost.

 

If the cost of a baby is a sag here and there

I will take it and own it and see beauty there

 

Your tum is a reminder of how far you have come

On this miraculous journey of becoming a mum.

xx

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Read more from Jo at https://freshbreadandfaith.wordpress.com/