Bugaboo scandal: shaming skinny mothers who recently gave birth

[Eternal Summer]

Later edit: she didn't give birth very recently, she is the mother of a two-year old, which makes negative comments even more surprising. I find it natural to be in shape to years after giving birth!

I am so tired of post-pregnancy envy/shaming.
The scandal: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/a...jogging-revealing-swimwear-riles-mothers.html
The picture that caused all the outrage:

Highlights of the article:
Bugaboo, the Amsterdam-based high-end buggy company, shared an image from Vogue Netherlands, which shows model Ymre Stiekema pushing her daughter Lymée in the £515 ($800) pram.

The caption accompanying the image reads: 'See how model and mum Ymre Stiekema stays fit and healthy with the Bugaboo Runner.'

Roaring women on Facebook and Instagram:
'Seriously why in the world would she be running in this? Horrible promotion!! Not gonna lie she’s one fit mama but really?!!!'.

"I have two children and if was running in this on the school run it would be because I’d forgotten to put my clothes on because we’re late for school, my 5-year-old had fallen off his scooter, my 2-year-old refuses to put his shoes on and there’s a good chance I haven’t had the time to do my bikini line. There’s an image to leave you',

' Is this woman for real? (I say as I choke into my lukewarm coffee). I have no problem with the bikini or the fact that's she's jogging, but where's her floppy belly and stretch marks?

'Not to mention nappy bag, snacks, hundreds of toys and why isn't she covered in snot? Why doesn't she look exhausted and how come her daughter looks so angelic?

'Is this a realistic image of motherhood? No! Would I have time to even indulge in the hair removal necessary for such an activity? No! Am I jealous? Ummm yes!'

 

[Xsmall]

Why does EVERYTHING offend EVERYONE? I actually saw this as an article on the runners world page on Facebook. I read some of the comments and they said: "she looks like a runner to me! This is a runners body. What is the problem?"

Its usually the overweight lazy women who are offended by something like this.. then the people who actually train/workout see no problems.

' Is this woman for real? (I say as I choke into my lukewarm coffee). I have no problem with the bikini or the fact that's she's jogging, but where's her floppy belly and stretch marks?

So I guess to be a real mom you must have the following to get approval:
flabby belly
stretch marks
exhausted look

 

[MCgirl]

It's ridiculous. A bunch of fat, low self-esteem idiots being offended at anyone who is in any way better than them just because they can't be bothered themselves to put so much work into something.

 

[Delirium]

So I guess to be a real mom you must have the following to get approval:
flabby belly
stretch marks
exhausted look

Obviously the sign of a good parent is to look like they're about to star in the new Derelicte campaign. No real parent would ever take care of themselves in any way, because it is completely impossible to have a child and have time for anything other than stuffing ones face with crisps.

 

[Ellie]

I mean, I've never given birth so I suppose it's all easy for me to say, but if new moms were as committed to being fit as this woman, yeah, they'd have that body too. Part of it is that she has "this is my job" to motivate her, and they don't. Like, it's really okay for you to prioritize your newborn over your bikini body, but other women have to support their children by having a photogenic body, and that's their prerogative.

Any moms on this site have opinions?

 

[Eternal Summer]

' Is this woman for real? (I say as I choke into my lukewarm coffee). I have no problem with the bikini or the fact that's she's jogging, but where's her floppy belly and stretch marks?

So I guess to be a real mom you must have the following to get approval:
flabby belly
stretch marks
exhausted look

These artificial distinctions between real and not-so-real (?????) women are very disturbing. If we are to accept all shapes and sizes, then we most definitely have to accept sexy moms as being very real.
Acceptance seems to go one way--> fat acceptance, whereas skinny or fit acceptance are not imaginable for these people.
I guess they have too low levels of self esteem to accept that others can tackle maternity in a dignified way, not with loose clothes and baby vomit in their hair.

 

[Eternal Summer]

Obviously the sign of a good parent is to look like they're about to star in the new Derelicte campaign. No real parent would ever take care of themselves in any way, because it is completely impossible to have a child and have time for anything other than stuffing ones face with crisps.

Modern slavery for so-called emancipated women is to feel the compulsion to completely put aside your womanhood "for the sake of the baby". As if you cannot workout while the baby is sleeping or as if you can't brush your hair with the baby crawling between your feet.
"I'm too busy taking care of the baby" is an excuse similar to "it's genetics".

 

[ThinLove]

'Not to mention nappy bag, snacks, hundreds of toys and why isn't she covered in snot? Why doesn't she look exhausted and how come her daughter looks so angelic?

Are people so dumb as to not realise that in the end, this is an advertisement and that you're not going to attract potential customers with off putting images. I think that jealousy is definitely the root of the negative reaction. I may be wrong, but if the mother is in optimal health, won't the job of looking after the baby be slightly easier and less stressful?

 

[Delirium]

Modern slavery for so-called emancipated women is to feel the compulsion to completely put aside your womanhood "for the sake of the baby". As if you cannot workout while the baby is sleeping or as if you can't brush your hair with the baby crawling between your feet.
"I'm too busy taking care of the baby" is an excuse similar to "it's genetics".

I can understand how some women have a hard time exercising if they work full time and have a kid / kids. However, there is no such thing is being too busy not to eat, and you can exercise by playing with your kids (which you should be doing anyway if you ask me).

Next time you're at a park, have a look around. The big mothers and fathers are sitting on benches watching their kids, the thinner ones are actively joining in with playtime. Guess which one is more fun for the kids... (well, depends on their age, but pre-parental embarrassment kids love to play with their parents).

You also have a responsibility as a parent to make healthy, well-balanced meals for your children, so they can grow up healthy. Feeding your children and/or yourself junk on a daily basis is a horrible example for your children. Teaching them about moderation, and having a treat every now and then, is good. Fast food and sodas and candy should not be consumed on a daily basis. Not by adults, and not by children. If you are feeding this to your child every day, or feeding yourself this every day in front of them, you are not a responsible parent.

I just want to clarify that I do not think there's anything wrong with having a treat every now and then. I'm just saying that there is a difference between a normal Tuesday night and a birthday party.

 

[Butternut]

I saw this too and couldn't understand why people were offended???
Sure, her body type isn't common for the average woman who works 8-5 and has to cook, clean, help with homework, etc. once she gets home but it's not like the picture came with a caption saying that this is the expectation for every working mother... It is just a picture of a marathon runner/model with her kid.
I do think it's hilarious that she is running in an itty-bitty bikini though, that doesn't sound very safe and I don't even live in a bad area o.o I'd be too scared of sexual harassment or worse depending on where one would go for a run...

 

[Golden ice]

You've got to remember - everyone has the right to never be offended or made to feel bad about their own lazy choices by anything they see or hear.

Making people face the reality that having children doesn't inevitably lead to weight gain and sloppiness will always lead to unjustified anger and jealousy so they can hold onto their pathetic denial.

 

[Moonlight]

" 'I like how if a guy ran in a speedo looking like a greek god he would be drooled over but a super fit and active mom runs in a bikini and we all jump her for it.' "

 

[Skinny_Mini_Me]

You've got to remember - everyone has the right to never be offended or made to feel bad about their own lazy choices by anything they see or hear.

Making people face the reality that having children doesn't inevitably lead to weight gain and sloppiness will always lead to unjustified anger and jealousy so they can hold onto their pathetic denial.

People hate on skinny moms because it means they can no longer use that as an excuse. Pregnancy is in the same group as genetics and age when it comes to excuses. If someone disproves that these are legit reasons to be fat, then fat people have to come to terms with the fact that it's usually just because they are lazy/stuffing their faces. Most people like to blame others instead of themselves.

 

[Eternal Summer]

I can understand how some women have a hard time exercising if they work full time and have a kid / kids. However, there is no such thing is being too busy not to eat, and you can exercise by playing with your kids (which you should be doing anyway if you ask me).

Next time you're at a park, have a look around. The big mothers and fathers are sitting on benches watching their kids, the thinner ones are actively joining in with playtime. Guess which one is more fun for the kids... (well, depends on their age, but pre-parental embarrassment kids love to play with their parents).

You also have a responsibility as a parent to make healthy, well-balanced meals for your children, so they can grow up healthy. Feeding your children and/or yourself junk on a daily basis is a horrible example for your children. Teaching them about moderation, and having a treat every now and then, is good. Fast food and sodas and candy should not be consumed on a daily basis. Not by adults, and not by children. If you are feeding this to your child every day, or feeding yourself this every day in front of them, you are not a responsible parent.

I just want to clarify that I do not think there's anything wrong with having a treat every now and then. I'm just saying that there is a difference between a normal Tuesday night and a birthday party.

Well, I'm not saying every mom has the time to work out, but I still feel that maternity is used as an excuse to stay fat and sloppy. Furthermore, even if you want to use that as an excuse, don't drag down with you moms who do it differently.
And not feeding children junk food is so important, but a lot of parents ignore this because "it's natural for a child to crave sugar constantly".

 

[FrançoiseEllyn]

Once you become a parent your child becomes the number one prioritiy, which comes with cupboards full of little snacks for the kids that aren't the healthiest. You're feeding and spending more on food, and we all know what stress and food does. I don't blame them, but it's certainly become something of an excuse. Also, this is apparently for a high-end pram, which certainly narrows down their buyers. It's just like Chanel, they aren't marketing to appeal to the masses.

 

[vanitas]

but where's her floppy belly and stretch marks?

So I guess to be a real mom you must have the following to get approval:
flabby belly
stretch marks
exhausted look

So many people use pregnancy as an excuse to eat like a pig (even though you don't need to) and then they spread this propaganda that real mothers have flabby bits to make themselves feel better. It really irritates me.

I'm pregnant at the moment and I'm trying to eat as well as possible - lots of vegetables, protein and yoghurt and no junk or bread or stuff with minimal nutritional benefit for the baby; I didn't gain any weight in the first three months and all my ultrasounds and blood tests were great, the baby is growing perfectly and I still get people telling me I'm putting the baby at risk. The doctor says I'm fine incidentally, it's just people around me, so I can see why people do cave in when they're pregnant - there's a culture of telling pregnant women to eat like they're feeding an entire rugby team because it's supposedly good for the baby, but actual medical advice is very different.

I know loads of mothers who were in great shape a couple of months after the birth; it's not that unusual, whatever the mommy mafia like to pretend. There's a distinct difference between women who put some effort in to stay in shape and those who just gave up and started inhaling crisps and chocolate for nine months.

 

[Butternut]

Once you become a parent your child becomes the number one prioritiy, which comes with cupboards full of little snacks for the kids that aren't the healthiest.

Nooooooo you shouldn't feed your kids processed snacks ))): terribly unhealthy and children tend to be much less tolerant of processed food than teens and adults ): when I was young most sugary or processed foods gave me rashes D:
Plus it sets you up for a lifetime of bad habits... My neighbours always had Popsicles, chips, crackers, etc. and now even their skinny daughter has gained weight and gotten flabby despite practicing three sports seriously o.o


The only processed food my mom would buy was Kraft singles because we couldn't afford real cheese when we first immigrated.

 

[Butternut]

@vanitas , some women will naturally gain a lot of weight during their pregnancy, but if it was in a healthy way (not pigging out but eating the right foods until full) they tend to drop the weight as soon as they start breastfeeding... I don't actually know anyone who gained weight during pregnancy and didn't drop it within a year of giving birth.

 

[FrançoiseEllyn]

Nooooooo you shouldn't feed your kids processed snacks ))): terribly unhealthy and children tend to be much less tolerant of processed food than teens and adults ): when I was young most sugary or processed foods gave me rashes D:
Plus it sets you up for a lifetime of bad habits... My neighbours always had Popsicles, chips, crackers, etc. and now even their skinny daughter has gained weight and gotten flabby despite practicing three sports seriously o.o


The only processed food my mom would buy was Kraft singles because we couldn't afford real cheese when we first immigrated.

It's a disease, truly. But I live in the states, so it's everywhere. I go down the baby food aisle and look at all the nutrition labels but it's so utterly processed. I definitely have a weakness for the squeezable baby food because I do believe that the fruit and veggies are as natural as they come. Just wish they weren't packaged entirely in plastic.

Also, the more sugary snacks don't happen until the kids are at least a toddler.

 

[vanitas]

@vanitas , some women will naturally gain a lot of weight during their pregnancy, but if it was in a healthy way (not pigging out but eating the right foods until full) they tend to drop the weight as soon as they start breastfeeding... I don't actually know anyone who gained weight during pregnancy and didn't drop it within a year of giving birth.

Absolutely agree - also water retention is a nightmare when you're pregnant and can make people look twice the size they actually are, but you're completely right, if it's from healthy, reasonable amounts of foods then it does drop off - I've seen it happen to loads of people.

And I have a lot of sympathy for anyone who has complications and has to go on bed rest for half their pregnancy and consequentially gains more weight than they would have otherwise. I can see why that would make someone bitter.

I just really hate the way some people think you 'should' gain a lot of weight and if you don't you're doing it wrong. Everyone is different. The woman in that ad clearly works hard at it and that's her choice; I find it really inspiring to see people looking amazing after giving birth, whether from exercise or diet