At lunch with my former co-workers, one of them asked me if I was one of those mommies that "gets manicures during the day".
I just laughed, but couldn't quite find the words to say, "WTF, do you think I LOOK pampered?"
As I sat there with a jacket hiding food stains from my son, nails to the nub, smeared make up, and puffy sleep-derived eyes, the answer was a resounding "NO!". (But, I'm certainly flattered that she thought so...)
Manicure, my ass. I'm lucky to get my hair brushed...
I just laughed, but couldn't quite find the words to say, "WTF, do you think I LOOK pampered?"
As I sat there with a jacket hiding food stains from my son, nails to the nub, smeared make up, and puffy sleep-derived eyes, the answer was a resounding "NO!". (But, I'm certainly flattered that she thought so...)
Manicure, my ass. I'm lucky to get my hair brushed...
...which, by the way, didn't happen on that particular day as shortly before heading out, I broke my SECOND salon-grade round hairbrush in a month. I'm not proud of it, I'm just saying.
As a new mom, I constantly waffle between caring a great deal and not so much about the way I look.
I find myself falling deeper and deeper into the complacency that seems to come with motherhood. Let's face it. It's hard to focus on yourself when you're so focused on the well-being of a small, helpless creature that depends on you, and you alone, for its care and safety.
Of course, I still make the effort to dress up for Mass once a week, parties, lunches with friends, or a grown-up night out. I'm just fearful that as these event become more and more hectic with more and more children, I'll give up entirely.
For instance, there is a mom that I see at church every week in the same black, velour tracksuit. At least, I think it's the same black, velour tracksuit. For all I know, she could several velour tracksuits... one for everyday of the week even, but we're not good enough friends for me to know that for sure.
In many ways, I am already like this woman. My day-to-day wardrobe consists of t-shirts and capri pants or jeans, hair pulled back in a pony tail, and absolutely no make-up. My only accessory is my wedding band and maybe a watch. Since my son likes to pull on my earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, they're not an option most days.
In my defense, the minimal amount of time it takes me to put that together is all that is afforded to me by my very clever and precocious son. You see, getting ready every day also includes keeping my son out of the toilet paper, away from my shoes, and out of my make-up. Yesterday, he broke through the baby-proofing and dumped about 200 hair pins out of their closed container and onto the floor. The time before, he pulled the cord of my hairdryer and it shattered upon hitting the floor...
Let's just say it's hard to keep one eye on mirror and both hands on him....
Fulled with self-righteousness, I justify this look with "well, I'm a mom" and obviously I have more important things to do than preen in front of the mirror or match colorful shoes with pretty dresses. After all, I'm doing the greatest job a woman can do. I am a mother and I have a child to take care of...
...and then I see some hipster mom at a restaurant or in the park with two, three, or more kids and looking so put together. Motherhood didn't change her sense of style one bit!
Like that mom I saw with her two little girls at the mall yesterday. Both were dressed to the nines in their Easter dresses; no doubt just having posed with the Easter Bunny. The mom was wearing a t-shirt and jeans just like me, but she also had on a trendy belt, matchy-matchy wedges, and some long strands of pearls around her neck. Her hair was done up and her face was flawless. I swear, she could have jumped right out of an episode of America's Next Top Model to take her kids to the mall only to go back and win.
Sure, there's nothing wrong with the way that I dress to take care of my son, but I know I could do better...
When I told my husband about my co-worker, he suggested that next time I see her I shove some diaper cream under my nails to get that "french manicure" look.
I'm not sure what impressed me more... the fact that it seems like a really clever idea or that my husband knows what a french manicure is...
Of course, I still make the effort to dress up for Mass once a week, parties, lunches with friends, or a grown-up night out. I'm just fearful that as these event become more and more hectic with more and more children, I'll give up entirely.
For instance, there is a mom that I see at church every week in the same black, velour tracksuit. At least, I think it's the same black, velour tracksuit. For all I know, she could several velour tracksuits... one for everyday of the week even, but we're not good enough friends for me to know that for sure.
In many ways, I am already like this woman. My day-to-day wardrobe consists of t-shirts and capri pants or jeans, hair pulled back in a pony tail, and absolutely no make-up. My only accessory is my wedding band and maybe a watch. Since my son likes to pull on my earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, they're not an option most days.
In my defense, the minimal amount of time it takes me to put that together is all that is afforded to me by my very clever and precocious son. You see, getting ready every day also includes keeping my son out of the toilet paper, away from my shoes, and out of my make-up. Yesterday, he broke through the baby-proofing and dumped about 200 hair pins out of their closed container and onto the floor. The time before, he pulled the cord of my hairdryer and it shattered upon hitting the floor...
Let's just say it's hard to keep one eye on mirror and both hands on him....
Fulled with self-righteousness, I justify this look with "well, I'm a mom" and obviously I have more important things to do than preen in front of the mirror or match colorful shoes with pretty dresses. After all, I'm doing the greatest job a woman can do. I am a mother and I have a child to take care of...
...and then I see some hipster mom at a restaurant or in the park with two, three, or more kids and looking so put together. Motherhood didn't change her sense of style one bit!
Like that mom I saw with her two little girls at the mall yesterday. Both were dressed to the nines in their Easter dresses; no doubt just having posed with the Easter Bunny. The mom was wearing a t-shirt and jeans just like me, but she also had on a trendy belt, matchy-matchy wedges, and some long strands of pearls around her neck. Her hair was done up and her face was flawless. I swear, she could have jumped right out of an episode of America's Next Top Model to take her kids to the mall only to go back and win.
Sure, there's nothing wrong with the way that I dress to take care of my son, but I know I could do better...
When I told my husband about my co-worker, he suggested that next time I see her I shove some diaper cream under my nails to get that "french manicure" look.
I'm not sure what impressed me more... the fact that it seems like a really clever idea or that my husband knows what a french manicure is...
photo by The Rocketeer
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