This time of year, you’ll see a lot of posts on social media encouraging women of all shapes, sizes, and ages to wear the swimsuit they want. “Wear that bikini!” they tell you. “You don’t have to cover up!” There’s a sense that we all should be able to wear clothes we like, even if our bodies are imperfect or we’re past a certain age. And I’m 100% on board with that (though I still hear my mother’s voice in my head every time I wear a tank top and show off my chubby arms). But there’s also a subtle message that wearing anything that isn’t skin-baring is a sign we’ve “given in,” that we’re less fun, that we’re fuddy-duddies. And on that note, I’m here to tell you: “Wear that mom swimsuit!”
Let’s get real here: I’m a pale white lady with dark body hair. If I want to wear a traditionally cut swimsuit, some prep work has to happen. (I’ve let go of a lot of beauty standards, but not that one.) So when my son was a toddler and outings to the pool or splash pad came up frequently and spontaneously, I realized I needed a better solution. Enter swim shorts: Mid-thigh shorts made of swimsuit material that cover your bikini line but still let you move easily. (Some models even have pockets, and what woman doesn’t want need more pockets?)
The other half of my “mom swimsuit” is a rash guard. This year’s model is bright blue and sleeveless with a crew neck, though you can find them with long or short sleeves. I wear a tankini underneath, so I can get a little sun on my back and upper chest if I want, but I pop the rash guard back on after about 20 minutes.
The reason for the rash guard: I am truly dismal at putting sunscreen on my back. On those pool outings with a toddler, I didn’t have another grown-up to make sure I was covered. Spray sunscreens weren’t reliable on days with any breeze. And I was tired of getting sunburns every time. So when my dermatologist looked at my upper back (right in the middle of the sunburn zone) and said, “Hmm, this mole looks a little sketchy,” I decided enough was enough. Rash guards give me sun protection and peace of mind.
My “mom swimsuit” isn’t fashionable, but it doesn’t need to be. I am a better mom when I can quickly say yes to a pool outing without doing the math on when I last shaved my bikini line. There’ll be time for stylish swimsuits when he’s grown. So if you see me at Carowinds or a splash pad this year, I hope you’ll see a mom who wants to have fun with her kid – and who’s chosen a swimsuit that helps her do that.
