These days I’ve been wondering what the heck has happened to me. When did I become THAT WOMAN?!!! The woman who goes out in public looking like CRAP-OLA! The woman who doesn’t look showered because, oh she hasn’t. The woman who wears mismatched, stained clothes, the woman who wears no makeup (NOT a pretty picture), the woman whose children are equally mismatched and stained, with peanut butter on their faces, with dress-up high heels on for shoes, with knotted hair and marker drawn up and down their arms. I AM THAT WOMAN OUT WANDERING IN PUBLIC! WHAT has happened to me?
Oh yeah I have 3 kids so when getting out the door is my #1 goal, other things don’t seem to matter so much anymore. Like appearing like a cute, young mom. (Am I still young? I feel young. 26 is young, right?) I remember working at the library when cute, young moms would come in with their adorable kids and I’d be like, oh, I hope I will be a cute, young mom too!
YEAH RIGHT! The other evening as I was leaving the house, WITHOUT KIDS, I noticed a huge spit-up stain down the front of my shirt. You know what I did? I said, “Whatever.” And left the house anyway and proceeded to run errands like that.
Okay you must understand. I was NEVER like this!! I always made sure I looked cute before heading ANYWHERE. Vain? Yes. And let me tell you another little secret… the first time Nate saw me without makeup was AFTER we were married, and even then I was like OH MY GOSH HE KNOWS WHAT I REALLY LOOK LIKE NOW! (He didn’t care. He’s told me many times he prefers me in my PJs lounging around. Uhh done and DONE. Got that down.) And I knew Nate for 6 years before we got married. So that’s saying a lot.
So, while sometimes I am truly shocked with how I go out in public now, it’s really not something I’m down about. “What Not To Wear” is one of my favorite shows and they love to trash people who run to the store in sweats. They say, “Don’t you feel good enough about yourself to care about how you look?” I think it’s a great show. But that is where I have to disagree. If you feel good enough about yourself NOT to get all dolled up for the store, then GOOD FOR YOU! Okay, it’s one thing to NOT KNOW how awful you look in public… but it’s another when you’re perfectly aware you look just NASTY and be OKAY with it. I, personally, think I’ve come a long way. I DO care how I look, I just know I don’t have to look great all the time and I’m a little happy about that. Even if Stacy and Clinton don’t agree.
These are the thoughts I was thinking today as I, in my old T-shirt, un-flat-ironed hair hiding under a ballcap, with my naked face, (NOT EVEN ANY LIP-GLOSS!), was strolling through Smith’s. I was trying out one of those HUGE shopping carts with one of those cars attached to the front so my kids would be good as they pretended to drive, and never having used one before I was smashing into things left and right trying to maneuver that thing through the aisles. I knew I was a spectacle to behold, a haggard lady with 3 kids knocking things off the shelves.
I am not ashamed. I laugh and say "oh well." Someday I'll have time to be cute again. I mean, maybe. Here's hoping.
9 comments:
I totally know what you mean. You reach a point where it's too much of a hassle to look "pretty" when you are trying to get everyone out of the door alive.
Oh, that is so me, except I started the lazy look sometime after I had only one child. I've had this discussion with other moms that I think are so cute and it turns out - this is more common than we notice sometimes. Who cares. Most people I won't see again, and if I do know them hopefully they like me for me and not for how hot I am. ;)
I have yet to overcome the vainness. I can't not leave my house without makeup. Thus, I am always up super early so I can get ready for the day. Am I pathetic?
Ha,ha,ha. I loved this post. It is totally ME! Ponytail? Check. Old sweats from 8 years ago? Check. No makeup? Check. Now I am ready to go shopping! At least, it isn't cold/flu season... then I look really gross with my kids' snot wiped all over my clothes too!
I hear ya! When I just had Emery, he was always clean, and matching. His blanket and burp clothes even matched his outfit for the day! Now... Both kids have dirty faces their hair is sticking up and we all have ketchup all over our shirts thanks to the Artic Circle. They're as happy as clams though, and isn't that the important thing?! I hope so because I just ran errands like this!
You are always beautiful Erika. So are my grandkids. Cute little family. I admire all your energy!
Girrrl!! I so feel ya. I really do. I can so relate. Trust me if my mother could see how I went outin public half the time she would disown me!! It gets better it really does. Just get over that hump of adjustment and you will be smooth sailing. :)
Those carts are such a PAIN! And it's not like you can just steer away if you get too close....half the time you end up having to back up to try and straighten it out. UGH! lol AND.....yeah. You've seen me plenty of times. GRUNGY! haha
You are just hilarious and say it how it really is! I love it!
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