Body-conscious mom asks son if she looks 'chubby,' hoping he'd say 'no.' His unexpected reply brought her to tears

A woman's body goes through significant physical changes, especially during the menopausal transition — and Kerri-Ann Williams (@kerriannchristine), a mom to four boys, can certainly vouch for it. After gaining nearly 15 pounds, she had become a little conscious of how she looked in her clothes. In fact, at a family gathering, Williams wondered if she looked "chubby." Now, while every other family member refused with an obligatory "no," her son's beautiful response instantly restored her confidence. Williams recalled the heartfelt incident on April 6, and her post has received over 9,000 likes on Threads.

You asked if you look 'chubby'

Although Williams' son, AJ, didn't say much to her at the family gathering, the 22-year-old sent his mother a wholesome text after returning to the college campus. "You asked me earlier if you thought you looked ‘chubby’ or something… I don’t remember the word, but 1. No. But 2., you are the most beautiful, perfect mom any of us could’ve prayed for… Love you, mama," he wrote. As you'd expect, his message stopped Williams in her tracks, as she was overwhelmed by her son's unconditional love and admiration for her. 

'I was touched'

The text meant the world to Williams, as being a parent is a difficult job, and it's not often you get your flowers for being a good one. Moreover, it also shows that her children love her no matter what she thinks of herself. In fact, it was a full-circle moment for Williams, who, since her children's younger days, has been encouraging them and finally was happy to be on the receiving end of things. "I was so very touched because his words filled my bucket," she told Newsweek. 

"I have four sons, and I have always tried to speak life into them. It is a wonderful thing to see that coming back from them," she further noted. What makes this even more impressive is the fact that Williams' children are there for her at all times, something that is sadly becoming a rarity in the modern world.

Speaking of perimenopause, gaining weight during the climacteric phase isn't unusual. In fact, nearly 60% of women have a BMI (body mass index) above the 'ideal' range, according to a report by The Ohio State University. Another study tracked women over time to determine whether menopause truly affects body weight and body composition.

Researchers (Gail A. Greendale, Barbara Sternfeld, and MeiHua Huang, among others) noted the changes before, during, and after the last menstrual cycle and found significant changes. They found that, before menopause, while weight increased steadily, during the menopausal transition, the rate of fat gain almost doubled. Notably, after menopause, they found that weight ultimately stopped increasing and became stable. Hence, the study concluded, "Accelerated gains in fat mass and losses of lean mass are MT-related phenomena."

Nonetheless, the world wouldn't have known this lovely story, as her children don't like to be posted on social media. So, Williams decided to give Threads a go for this post, and it took the platform by storm. @ann.dunaway wrote, "What a beautiful message from *clearly* the most amazing son a mother could ever have. This made me tear up, it’s so sweet." @findyoureagle commented, "Oh my goodness. That means he kept thinking about you after he got back to campus. Sweet soul."

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