Divas

Bad hair days.  I don’t look good in this outfit days.   I have NOTHING to wear days.  We’ve all been there, right?  I was late getting out of the house today because there were THREE outfit changes.  Did I mention the outfit changes were for my 3 year old daughter?!  I stood in disbelief as she looked herself over in my full length mirror declaring, “This one isn’t too pretty!”  It was an adorable peach sweater with big brown toggle buttons and brown leggings.  Back to the closet.  OK, she’s looking for pretty, huh?  I pulled out a very pretty velvet striped dress with black leggings and pulled it on over her head.  She marched (with a little swagger in her hips) back to the mirror where she declared, “This one isn’t cool!”  I was dumbfounded.  Back to the closet.  OK, she was looking for cool.  Well, in that case, she better start looking for a new mom because while I can think of several adjectives to describe myself, “cool” is not one of them. 

I am not stylish, never have been.  I vividly remember shopping for back-to-school clothes prior to entering the 6^th grade.  I was at Kmart, yes blue-light special Kmart.  I was in the dressing room and had to summon the courage to ask the dressing room attendant to teach me to French roll my acid washed jeans.  Mortifying.  Fashion trends are my enemy.  I jump on board just in time to read the headlines that cargo pants are “out” or boyfriend blazers are so “yesterday.”  I do not own a pair of skinny jeans, or a skinny belt, or a skinny anything for that matter.  The only scarves I’ve managed to pull off wearing are those designed to protect you from the elements of a Midwest winter.  Last year I had to get my babysitter a gift card to Hollister and nearly lost my life.  It was so dark in that store I needed a flashlight just to navigate my way to the register, that is if I wasn’t mugged by the shirtless, teenage boy spraying asthma-inducing levels of cologne into my face.  A few months ago I watched the MTV Awards in stunned disbelief.  I know I live in the time warp of “Mommy Land” but when did wearing a box on your head become fashionable and don’t even get me started on Nicky Minaj’s outfit which was a mix of surgical mask, aluminum can, and were those shinguards???!!! 

                                          

As I rifled through Maddy’s closet searching for a “cool” outfit I wondered if she had overheard me complaining about my own wardrobe at some point, leading to this new diva-type behavior.   While I am not one to obsess about my own body image (see Kmart example above) perhaps she overheard me talking about how my clothes just weren’t fitting right since this last pregnancy.  I made a mental note to choose my words more carefully, knowing how impressionable young girls are today.  She finally settled on a pair of capris because they had pockets and a ruffled T-shirt.  Not altogether appropriate for the forecast that was calling for low 50’s but I decided to pick my battles on this one.  Just like the time she went through a goggles phase.  She would insist on wearing her swimming goggles all the time:  at the mall, at the park, on the toilet!  It was a real crowd stopper but she was so confident and happy in those goggles that I went along with it.  And I admired her gusto.  It reminded me of one of the first decorations I bought for the nursery when I found out I was having a girl.  It was a framed card that read:  If you are confident, you are beautiful.  I really believe that. 

Even though we strive to set a good example as parents, we stand to learn a lot from our children.  So before I get dressed for work today I will proudly stuff my sagging breasts into my new bra and I will not groan as my muffin top droops over the top of the pants that are still a size too small.  Now before I check myself out in the full length mirror, will someone please bring me some goggles!!!

P.S. My next Prenatal Pilates class will tentatively start Nov 12^th (on Saturdays) and my next Postnatal Pilates class will tentatively start Dec 7^th (Wednesdays).  If you or someone you know may be interested please visit www.pilatesbycarrie.com for more information!