If you look at my preschool class photo, I was a head taller than all my classmates. I continued to be one of the tallest kids in the class throughout my school years. In addition to being tall, I have always had quite a bit of muscle. I am not a small girl and have never been. A lot of my physique is genetic, but I also have always been very active and worked hard physically. My farm girls get it.
‘Strong’ was not my goal when I was a kid slinging bales of hay, but instead was the natural side effect of wanting to get chores done as fast as possible. While many people that knew me growing up assumed I was naturally confident, when it came to my body image I was not. I was bigger than all my friends . . . and all the boys. Let’s just say it is easy to point out differences, and kids can be cruel.
If I wasn’t working cows I was playing sports. The farm and the court were two places where being bigger and stronger was to my advantage. My happy places, to be sure.
Fortunately, I grew to appreciate my size and strength. As a highschooler dreaming about playing college basketball, I wished I was even taller! It certainly helped that my closest friends were my teammates and that they, too, were tall and strong like me. We parted crowds and could see above everyone else. We were a force to be reckoned with, and together we helped each other realize the power in our presence.
I now have a daughter who is ‘off the charts’ as she is often described. I remind her constantly that she is strong, smart, and healthy, among other positive characteristics. A few days ago, we were out, and she walked up to a mirror. On her own initiative, she looked at her reflection and said, “I am strong, and I am healthy!” with exuberance. My heart almost burst with emotion. She is only 3 years old, but my hope for her is that she knows these truths now and forever, without a doubt.
The author grew up on a Florida dairy farm, obtained a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of South Florida and has spent her career in dairy processing. She now serves as business development manager for North America with Bunge. Erin and her husband live in St. Louis, Mo., with their three children. Her personal mantra is “Be Bold.”
