I need counseling...I bought a bathing suit this week

I know many of you, when you read the title of this blog, heaved a deep sigh of understanding. I shared this news with a friend of mine and she said, "oh, I'm so sorry!"'

This drawn-out process of torture actually began several weeks ago. My husband and I had a weekend away for our anniversary, and so I thought it was a perfect time to look for a suit. No children. Good moral support.

I don't know how many stores I went to. Must have been at least 500. All of them had either bikinis with less cotton than is contained in an aspirin bottle, or had those "grandma" swimsuits—lots of big orchids plastered all over and complete with a frilly tutu-like skirt to hide struggling thighs.

I finally found a place that had bathing suits my own age and body type. Still, it was torture. For the 30 minutes that I tried on suits, the thoughts running through my head were painful enough and wounding enough to make a even the most confident woman weak in the knees and in the spirit.

So why share this?

First, I think it's important for us as girls' leaders to recognize that we struggle with our own body image just like girls do. Now, I'm what statistics would call "average" as a woman's size. But of course, that's not good enough. On a good day, I'm ok with being average. On a bad day, I swear that I'll join the Y, hop back on Weight Watchers, and I compare myself with every skinny girl who is half my size (and probably half my age, too.)

Second, I think it's a good reminder that this season isn't just about modesty. While we often harp all over girls for their bikinis, (if they need some modest swim wear, let them check out www.limericki.com/) we forget that they are struggling with body image issues of their own. They're constantly bombarded by images that they could never measure up to. If I struggle with my own body image, how much more do teenage girls, given the constant pressure that they are under to look fantastic in a piece of clothing that no one would look good in unless she ate one meal a day and worked out four hours a day!

This summer, take some time to talk with girls about body image. Challenge their thinking. Help them evaluate what voices their listening to. Remind them about health and balance, not obsession. And in the process, maybe you'll be helping yourself.

How are you dealing with your own issues related to how you view your body? How do those internal issues surface as you work with girls?