Why I Don't Want My Boys to See Me Naked...

I don't know if you've seen the viral blog post going around of a similar title.  I actually get where the author is coming from.  A mom of boys who wants her sons to get a true understanding of what a real woman looks like, flaws and all.  I appreciate the intention and point to give her sons encouragement to appreciate all body types, but I don't think my sons seeing me naked will accomplish that. And here is why...

My boys will not need to see me naked to see what my body looks like and to see my flaws.  They will see me in a night gown or a swim suit and will know mommy's body isn't perfect.  In fact, all I need to do is take them to a water park, and they will know that the vast majority of the female race looks nothing like the photoshopped images in the magazines.

No, if I want to teach my boys to appreciate a woman beyond her imperfect figure, well, I'm not really the person to do that.  Their dad is.

The best thing anyone can do for their sons to teach them how to love and appreciate a woman beyond her body type is to let them see an example of a loving father passionately loving their mother at all times, in all states of physique and disarray.

The problem with boys who turn into men, I believe, is that they have seen examples of fathers and husbands who eventually grow "out of love" with their wives when time takes its toll physically. Wives are guilty of this too, by the way...

I'm so thankful for a husband that, even at my absolute worst, I'll catch just gazing at me.  Even in my times when I feel my fattest, stinkiest, or frumpiest, he wants to hug me and hold me and tell me I'm beautiful.

That is what will teach my boys how to appreciate their woman.  They don't need to see mommy naked to have realistic expectations of the female form and to appreciate their wives' bodies one day no matter what toll nature takes on them.  

What Makes a "Good Mom"?

So I know I might be getting myself into something I may not want to get into but this has been heavy on my thoughts so I felt like I needed to put it out there...

                         

What makes you a "good mom"? 

Well, let me tell you what I think doesn't make you a good mom.

It's not whether or not you breastfed or bottle fed, co-sleep or did sleep training in a crib. It's not whether you used cloth diapers or disposable. Whether you spank or not.  Whether you make your own baby food or buy the jar stuff, or if you choose to vaccinate or not.  

Whatever your opinion is on any of these subjects, that's great!  But as professing Christian moms we must be careful how we voice our opinions (myself included) about our choices in raising our kids. Because all these issues are important, but also very personal.  Each situation is unique and may have many layers of circumstances that you may not have any clue about. The guilt that some moms unknowingly put on other moms for not sharing their same passion on certain issues is very vast. 

So here's what I'm getting at, the heart of the matter...

ULTIMATELY I believe what makes you a good mom is this: 

Raising up little ones to be Jesus loving adults.

At the end of the day when we get to heaven, we won't be questioned on if we let our kids sleep in bed with us or not or if we let them suck on a pacifier or if we nursed them until they were three. But we will be questioned on if we loved our kids enough to live the life to the best of our ability as a godly example to our kids.  We will be questioned and judged by God on what we taught our kids about Jesus, faith, and His Holy Word.  Moms, let's remember that ultimately, THIS is what it's all about.  

Let's remember that as moms we're sisters in Christ.  We're in this together.  Let's love our kids and make the choices that work for each of us, individually, but support and encourage each other.