This summer, let go of expectations.

The expectation is about your insecurities, and when you let go of them, you can focus on what's truly important: your children and creating memories with them.

So be the mom on the bouncy castle jumping with her kids, not caring about how goofy she looks and instead enjoying herself with them.

Be the mom who wears a swimsuit even though she isn’t in “summer shape.” Because that mom in the pool who just got dunked by her children is not only a role model but is having the best time.

Be the mom who goes down the slide at the park and plays sidewalk chalk even though she’ll get messy.

You don’t have to be like the other mothers basking in the hot sun or huddled in a corner while their kids are playing.

Instead, just look to your children and what’s making them happy.

And your children don’t see your flaws.

They don’t care about how goofy you look bouncing or sliding,

the cellulite and blemishes on the back of your thighs,

none of it.

Because your kids don’t want you to only create memories for them,

they want you to be a part of them.

And once you let go of other people's expectations (which have probably become your own), you can actually learn to hang out with your children and enjoy the people they are.

This post originally appeared on the author's Facebook. Her book "Living FULL: Winning My Battle with Eating Disorder" is available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2O4mJId. And my Children’s Book 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘖𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘖𝘬𝘢𝘺: 𝘈𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘴 𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘍𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘛𝘰𝘰 is 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞!: https://amzn.to/317TvVc