As I sit here with my morning cup of coffee, reflect on the past week and get ready for the day ahead, I am truly thankful to look like a mom! Why would that ridiculous thought even cross my mind when there are SO many important things to be thankful for? And what in the world does “looking like a mom” look like?
I had a conversation with a friend recently that went a little something like this: “I was talking about you to a lady at work the other day!” How nice I thought! Was it a recipe I shared or a kids event I told her about?
“I told her that you when you had one child, you were so well put together! Hair straightened. Make-up done. Nice outfit. Now that you have two children, you look like me!”
Excuse me, but what in the hell was that supposed to mean?? To be honest, I was speechless. I automatically put on that fake-smile (as I stood there in my yoga pants and t-shirt) and responded “It happens!” She was obviously taking notes on how I looked instead of seeing the smiles on my girls faces from riding bikes and running around outside on that particular afternoon. Some may take her comment as an initiation into motherhood with more than one child, but I of course took it differently!
After our delightful conversation, I went into analyzing mode, which is a best practice for me. It is clearly about vanity, as I do like to look like I have it together! I have been trying really hard to embrace my naturally curly hair, wear no make-up, and acknowledge that is is ok to wear leggings and t-shirt more than one day a week. After all, taking a little stress out of my morning routine would have great benefits! Even as it is the best dress-code around, I am still trying to embrace it!
In the 5 years that I have had the “Mom badge” I have realized one very important thing… Moms are going to look like moms because we are the BEST at our jobs! We often stay up late to get things done, or choose to get a few minutes of extra sleep in the morning instead of a shower. We are all up many times throughout the night nursing our sweet babies, scaring monsters away, or worrying about this thing called life. We are busy every minute of every day teaching, playing, and seeking out adventure!
I made a promise to myself that I would never “let myself go” once I had children, and I would always make time for me. I love fashion & make-up, along with finding a killer deal on a shirt at TJ Maxx…why should I push that aside just because I am a mom? Truth be told, moms put everyone else’s needs above there own. I see it, hear it and live it every day. Getting up and ready (before the kids bounce out of bed) puts a positive spin on your day. If you look good, you feel good right?! I have just learned that my definition of looking good changes many times throughout the week thanks to the two darlings that call me Mom! And I am OK with that!
I think moms partly look like moms because your style has to change once you are a mom. At one point in time, the only style pants I would buy were low rise. I had a flat stomach then and never really had the need to contort my body to all kinds of positions. These days, I live in high rise jeans where everything stays put no matter the movement. I now understand why my mom wore “mom jeans”. At least now there is Pinterest to show you how to style those high rise jeans!