Remember Carleigh O’Connell? The 14-year old who responded to bullying by her classmates by posing for a Facebook photo alongside the insulting piece of graffiti left for her by said classmates? Now it’s time to meet Tanis Jex-Blake – and to be equally inspired. This mother of five was suntanning at Alberta Beach in Edmonton on Tuesday, wearing a two-piece for the first time since giving birth to her first child in 2001. While trying to relax, she overheard people referring to her as “nasty” and “disgusting” and then opened her eyes to see two men and one woman pointing at her stretch mark-filled stomach. Jex-Blake says she quickly left, broke down in the car ride home, but then decided to stand up for herself on Facebook. “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,” she wrote alongside the photos above. Added Tanis: “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.” The 33-year old says she didn’t know how folks would respond to her post, but concluded: “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. “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 shared Jex-Blake’s pictures and story online and she has been shocked/flattered by the outcry of support she’s received. Wrote one man, for example: “My wife has four kids… and we call her stretch marks ‘love stories’. It’s beautiful! Real men appreciate those stretch marks.” Let’s hope the lame, fake men out there take note and change their attitude. 11 Signs You’re a Parent 1. Potty Time What is it about going to the bathroom that acts as a Bat Signal for children, alarming them to your whereabouts and begging them to be your audience whilst you do your business?
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Mother of 5 Stands Up to Bullies, Posts Photo of Stretch Marks on Facebook
