After Being Shamed For Stretch Marks, Mom Of 5 Posts Powerful Letter – Inspiring Many

What started out as just a normal day at the beach this week for a Canadian mom and two of her kids has ended up inspiring millions, after her incredible response to a vicious verbal attack by strangers — over her stretch marks.

Tanis Tex-Blake, 33, does not generally wear a bikini. Ordinarily, her choice of swimwear consists of a tankini and a cover-up. But on this day she chose a bikini, for the first time in 13 years, because the is planning a trip to Cuba and wanted to get a “base tan.”

That should be nobody’s business. She was sunbathing on the beach while her children played, according to Global News.

“All of a sudden I heard, ‘oh my god, look at that, that’s f**king nasty, that’s disgusting, look how gross that is.”

Ms. Tex-Blake opened her eyes to see a rude woman and two rude men standing over her and pointing at her stretch marks on her belly. They were pretending to kick her.

It was a horrible moment, when she felt the shame of embarrassment that her body was no longer the perfect beach-body that her critics expected. The Blaze reports that she held her head up high, “unflinching,” while the attack took place, but she broke down in tears on the way home.

Then, she did something amazing. Something beautiful and empowering. Something that has gone viral, encouraging and inspiring women almost a million people already.

Tanis Tex-Blake posted a letter to her self-proclaimed critics, along with a picture of her stretch-marked belly, on her Facebook page. She says she initially just “posted it with the hopes of word reaching them… but now it’s gone so much further.”

Here is what Ms. Tex-Blake wrote:

“This is an open letter to the 2 guys and 1 girl who decided to skip work today in Sherwood Park where they were building a house, but instead decided to come to Alberta Beach to relax in the sun, enjoy the water and some beers.

“I’m sorry if my first attempt at sun tanning in a bikini in public in 13 years ‘grossed you out.’ I’m sorry that my stomach isn’t flat and tight. I’m sorry that my belly is covered in stretch marks.

“I’m NOT sorry that my body has housed, grown, protected, birthed and nurtured FIVE fabulous, healthy, intelligent and wonderful human beings. I’m sorry if my 33 year old, 125 lb body offended you so much that you felt that pointing, laughing, and pretending to kick me. But I’ll have you know that as I looked at your ‘perfect’ young bodies, I could only think to myself ‘what great and amazing feat has YOUR body done?’

“I’ll also have you know that I held my head high, unflinching as you mocked me, pretending that what you said and did had no effect on me; but I cried in the car on the drive home. Thanks for ruining my day. It’s people like you who make this world an ugly hateful place.

“I can’t help but feel sorry for the women who will one day bear your children and become ‘gross’ in your eyes as their bodies change during the miraculous process of pregnancy. I can only hope that one day you’ll realize that my battle scars are something to be proud of, not ashamed of.”

A local radio station, Hot 107 of Edmondton, posted her story on their Facebook on Thursday morning, and it already has close to a million likes, 185,000 shares, and 67,000 comments, most of them favorable towards Tanis. Her beautiful post has inspired many.

Stretch marks are something to be proud of. They are a sign that a mother has nurtured life inside of her. That belly grew an entire PERSON! That is amazing! Something to be celebrated, not shamed!

Some people call the stretch marks “tiger stripes,” which evokes a powerful picture of elegant strength.

One husband posted on Facebook: “My wife has four kids… and we call her stretch marks ‘love stories.’ It’s beautiful!”

All too often, there is shame connected with a body shape that may be forever altered by the amazing act of childbearing. Society pressures women to “get back in shape” and “lose that baby fat,” laying guilt trips on people for being less than what some arbitrary thing called “society” thinks is perfect. But that body IS perfect. Perfectly amazing!

Ms. Tex-Blake reminds us to focus on what actually matters, and embrace the body that you have. Love the children that came forth, for they are worth everything. That is something that her critics cannot comprehend.

If you are one of those people who has been blessed to have stretch marks, then be grateful. And never, ever, be ashamed of your tiger stripes.

[images via Berry-Awesome Life, Facebook, and Pinterest]