Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Looking Like a Mom

I have been pondering this today, pulled from an article on how you should dress when you're on the other side of 45--

A client of mine once came to me for her appointment reeling. She had just been at a department store where a young man was looking for a present for his nephew. He stopped her with the sentence, “You look like a mom ... what would you suggest buying for a ten-year-old boy?” She wanted an entirely different haircut that day.

Obviously the implication here is that looking like a mom is a bad thing. Maybe that's because the popular perception is that looking like a mom is all physical, and all moms are sloppy and out of shape. At least that's the impression I get when people meet me and insist that I can't possibly have six children, which is flattering in its way, but I think the essence of a real mom shows up on her face and I hope that's what people can see in me.

I am proud to be a mom, and I hope people can look at me and tell right off that if they have a problem they can tell me about it, that I've survived enough crises to know what to get upset about and what not to, that I'll happily dispense advice, that I believe in better things for them, that I'll drop everything to make them a cup of hot tea, that I'll happily mother anyone who needs mothering.

And if someone stops me in a store to ask what to buy for a ten-year-old, I'll feel honored.

Quote of the Day:
"You gotta be the funniest mom alive."
--Jenny. Yes, I consider this one of the best compliments ever.

4 comments:

  1. Same here - I would be excited if someone asked me for mom advice. Now, if they said, "You look like a grandmother...." that would be a different story.

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  2. You have totally won me over with this simple post! I may just stop by some time for that cup of tea...

    Alisa
    Mom of 7 ages 12,10,9,7,5,3,3

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  3. Thank you, Dorcas!

    I quoted and linked to your post in my own follow-up post.

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  4. When I grow up I want to be like you and Judy Beachy..Ilva

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