Life
I don't think anyone has ever described me as "fashionable." The closest I've been is "quirky dresser." Don't get me wrong, I love getting dressed up for special occasions and I have a serious addiction when it comes to buying party dresses. Still, there are so many other things I'd rather be besides the "fashionable" mom.
When I was a teenager I dyed my hair every color of the rainbow and wore long hippie skirts and heavy boots. Hey, it was the '90s, so no judgment allowed. Then, when I first started teaching in a classroom, I sported my personality by slightly bending the strict dress code and wearing loud patterned tights. Now that I'm a mom, and a little older and a little wiser, my style sense has plateaued to nothing more than jeans and a comfortable shirt. Sometimes I wish I cared a bit more about being "fashionable." I wish I could be the mom rocking heels while she pushes the stroller, or the mom wearing big hoop earrings that her kid doesn't magically rip out of her ears.
On weekends and special occasions I can still surprise everyone by getting a little more "dressed up" than usual. In fact, even my kid ends up impressed and usually shows his surprise by saying, "Wow, you look pretty!" But during the week it's ponytails and running shoes, my friends, because there are more than a few things I'd rather be than the "fashionable" mom, including:
The "Punctual" Mom
Like many moms, I have found parenthood isn't all that compatible with being on time. Even when you leave yourself a pretty decent window to get somewhere, babies and little kids will throw curve balls your way and, before you know it, you're late.
When I'm already running behind, the notion of stopping to choose an outfit someone might consider "fashionable," is the last thing on my mind.
The "Well-Rested" Mom
Choosing a trendy look takes time and, honestly, I would much rather catch a few extra minutes (or hours, if I'm lucky) of sleep than worry about my "look."
Sleep deprivation can really take its toll, so anything that gets me out of bed earlier than my toddler already does is not going to last.
The "Comfortable" Mom
Whenever I see TV segments about fashionable looks that are also comfortable, I tend to think, "Yeah. Right." In my experience casual clothing is truly comfortable and if I am not worrying about waistbands that are too tight and shoes that pinch, I can focus on other stuff.
The "Messy" Mom
As a mom to a toddler son, I usually get through my days covered in some sort of mess. From craft glue, paint, mud, or boogers, it's not exactly glamorous being a mom. Still, I would really hate to have to say "no" to my little one's requests to get messy, just because I was worried about ruining my outfit.
The "Quirky" Mom
I really don't mind being a little different. I love wearing a wide variety of colors and choose clothes in bright hues all the time. In fact, I hardly own any black clothes at all. I actually think it's quite positive for my son to see that I am happy having my own style, rather than one that's dictated by certain arbitrary fashion rules.
The "Work-From-Home" Mom
I work from home, which means that if I want to (and I often want to) I can wear my pajamas all day long. I just don't see the point of getting dressed up to sit at my home office desk and not see another person all day. If I do venture outside the house I might change out of my pajamas and into some jeans, but that's about as much effort as I can muster.
The "Frugal" Mom
Like a lot of families, my partner and I need to keep a watchful eye on our finances and stick to a budget. I like to get my hair done and I spend a little on skincare, but apart from that my personal expenses are fairly low. I would rather save the money I could be spending on fashionable clothes and use it to travel (which is one of my favorite things to do).
The "Fun" Mom
My son will request that I chase him like a tiger or that I run from him like a mouse. I might be called upon to skip through puddles or crawl inside a fort. I personally can't meet any of those requests in heels or in a fancy frock (and if you can, you are a rockstar).
I am sure I'll regain some of fashion sense once my child is old enough to not leave smudgy fingerprints everywhere. But, for right now, there are plenty of other things I would rather be than the "fashionable" mom, and that's OK.
