Tuesday, October 24

Clothes Make the Mom

Our neighbors are having a tree taken down in their yard today. If I lean my head forward until it's almost touching the monitor, I can watch the workmen outside my window. They are all decked out in hard hats and safety goggles and workboots that probably have steel reinforced toes.

It's got me thinking. I wouldn't want to deal with wearing so much protective gear just to go to work in the morning. My workday keeps me mostly dressed as I am right now--barefoot in sweatpants and a t-shirt. Maybe this is the reason I've never made it past Fly Lady's Beginner BabyStep #2. I just can't seem to get myself "fully dressed to lace-up shoes" when I'm not going to leave the house.

And maybe this is why moms don't get so much respect in our society. We don't have a fabulous uniform. Little boys want to grow up to be firemen and astronauts, little girls want to be princesses and ballerinas (and yes, some little girls want to be firefighters and some little boys want to be ballet dancers). All of these have great uniforms. Every year about this time there are probably millions of kids dressing up as astronauts and princesses, going to parties or trick-or-treating from house to house.

Can't you just imagine a little girl appearing on your doorstep in sweatpants and a long-sleeved T-shirt (possibly stained here and there), with her hair up in a ponytail, holding out her orange plastic pumpkin? "And what are you this year?" you ask politely. She holds her head up proudly and announces, "I'm a stay-at-home mom."

Yeah, I don't see it happening either.

Now maybe if moms got to wear form-fitting leotards and red wristbands as we fought grime and flew in our invisible jets...oh, wait. The position of Wonder Woman has already been taken. Darn. I've always wanted an invisible jet.

I can't help but think of the maxim, "Clothes make the [wo]man." If motherhood came with a dress code of powersuits and high heels, it seems we'd get a little more respect from the world at large. Or at least Corporate America. Of course, my job would be a whole lot harder, chasing after my toddler in heels! How did June Cleaver do it?

But, really, how much is respect like that worth? When it all comes down, I guess it's not such a difficult choice for me. I pick comfort any day over the respect of people who only grant such respect based on what I'm wearing!

And maybe next year it will be my daughter in the sweatpants and ponytail. Watch out for her.

11 comments:

  1. Wait till your daughter is a teenager. It'll give whole new meaning to your clothing choices!

    And a new dilemma--do I let my daughter dress me?

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  2. Hee hee hee! My daughter is already trying to dress me! She likes to put her hats on my head and has tried at least once to put her sock on my foot.

    I'm guessing Blondechick at least understands about some colors matching and others clashing. :)

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  3. My 7th grade daughter has reached a crossroads...does she tell me what to wear, or listen to me when I tell her that certain things. just. don't. match.

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  4. Hmm. . . what would my uniform be? Something with layers. I'm always cold :)

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  5. I am totally with you, but sometimes I do get a lot more done when I'm in something other than PJs or @ least wear a bra:)

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  6. I think that's a great idea; our Stay At Home Mom outfits should look something like what a Superhero wears...something with a lot of spandex...

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  7. i did see some great stay-at-home mom halloween costumes last year - in addition to the sweats and t-shirts they were toting bon-bons and trashy magazines (as if!)

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  8. Oh I loved this post! Your perspective was unique. So well done.

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  9. I got here from Antique Mommy and I'm so glad I did! All I can say is, AMEN Sister! :) Now I'm off to read some more of your blog!

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  10. I'm thinking we should have a cute uniform. Then we don't have to stand in the closet and decide what will best camouflage spit-up.
    Congrats on the honourable mention!

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  11. Love this post! I'm all for a chique & COMFORTABLE uniform, let me know what you all come up with! As long as the bon bons are included

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