My Daughters are Unstoppable

Unstoppable Moms For Unstoppable Girls

We asked Canadian Writer and YMC Member Catherine Burden to share what makes her an unstoppable mom. Read Catherine’s story...

Catherine Burden

Always a Redhead

Swimming. I love swimming, but my body is no longer what it used to look like after having three children and being in numerous motor vehicle accidents. I thought about quitting swimming and not having my husband put the pool up, as he does every summer, but last year, I am not sure what happened, I became comfortable and accepting of my body, of my extra flab. So accepting, I started swimming topless in our own pool much to the dismay of my kids.

Read Catherine’s full story here…

YMC is celebrating all of the Dove Unstoppable Moms for Unstoppable Girls contest winners!
 
Read more inspiring stories from the winners of the Dove Unstoppable Moms for Unstoppable Girls Contest and get great advice on how to raise your own Unstoppable Girl. Plus, download a special tool kit from Dove to teach the young girls in your life how to grow into strong, confident women.

Mother of three young adults. Our eldest, recently moved out. Middle daughter, graduated from university, and is just finishing graduate school. The youngest is in his third year of university in another province.

I love camping in the wilderness of Algonquin Provincial Park which always includes one portage. I have a wonderful, patient husband who will carry all the gear and do most of the paddling. I also love cooking and spending time with our beagle Cocoa and middle child's dog Bear, who also lives with us.

More about me: 1st accident April 27th, 1979, five cars hit the city bus I am on. 2nd accident May 6th, 1979, city bus smashes into truck (I am on the bus). 3rd accident May 6th, 1983, car coming towards us, totals drivers side of car. Years of physiotherapy and massage therapy ensue. Pain meds, muscle relaxants, etc. 4th accident, May 1989, I am seven months pregnant when we are rear ended. 1st back surgery at age 40; 2nd back surgery, two years later. Both are failures. As of 2006, I am permanently disabled and unable to work. I suffer from chronic pain and chronic muscle spasms (I fall a lot), permanent numbness and tingling from the waist down caused by damaged nerves in back, sitting is extremely painful, add in degenerative disc disease, arthritis in all my joints & back, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, three bulging discs in my neck.

I am thankful for a very patient husband, and three kids who will do anything for me.

Life does go on, it is just altered.

I was born a redhead, but now I have to pay for it. My mind still works but my body hates me.