You are mother. We hear you roar.

Posted under SNAPSHOTS

With a world driven by image and perfection and unattainable Photoshopped standards of beauty, it’s uncomfortable for us to imagine the magnitude of what a woman may feel she had to “sacrifice” by “ruining her body” in order to have a baby. The statement in this picture offers a different way to think about it though.

A Mother's Tiger Stripes

Tigers are beautiful.

We recently posted this on our Facebook Page and the reaction was so positive we had to share it on our website as well. Though our Facebook page has a rad community and is the best way to follow us, we also know our website gets so many more visitors and this message just needed to be seen far and wide. We’re honored to share and be a part of this message of impassioned encouragement, recognizing mothers and the beauty of motherhood. Whoever originally conceived this brilliant message, we thank you!

With or without stripes, mothers are tigers. And tigers are beautiful.

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86 Comments

  • Liesbet says:
    at 1:12 am

    Wooow, that’s GREAT! I’m almost sorry I don’t have any tiger stripes from my firstborn. But it’s not too late yet, my current 21-weeks-belly is already impressive, so maybe I’ll get some stripes in the coming months 🙂

    I’m a ‘fan’ on Facebook too, but the medium is just a little too fast for me. If you don’t check it every few hours, you miss something. I prefer blogs…

    Reply
    • Andy says:
      at 1:32 am

      Facebook is too fast!?! Try Twitter!!! That’s a moving bullet-train I’m not sure I’ll ever get on. Congrats! I didn’t know (or it didn’t register) until now that you were carrying a conceal miracle. 🙂

      Reply
      • Liesbet says:
        at 1:41 am

        Yes, well, there’s a reason I’ve never started Twitter. I KNOW it’s too fast for me 🙂
        Thanks for the wishes. If you send me your address by mail, I’ll send you a birth card… in Dutch! 🙂

        Reply
        • Andy says:
          at 4:42 pm

          Seriously? Ha ha! Google vertalen voor de winst!

          Reply
          • Liesbet says:
            at 10:46 pm

            LOL Google translate… it’ll be a while before I lose my job (I’m a translator). BTW yes, seriously, if you want.

      • Liesbet says:
        at 7:59 am

        I’d roar again, but I’m out of breath… 38 weeks, no stretch marks, huge belly, swollen legs, hands and feet. I still can do purring though…

        Reply
  • H* says:
    at 1:21 am

    Hi! Can I use this pic in my blog in Spain? I would like to share it with your web direction obviously!

    Thank you so much!

    Reply
  • jessie says:
    at 4:09 am

    thanks for sharing! makes me feel much better about my belly flab that i feel is never going away!

    Reply
  • Alecia says:
    at 6:11 am

    Did the wives hijack the site and post this?! LOL. Just teasing. While we appreciate the nod of “beauty”, I think most of us “tigers” would gladly trade our stripes for a good night’s sleep. Not that we don’t love our kids and our lives (because we do – so much), but sleep is like gold these days :).

    xoxo – alecia

    Reply
    • Andy says:
      at 4:44 pm

      There have been points where my wife would have traded whole appendages for a good nights sleep. I completely understand!

      Reply
      • Carrie says:
        at 1:37 am

        The best nights sleep I have had in the last 11 1/2 months is the week I got gallstones and had my gallbladder removed! Morphine helped immensely! Wouldn’t trade my stripes for it every night but that week was a (very, ridiculously painful) rest I needed! Haha!

        Reply
    • MommaG says:
      at 9:59 pm

      I’m a mom…and I couldn’t disagree more. I wouldn’t trade my tiger stripes to get more sleep for the world! My son is 5 months…compared to the length of time your child provides you with happiness- the days of little sleep are few.

      Reply
  • Stephanie K. says:
    at 8:26 am

    I am tiger, hear me roar! Haha thanks guys 🙂 I’m extremely insecure about my new tummy and sad that I may never wear a bikini again LOL! this makes me feel better! I can look at them as my stripes!

    Reply
    • Andy says:
      at 4:47 pm

      My wife and i are in the same boat as you. We both know we’ll never wear bikinis again. 😉 It really is a beautiful and real acknowledgement of motherhood, in my opinion.

      Reply
  • Monica says:
    at 8:31 am

    Such a powerful message. As moms, we need this reminder. Not only do we EARN our “Stripes” but we give up a lot for our families. My son who is just over a year old has had 4 haircuts so far (he was born with a head full) and then my hubby needs his hair cut. I have had my hair cut only once since my son was born as we just don’t have the money (and I am only talking about a hair cut, not a full on new do like highlights and such). As a mother, I am the last to eat, sleep, or do anything for me. I LOVE this pic!

    Reply
    • Andy says:
      at 10:58 am

      YES!!! EXACTLY! This image is so much deeper than “stretch marks are swell, boys and girls!” It’s about a badge of honor and self sacrifice, it’s about living and surviving with grace and determination. It’s about split ends and cooled off meals. So many things! Ugh! YOU ARE RAD!

      Reply
  • Ashlee says:
    at 8:58 am

    Thanks for this. I’m in my 1st trimester of my 3rd pregnancy and a little over-emotional so this post totally made me cry. It’s comforting to see women treated with such respect and admiration on a website intended for male readers. As you know, this is usually not the case. Kudos to you guys!

    Reply
    • Andy says:
      at 4:49 pm

      Charlie and I are both creative souls so its easier for us to be more emotionally expressive, like we’re just one of the girls. Or two. Glad it touched you. And thank you for the really meaningful compliment. 🙂

      Reply
      • ZoE says:
        at 3:07 pm

        Ditto Ashlee. It almost made me cry too…. touched me too, and I’m not pregnant or hormonal…. regardless of what the husband says 🙂

        Reply
  • tiger earned her stripes | Portland, Oregon: boudoir photography for creative people says:
    at 9:32 am

    […] source […]

    Reply
  • Emily says:
    at 9:40 am

    I’ve never understood the whole “ruined body after having a baby” thing. So you held on to an extra 5 – 10 lb. and you have a few stretch marks. So what?! A ruined body to me would entail holding onto an extra 50 lb. and needing reconstructive surgery for your vagina. Damn. lol

    Reply
    • Andy says:
      at 4:53 pm

      C’mon, some woman freak over a single grey hair or wrinkle. We live in an odd world when it comes to the perception of beauty, full of judgement and pressure and bulls##t for women. But you’re right, “ruined” is always a hard word to hear used. Very sad.

      Reply
    • Stephanie K. says:
      at 5:20 pm

      Just have to comment here to say I am BELOW my pre-preggo weight, yet I have flab hanging over the front of my jeans. WTF is that?!? Lol! But I don’t feel like I’ve ruined my body at all 🙂

      Reply
  • Sara says:
    at 9:51 am

    I may not have “stripes” but I have some smoosh that won’t go anywhere (despite my best efforts) and wider hips. I consider those things my stripes and love every ounce of this beautiful tummy because it gave us our wonderful little boy.

    Reply
  • Sam says:
    at 9:59 am

    this post nearly made me cry…it is so beautiful…your wife is lucky she has a husband who feels this way…so many men cant stop finding opportunities to let their wives know how unattractive the extra weight and the loose skin is…
    but motherhood is beautiful…babies are worth the pain and the “damage”…

    Reply
    • Andy says:
      at 10:52 am

      Yay! It’s such a moving image for me too. Our kids are so worth it and moms are such rockstars!

      Reply
  • Adriana says:
    at 10:27 am

    love the post. Thank you.

    Reply
  • Jeannie says:
    at 10:34 am

    Just wanted to say thank you for all the funny and endearing things you share. I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time. I have a 4 and 2year old. I can relate to all your stories which makes things even funnier. Keep up the great work.

    Reply
    • Andy says:
      at 10:50 am

      Aw, shucks, thanks! You are so welcome! We love making people laugh. Actually we’re kind of obsessed with it. It may even be a condition of some sort. 😉

      Reply
  • Robyn says:
    at 11:16 am

    Then I’m a flippin’ vicious tiger! I’ve got enough stripes to go around. 🙂 My cubs were 8lb. 7oz, 8lb. 4oz, and 10lb. 12oz! My stripes were definitely earned and I’m super proud of them. Doesn’t mean I’m going to show them off, but I taught myself to look at them and remember each pregnancy and how much I loved carrying my babies.

    Reply
  • Alex says:
    at 11:27 am

    My ex gained a bunch of weight – which she never lost, got pretty bad stretch marks and a c-section scar. That never changed my attraction for her though. Hell i thought she was more attractive afterwards, all of those things only reminded me that she’s the mother of my child.

    Reply
  • elizabeth traub says:
    at 6:31 pm

    These is a nice way to honor mothers everywhere. Love that my husband still thinks I am hot after five kids.

    Reply
  • Rachael says:
    at 10:09 pm

    The idea of this is nice, but I have a feeling even this pic is altered. No one has stretch marks this pretty! But thanks for the props anyway!

    Reply
  • JC says:
    at 10:44 pm

    Come on now, you guys are just recycling existing stuff with your logo on it? This has been around for a while. Here’s just one example:

    https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=136303429803792&id=231026770242885

    Reply
    • Andy says:
      at 12:53 pm

      I’m not sure if you understand how virality works, but sorry to bug you. There are mothers in our community who haven’t seen this amazing message and some who had who were blown away again by it because two dads were sharing it.

      Reply
  • Business Dad says:
    at 5:49 am

    Hi guys,

    very good message. Just reposted it here: http://www.businessdad.de/mums-are-tigers/

    Thanks for this good stuff!

    Reply
    • Andy says:
      at 11:14 am

      You’re a rockstar. Mothers are super moved by MEN sharing this, so you’re extra rockstar for it.

      Reply
  • brodie says:
    at 8:40 am

    I shared this on my wife’s FB timeline when you posted it the other day, and she was actually very touched. I thought she was going to either be embarrassed or creeped out, but she thought it was very sweet of me. 🙂

    So, thanks for earning me some brownie points!

    Reply
    • Andy says:
      at 11:12 am

      Ha ha! You bet, man. I love brownies and I love points, so I like brownie points too! It’s like Reese’s peanut butter cups, except that that’s a kind of gross comparison somehow. 😉

      Reply
  • Mimi says:
    at 4:14 pm

    Awww, this made me tear up a little! I’m pregnant with our 2nd child now… silly hormones! 🙂 thanks for making me feel not so hideous!

    Reply
  • Charlene says:
    at 12:07 pm

    I have 3 kids now..soon-to-be 10yrs, soon-to-be 5yrs and a 1yr old…since then, I’ve gained weight, stretch marks, and a better attitude/perspective towards life, myself, and family! I’m a tiger! Roar baby!

    Reply
  • mandy says:
    at 8:40 pm

    I’m very pregnant with my first baby & to my horror discovered some of these forming beneath what was once my belly button. My first thought: Sheeeeeeit. I’ve seen this picture circulating the internet, but it means a whole new thing when posted by dads. Thanks guys 🙂

    Reply
    • Andy says:
      at 11:15 am

      We’re proud to be a part of sharing this message with mothers. You are totally welcome! Enjoy the most amazing thing that is about to (in only a few months!) happen! 🙂

      Reply
  • JBoog's Mom says:
    at 10:17 am

    LOVE IT!

    Reply
  • CatZilla says:
    at 2:04 pm

    I’m with Mandy^! I’m 8 mos with my first and my stripes are just now showing up. Thanks for the reassurance!! 🙂

    Reply
  • Gdella says:
    at 7:41 pm

    Thank you so much for putting this up… I have been extremely depressed about the way I look after giving birth to my son, and I have been working very hard to adjust to my new body. Don’t get me wrong, my son means the world to me and everything I “gave” up for him was well worth it but adjustment is hard. My new view of my stripes secretly makes me smile!!
    Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

    Reply
  • LC says:
    at 3:45 pm

    This post made me cry because my husband posted it on FB and well, I’m 7 months pregnant so everything makes me cry. My stripes are still coming in but I’m definitely earning them!

    Reply
    • Andy says:
      at 2:12 pm

      You are rad, with or without tears or stripes. CONGRATULATIONS (soon)!!!

      Reply
  • Leila (Don't Speak Whinese) says:
    at 4:21 pm

    Do you guys truly realize the wonderful impact this has on so many women (and dudes that need a clue) when it comes to self image in womanhood? We are bombarded by the bullshit idealistic perspective of “beautiful” in ads, shows and movies… It’s in our faces from infancy and most women feel that if they don’t fit that mold then they aren’t, in fact, beautiful.

    I adore you guys (and your wives!) and this made you go up super bonus platinum points. Thank you for keeping it real, by being real men who see what real beauty is… and that’s women that have tiger stripes, curves and who talk about tampons making things better in the world again. 😉

    Reply
    • Andy says:
      at 2:11 pm

      We’re so blown away by the response from mothers and woman. You are so so so welcome. Though we only took part in the sharing of this amazing message, we’re so glad we did and so moved by the positivity it has created.

      Reply
  • Reyna says:
    at 7:16 pm

    WOW! This made me smile & cry but it truly touched me I’m proud of having a few tiger stripes ! 🙂 Being a mother is the hardest job on earth but wouldn’t change it for the world!!!

    Reply
  • Chantell says:
    at 5:16 am

    As a mom of 4 over 9 pound babies I definitely earned my stripes, but I am not sure I really deserved the 3 square feet of extra skin that disturbingly resembled an old man’s scrotum hanging around my belly button area. Eventually I “took care of it”-insert mafia like innuendo here- but I have to say though that at no point did my husband treat me like I was any different than the day he met me (hence all the babies I guess!) Thank you so much for being the good guys and sharing a message that will help women understand such a warm point of view. When friends talk about how they are feeling ugly or frumpy after kids and can’t understand why their husbands still want them I tell them, “At some point one of you will convince the other of their point of view. Who do you want it to be?.” Great job guys!

    Reply
  • Emma says:
    at 7:44 am

    I think every woman who has stretch marks from having a baby should be proud of them, you created life.

    Reply
  • Tiffany Barry says:
    at 6:35 am

    Just popping in to say thanks! I have one beautiful child turning 4 and am pregnant with our second. I am proud of every stretch mark I have, and my husband laughingly calls them my battle scars because he sure as hell could’t have done (or be doing) what I did!

    We are overwhelmed by images of the way women are supposed to look, and it seems these expectations don’t relax just because you’ve had a baby. Thank you for making us feel so beautiful and accepted! It means a lot to have some positive images to look at as I watch the scale slowly tick higher :p

    Great post guys!

    Reply
  • Elizalou says:
    at 2:38 pm

    So I’m clearly not the first to say thanks, but I am going to do it anyway. I have never posted a comment this (or any) blog, but I had to say something about this. My husband sent me a link to this site. I am due with our first child in about two weeks and spend a good ten minutes every morning inspecting the stretch marks on my growing bump from all angles with a hand mirror.

    Like you and your wife, I also fear a future with no bikinis. But this image taught me some valuable lessons. 1) If you have a stomach that looks this sexy and feminine, you should definitely still wear a bikini, stripes and all. That includes you, Andy. 2) Being compared to the most majestic, bad-ass creature on earth makes a girl feel pretty good. And 3) I might need to consider cutting the morning belly inspections . . . Or shortening them. Doing them when my husband isn’t watching? Ah well, one step at a time.

    Thank you so much for sharing this image. It has seriously changed my whole perspective on what it means to be a hot mama.

    Reply
    • Andy says:
      at 12:18 am

      You humble us with your kind words… just speechless… blown away! You’re amazing.

      Reply
  • Turtle-Dove says:
    at 3:10 pm

    This is the first time I have ever heard anything positive about stretch marks except “maybe they will go away someday?” it made me feel alot better about mine. Thank-you

    Reply
    • Andy says:
      at 1:21 pm

      You bet. We’ve caught some heat for promoting this, like we were saying stretchmarks are the new breast implants or something. Those people missed the point and can enjoy their life of bitter disassociation from others. You got the point. 😉

      Reply
  • dovely says:
    at 10:58 am

    now how can you reframe my deflated boobs?

    Reply
  • Lisa Marie Mary says:
    at 12:01 pm

    You guys are just too cool! Thank you!!!!!!!

    Found you through your babies vs. zombies pic that was shared on FB, and I’m so glad I did. This particular post is just what I needed today. Thank you. Really.

    Reply
    • Andy says:
      at 4:40 pm

      You’re so so so welcome! Thanks for visiting! Do come back again. 😉

      Reply
  • TheFeministBreeder says:
    at 7:36 am

    Three huge babies, no tiger stripes. I thought for sure it would happen, but it didn’t. (and no, I didn’t use any creams – just luck.) BUT, I do have a big ‘ol cesarean scar from my first one, so that’s my “badge of honor” I suppose.

    But thank you for posting this. My husband thinks my post-baby body is WAY hotter than the way he found me, and he has a hard time understanding how other men don’t appreciate what our bodies have done to bring them babies. I knew I liked you guys 🙂

    Reply
  • Ashly says:
    at 5:28 pm

    Just one more reason I love your site! Thank you for being one in a crowd..

    Reply
  • Amber says:
    at 8:03 pm

    Love it! I am a mother of three and I have so many stripes. I feel so so well ugly because of them. I am active and in great shape. But swimming was my favorite past time but I just don’t have the courage to wear a swimsuit. This post made me feel a little better but I wish more people saw it that way! Thanks!

    Reply

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