“People tell me I’m beautiful often and it’s honestly hard to hear. I usually don’t respond and always think to myself “If only they knew what I looked like under my clothes.” I have struggled with body image since having my first baby in 2007 and despite being married to a wonderful man who makes me feel beautiful every day it is still something I deal with. I want to be thin. I want to wear bottoms in the single digits. I want a flat stomach without stretchmarks. Some of these things I can and am working on but some may never be a reality for me. I need to learn to smile and say “Thank you” when given a compliment and I need to learn to love and accept this body. After all, it gave me my three wonderful children and for that I am forever grateful.”