When I was pregnant with my son, with plans of quitting my job when he was born, I promised myself that I would not let myself wear pajamas all day or go without doing my hair. It wasn't so much about vanity (ok, maybe a little) or lookin' good for my man (though that is a perk). It was about how I felt about myself.
Becoming a mother means losing yourself to a more worthy cause. All of a sudden, you are not your priority any more. You eat when the baby is sleeping, you clean with when the baby is sleeping, you wear clothes that make it easier to nurse. You carry a different bag. Function becomes more important than fashion. And I'm a firm believer that that's the way it should be. But it's about balance. I've learned--the hard way--that you can't take care of anyone else unless you're taking care of yourself.
For me, if I'm in lounge pants, I don't get anything done at all. I lounge. All day. I'm lazy. And then I feel gulty for being lazy.
So I get dressed. I do my hair. I put on makeup (some days it's minimal). And I recognize myself when I look in the mirror. It reminds me that I'm still me. Jenna. Not "just" Mommy to Shawn & Laila. The spit up on my shirt will tell you that I'm Mommy. The chocolate smeared across my thighs will tell you I'm Mommy. But from the shoulders up...it's all me. :)
I'm finding though, that my basic jeans & t-shirt uniform is starting to feel a lot like lounge pants to me. So I'm looking to up my game, so to speak. I created a basic fall wardrobe using Polyvore. (That's it in the beginning of this post). You'll notice it's still jeans & t-shirts. But accessories & layering take it to the next level. An easily attainable level.
This post took a totally different direction than I had originally intended, so we'll make this Part 1. Next week, I'll post some great style resources, and share how I came up with my very own "wardrobe".
This is a good post because identity is such a big issue after you have kids. How about all the attention your cute, adorable kids get, and sometimes feeling invisible? It is essential to know who you are so you don't take times like this personal.
ReplyDeleteWith regard to your SAHM style, I really like it! I especially LOVE the jacket styles you chose. That gray jacket is oh-so-lovely! I'm sure the pieces you chose will look nice on you.
I really like the choices in the pic above. They will take you from playing with the kids to a meeting at school. I am at the other end of the continuum, and being retired, am also redefining my style. It's easy for me to stay in loungewear all day too.
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