That Person In The Mirror Is Scary

Next weekend, my friend B is getting married.  (Yeah B! So happy for you!) Jeff and I are going to the wedding which means adult conversation, adult beverages and adult attire. (*Sigh.* Sounds blissful, does it not?)

Since I am going to aforementioned wedding, I need something snazzy to wear.  A little dressier than my usual t-shirt and jeans momiform.

So, I packed up the boys in the car and headed off to the mall.  I told them if they were good they could look at the tractors (i.e. lawn mowers at Sears) and get a cookie.  (In my experience, if you are going out in public, it's always good idea to have some sort of proverbial 'carrot' to hang over their heads to incite good behavior. I'm not above bribery, people!)

We get to the mall and head to one of the big department stores.  Once we are in the dressing room, I remind the boys to be good.  And as an extra incentive, I pull up cartoons on my phone that they can watch while I try on dresses.

With the boys occupied, I try on the first dress.  Holy guacamole!  Is the dress supposed to fit like this? This doesn't look right. I'm putting it back.  Starting to feel a little bummed.

Second dress.  Oh sweet sausage!  I look like Fatty McFat Pants!  What is the deal with the bulge here and the pouch there?! This is a definite no-go. Feeling a little worse.

Third dress.  Crap fire and save the matches!  Who is this chunky monkey in the mirror?! I look like Chris Farley when he did "fat man in a little coat" in Tommy Boy. Feeling pretty bad right now.

About this time, J looks up from my phone, smiles at me and says, "Mommy, you look pretty."  And you know what?  I don't feel so bad anymore.  In fact, I feel pretty good.

I look back at myself in the mirror and really take a minute to look at myself. Yep, my body doesn't look like it used to that's for sure.  But, I see something else.  

I see a mom who loves her children more than anything.  I see a wife who is crazy about her husband.  I see a woman who has a nice smile, kind words to say and a wicked sense of humor.  I see someone who is beautiful and that someone is me.