We love this uplifting post from Amy, mum of 5 and writer of the and 1moremeans4…and1more blog.

I have never been a person with sky high confidence. I had a bad time being bullied at school for being fat so my body confidence and self appreciation has always taken a battering. Everyday for 5 years at secondary school someone told me I was fat or insinuated that I was. I spent 5 years worrying about what people thought of me and whether the person next to me was going to say something nasty.

By the time I left school I had lost a shed load of weight and I showed the bullies that I wasn’t fat. The sad thing was,when I look back at pictures of me, I was not so fat. They ruined my school life for nothing.

Slowly my confidence came back, I got a job, a boyfriend and things were good for me. I even got down to a size 10, I felt great. Then I got pregnant, I was so happy to be pregnant and my bump was gorgeous, I loved it and when I gave birth to my daughter I had to come to terms with my new tummy.

Four more children later and my size 10 past is way behind me, but my self confidence is still ok because, apart from body confidence, I’ve had to find a whole other level of confidence in me being a mummy and a parent.

I really had to start believing in myself when I had my first daughter, I had to make decisions that only I could make, I had to learn what to do for her and figure out what she wanted and needed. Slowly I knew I could ‘do’ this and I began to enjoy listening to myself. I was only 19 and being a first time mummy was scary enough, but I followed my instincts and 9/10 times I was right and I really felt like I was doing a good job.

Four more children later and I would like to think I am a confident mummy. I don’t worry about taking all 5 out on my own. I don’t worry about solo bedtimes or mornings. I don’t worry because I’ve done all of these things to excess. I have always pushed myself to see if I can do things and I am glad that I do, it’s really helped me to understand that YES I can do this and YES I am proud of me.

Being a confident mummy makes me feel good inside, I love being a mummy and it brings out the best in me and that is better than any dress size on a clothes tag.

Do you have confidence in yourself? Has becoming a paretn helped? Share your concerns or your tips for improving self esteem and we will choose one person to send a Bornfree Drinking cup to.

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