Mum’s inspirational message to others afraid that they’ve ‘let themselves go’

A mum has shared an inspirational message to other mothers who might be worrying that they "let themselves go" after having children.

Amy Weatherly said that when having a conversation with an old friend, she joked that she didn't wear as much makeup anymore because she had let herself go. Afterwards, the mum-of-three said that she regretted putting herself down in such a way. She wrote that her appearance changing after having children wasn't a negative thing, and that she is more herself now than she was before. She said:

"I’m more confident now. I’m more sure of myself. I’m less likely to cry over a breakout, or miss out on a night with my girls because of dirty hair. I’m less likely to slip into a mild depression because someone decided they didn’t like me, or pile on the insecurity because I wasn’t invited to that party. "Truth is, I kind of like myself now, definitely more than I did before. I wouldn’t go back to that girl with the good hair for all the skinny jeans and skinny lattes in the world."

Amy said that her response was a defence mechanism against the fact that she assumes people will judge her for "letting herself go." ... But that really she's far happier now than she was before she had children. She went on:

"The next time you personally start to get down because you don’t look the same, or dress the same, or feel the same as you did two/five/ten years ago, I hope you’ll remember this: "You haven’t let yourself go. Stop saying that. It’s rude. It’s derogatory, and it’s downright absurd. You haven’t let yourself go, you have simply let go of the need to look perfect all of the time. "You have simply let go of stuff that isn’t important and traded it in for stuff that will leave a lasting legacy. You have simply let go of stuff that will last a little while, for stuff that will last for generations and generations and generations."

Get it, girl. Amy finished her post by encouraging mums to pamper themselves when they get a chance, to dress up when they can, and do things for them when they want do - but to remember that not doing those things is OK too. "You are you, and that can never be taken away from you," she said.