Thursday, March 15, 2012

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.

45 comments:

  1. Oh that is the best! I love when my son says that to me (ok, the 2 times he's said that to me). They don't see the fat rolls and the lumps! God love em!

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    1. It is the best! Doesn't make you feel beautiful? :)

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  2. Awesome. Love how you ended it. Soooo true.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by! Sometimes we are our own worst critic.
      Discovered your blog yesterday. Love it!

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  3. Aw, I loved this post!

    Enjoy your adult time!

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    1. Thanks! I am sooo looking forward to adult time. And celebrating a special occasion with friends is the best adult time. :)

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  4. Indeed! You are so blessed with all those things that truly matter. Everything else pales in comparison. To love and be loved is the greatest gift, and you have it all, Michelle!

    Thank you for joining the Great Blogging Anniversary Linkup!

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    1. Thanks for visiting and the kind words! So glad I could link up for the Great Blogging Anniversary Linkup!

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  5. That is so sweet!
    It's hard to accept the changes of having kids.. But there's no denying it's so worth it. :)
    Have fun at the child-free adult wedding.

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    1. Thanks Brittany! I agree. Sometimes accepting the changes after kids, especially your body, can be challenging sometimes. But it is totally worth it. My kids are the best thing I have done. :)

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  6. Great story with a good sense of humor. Enjoyed it.

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  7. I must be getting hormonal or something but this really made me get a lump in my throat. You are so brave to bring two kids into the dressing room with you for starters, but your child's comment while you were critiquing what you looked like in that mirror really got me.
    Thanks for linking this post up with us for our Blog Bash! (-:

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    1. Thanks so much for the kind words! I don't know if it's brave or insane taking two kids with me into the dressing room! Thanks for hosting the Blog Bash. :)

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  8. Crap fire and save the matches?! Hahahaha!
    Kids have such a different way of looking at us, that's why they are so precious. I love how you ended the post.

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    1. Glad I could make you giggle. :) Aw, thanks! Glad you stopped by!

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  9. I love that we can look through our children's eyes and see what they see. Some days, we just need that, don't we?

    Thanks for linking up to Blog Bash!

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    1. Kids say things in the most simple way and it really helps to remember what is important. Thanks for hosting the Blog Bash!

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  10. i like what you see in the mirror. Glad your boys were there to remind you that you are pretty!

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  11. That's so sweet! It's funny how our kids and frustrate us and make us the happiest people all in the same day. Sounds like your boys are so sweet. You're a lucky mom.

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  12. yeah... IVF and preeclampsia destroyed by figure...but I got a darling boy out of it...I say it's a fair trade.

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  13. This post is adorable and so are you! Happy SITS day!

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  14. I wonder if you shared this post somewhere because I swear I've read it before. It is charming. The perspective change is sweet. Still, don't you wish you could hang a sign that says my son thinks I am beautiful as you conquer the fears of going in public with a dress?

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  15. It's hard to adjust to the changes motherhood brings to the body. It does NOT all go away once the baby comes out. I'm so glad you're starting to love the new you.

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  16. "Mommy you look pretty" - no sweeter words from a sweet little one! I like your perspective. :)

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  17. You are very brave to take your boys dress shopping with you - I don't think we'd make it out of the mall alive if I took my boys with me! But it sounds like it paid off for you - what a sweet comment from your little one! Congrats on being featured on SITS!

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  18. Love it! Throw on some jewelry & some heels and my daughter tells me I'm beatiful - no matter what my belly looks like, LOL. If only I could see myself thru her eyes... {{ sigh }}

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  19. In the last post I read he was saying things that made you feel mannish. I like this one better. Love those tender moments when they say just the right thing.

    Accepting our changing bodies as we grow up can be so tough. I'm glad you felt better about it in the end.

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  20. Great post ... and a wonderful reminder that we are a whole lot more than what the mirror reflects back! I am with you in feeling great waves of anxiety about dressing rooms and 360 mirrors, but I have to remind myself that my extra pouches here and there are my "medals" for being a mom of four and to them (and my husband) I am beautiful. And that is all that really matters anyway. :)

    Enjoy your SITS day!

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  21. I have to overlook those bulges (on me) also or I would NEVER buy anything new to wear. I just remind myself I have two sweet daughters who caused those bulges and I would trade them for anything.

    Happy SITS Day!

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  22. There's nothing like an impromptu compliment from your child to make your day. I'm sure you looked great!

    Happy SITS Day!

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  23. Perfect! I love the way you wrapped it up! :) Great job! Happy SITS day to you!

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  24. Love this! I think we all forget to tell ourselves that we're beautiful. Inspirational! Happy SITS Day!

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    1. This totally made my day! Really! Stopped by from SITS but will definitely be back to see about the whole werewolf thing! :)

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  25. I hope you had a blast at the wedding and found something cute to wear! It's always a delight when the three year old pokes my stomach and asks if there is a baby in there. (Uh, no.)

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  26. It's funny how parenthood changes your perception on everything. All of a sudden the views of that little person become the most important views in your life. Stopping by from SITS!

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  27. YAY!!!! IT'S YOUR SITS DAY!!!!! AM I LATE??? SO SORRY!!! Love your post! It's one that all moms should read and take to heart, as every SINGLE mom can relate! Great job! :)

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  28. Momiform. Ha. I totally feel you, girlfriend. Sometimes I catch a glimpse of myself in a store window as I walk by and I'm like - HOLY CRAP WHO IS THAT FATTY MCBUTTERPANTS. But then I remember that I'm the happiest I've ever been overall, and I try to take a deep breath.

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  29. I rock my jeans and t-shirts and I'm not a mom yet :/ I do bribe my nieces and nephew all the time; or I'll offer something as an incentive if they'll do a favor for me. While they drive me crazy the one thing I can count on is for them to say sweet things. Your son sees the beautiful woman that you are and I hope the wedding was a blast.

    Happy SITS day :)

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  30. great attitude, so what if our bodies sag and pop here and there. Look what we did. We ade small people. Thanks for hooking up to the Hump DAy Hook Up. I hope the wedding was fun

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Thanks for reading and commenting!