I know I'm not fooling anyone
I should be making dinner right now, even though it's only 2 p.m. but I have errands for the afternoon. If I stuck to my duties though, this post would not be written - as all the other posts since mid-November. Days go by so fast but things do not seem to move. It's still the same work, starting from scratch every day, trying to keep up the basic fundamentals: sleeping, making food, making children eat food, keeping children clean, keeping house seem like clean, keeping head above water while waiting for... I don't know, a little more freedom maybe.
I am about 15 lbs away from pre-pregnancy (the one with Veronika) size and while I'm not depressed about it (not yet, anyway) I get annoyed from time to time that like so many other things, looking good or at least satisfactory, is still so many months away (probably years, but I need some illusion in my life). I refuse to buy a regular wardrobe for this size, so I am living in pants #1 and pants #2, three to five cotton t-shirts, two button-down shirts and a sweater. No, wait, TWO sweaters. And then there's the one skirt for church and work.
What is frustrating about this is that it is enough. I really don't need more clothes, because I have no place to wear them. What not to wear would kill me, but honestly, there is something sadder than wearing jeans and t-shirts day after day: wearing something nice and getting it ruined. It's a running joke how moms look frumpy and boring, and you could've caught me laughing at it three and a half years ago when I was clueless and spoke in whole sentences. I realize now... mothers wear uniforms. You don't laugh at the construction worker in his baggy pants and the unflattering reflective jacket. You don't suggest the chef wear a tuxedo when he's cooking. Yet, the mothers are so ridiculous with their schlumpy attire when all they have to do is stand beside their kids and look cute all day. Right? What DO we do all day?
So it might be that I have lost myself somewhat while tending to my children's needs, but I have also made a decision not to bother with looking cute while at work, because it is not practical and doesn't help me with the attitude. They say kids do better in school sometimes when they wear uniforms because it helps them get into working mode. Wearing simple stuff that can get dirty helps me feel ready to tackle things and not worry about what is going to happen to my outfit. And besides, an outfit would only remind me how I am wearing me-time-clothes to a series of events (like, preschool-dropoff, Ivan's babyfood extravaganza or Veronika's playdoh fiesta) that scream "totally baby time!" and that is bad for attitude, bad bad.
So I wear the one pair of jeans.
Then some combination of a H&M t-shirt I have in various colors. And finally my red shoes...
...which are a sure-fire strategy to distract people from the disaster that is my hair.
Still, I do draw the line at mom jeans. I will not wear high waisted pants. Never, never. I also do not wear sweats. They don't suit me, in fact they don't suit most people. I would rather wear curlers to the supermarket then display my thighs in velour.
Some people call the lack of fashionable variety in mothers a sign of neglect. It might be, if you look at child rearing as a bad hobby. I've just adjusted my life to the current demands. Five minutes on the couch beat five minutes in front of the mirror any day.
Posted at 02:07 PM on December 12, 2006
This entry is depressing. Not you, but just the truth of what you write. Prior to kids many years ago, my style was "casual nice"-no jeans, no sweats, no sneakers. I had to change my style. It's OK, but I long for a chance to look nice. I get my hair done, but for who? I go for days without seeing civilisation besides supermarket people or other Moms at other Mom-things.
And you know, I hate the frumpy Mom thing. I see lots of frumpy teenagers and young adults around, but as soon as you have an excuse, you know, that popping out 6 kids gives you a pouch, it's like "ha ha, you're a frumpy no life having mother..."
hehe, I am actually sitting here grinning because I'm glad that I'm NOT ALONE wearing the same jeans and T-shirts day in and day out ... And that from someone who used to boycott jeans throughout her teenagerhood, just because.(and my hair? Sometimes I ask my mom to cut it for me because I don't even have freakin' time to go to the hairdresser, how sad is that?!?)
LOL!!! Dinka, I love you. :) Just this morning I said to my daughter before we left to take her to school, "Let me go get on my jeans" (out of my pjs, of course). When I heard myself say that, I immediately thought of the Mom Jeans video (I've seen it online before). I wear the same uniform as you do, although I don't have any sweaters. I keep donating clothes I don't like but then I don't replenish. So I have little more than a couple pairs of jeans (one has a hole) and a pair of corduroys that are too big at the waist and will give me plumber's butt if I don't wear a belt. Oh, and I don't do sweats, either.
Anyway, you're a cute mom and you always look nice in pictures. Keep up the great blogging! It's nice to know there are many of us out there feeling the same! :)
This was a great post, Dinka. I'm definitely in the jeans and t-shirt or sweatshirt camp. Sometimes I go all out and wear a sweater. LOL.
The mommy uniform where I live is matching sweatsuits in terry/velour fabric. The hooded top jacket part is usually unzipped enough to reveal some super-trendy tank top underneath. These outfits appear to only come in black, white, and pink. They are worn with tennis shoes and full makeup. It really makes no sense.
Anyway, you're a cute mom and you always look nice in pictures.
I have to second that. You have the nicest taste in casual "Mom" clothes, including the red shoes. I am not kissing up, I can totally say that since I spent like the past 4 months in your clothes.
Velour sweat suits! Yucky! Those things have a way of accenting every flaw as opposed to any positive figure characteristics.
I like the red shoes too.
As I read your first paragraph, I was like..."Well, as long as one strays away from Mompants (thinking of the SNL skit), all is well." Then when you linked to it I was just rofl. I'm sure Stacy and Clinton would approve of your syle. They would have a field day with me! The thing is that most of the fashion disasters that make it on to their show, are truly oblivious to their fashion faux pas, whereas I think that I actually have good taste and always know exactly what the fashion "experts" are going to say before they say it. I was the one from whom my sister's would constantly borrow clothing (read: take without asking). I should take it as a hint that noone hasn't raided my closet in years! You'd never guess by my daily attire though that I'd have any sense in the fashion department! The problem is that with a tight budget, I never get to shop. And on the off chance that I do get to shop, practicality is key. The Mom job description, which often involves having all sorts of stuff splatter all over myself greatly adds to this need for practicality. But I'd have to say that the biggest obstacle to my dressing better is my weight. :\ I think what you describe as your daily attire is still cute, and you always look great in all of the pictures you've shared. Heck, you still fit into a pair of jeans! I got these pink corduroy stretchy pants from Old Navy and they're of the low rise variety. They *used* to fit and were/are tres cute with a nice top. I was horrified yesterday when I tried them on and couldn't sit down for fear of exposure. I hate those low cut styles anyway, but I draw the line at the high waisted jeans.
I could go on and on on this topic (obviously). Sigh.
I should proofread next time. That should read, "sisters" and "noone *has* raided my closet." Sheesh.
Oh goodness... mom jeans... I hate, hate, hate high-waisted jeans. I prefer something around the belly button, not over it.
When I was doing the breastfeeding marathon thing... (Before Nicolas was three months old) I was taking in a whole lot of What not to Wear. I'm probably nowhere near as bad as the people on the show, but I doubt Stacy would approve of everything I wear.
I love my jeans too, but I prefer a nice but simple (form-fitting, but not too tight) top to an ordinary baggy t-shirt. The baggy t-shirt thing would be as bad to me as the sweat-suit thing. Beurk! I wouldn't be caught dead in a sweat-suit! Warm-up pants maybe, if I'm going to play soccer.