I was shopping with my mom. My mom, who’s not really into fashion or style or trends. I had found this lovely backless black dress and I wanted to show it off, so I stepped out of the dressing room. It was sooooo lovely, this dress, I was in love!
Instantly my mom makes "the face", and starts shaking her head. "Your belly!" she said, patting my stomach. "It’s sticking out!" I hadn’t noticed. She laughed and said, "It’s waaaayyy too tight! Maybe get it one size up?" It was a large. Usually I’m a small, but the sizing in this store seemed to run smaller. "It’s supposed to be tight…" I mumbled. This is pretty much routine at most stores. She teases me about my pooch/tummy/bulge stomach, Dad teases me about my height (short, but pear shaped) , and my brother about my fat/jiggly thighs. It’s all pretty normal, but I was still super disappointed about her not liking this amazing dress.
I could feel my face fall and the doubt start to creep in, when suddenly, two women piped up from my right. "No, honey, it looks great!" "Yeah, that dress fits per-fect-ly. It’s supposed to be tight." "You should get it, it’s super cute on you!" My mom: "Oh hahaha, it is? Yeah okay, you can get it!" Two strangers changed her mind!
And…it’s been two months since this whole thing happened and I’m still thinking about it. Ever since that day, I’ve really started noticing various ways my mom, my dad, my grandparents all subtly shame my fashion choices. They make me feel like I have a shitty body. It’s not their fault, and I doubt that they even realize they’re doing it. But suddenly, my formerly-crippling anxiety/shame/self-consciousness all makes more sense.
Thank you so much to you two kind strangers. You’ll never know how grateful I am to you. Your simple, kind words hit me in my heart. I’m going to try and find a way to be kinder to the strangers I encounter from now on. I seriously think about this every day.
via Dear 2 Ladies at the Store: Thank you. : TwoXChromosomes.
