How many of you find yourself comparing your appearance to others? I don't do this often, but I did it yesterday. What I'm sharing with you is deeply personal, so please handle it with kid gloves.
As you all know, I gave birth to our third child last year. Many people tell me that I look "great" or "you don't look like you've had three kids." I politely thank them and go on my way. While compliments are nice, they don't mean squat if you don't buy them.
Last night I attended my brother-in-law's wedding. So of course I was surrounded by young women with no husband and no children. Since Tre was in the wedding, I had the two younger children. The eldest was the flower girl, but became my charge after the ceremony. I did have some help from my sister-in-law and another one to be, but I they're lightweights! My kids wore us all out. They were tired and cranky, and I was almost to tears before it was all over. Anyway...
The waifs were everywhere. For the first real time, I felt like covering my gray hairs. I felt older and more tired and bigger than so many! It was a strange feeling for me, and I'm not sure why it hit when it did.
Perhaps it was the overly tight, overly short dresses were in huge supply. While I have never dressed like that, it was because of my morals, not because I couldn't pull it off. Now it's a little bit of both. Clothes cover a multitude of sins. Baby pouches are unglamorous, and when you hate crunches and love cheesecake as much as I, you may always have one! The other thing is that even though my scale tells me I am the same as I was before babies, the weight is distributed differently, and gravity is against me! I guess I can't be a convincing Catwoman this Halloween.
I guess it's a good thing I have a God that looks at me from the inside out and loves me anyway. If I decide to get serious about exercising, maybe I'll be the one in the short, slinky spandex at the next reception. Or maybe not.
Rubies are rare and precious jewels. Every facet is unique. When they are broken, they can only be restored by the Creator.
1 comment:
lol I loved this post. OMG(oodness) one of my single friends was in town and I went out with her to dinner and it's a huge difference. She was so fashionable and I looked like such a "mom" and I felt the same way.I used to wear heels all the time and now I have to wear flats to keep up with the kids!!! lol
Jibri's wedding is coming up and I had these same thoughts since Sam is more than likely going to be in it and I'll be in the crowd with our 2 (hopefully 3 kids) by that time.
And it's funny your timing of this cause me and Sam had a looonnng talk about a very similar topic Thursday night. About weight gain, looking different, aging etc. I came downstairs in his work area and saw a picture of me propped up sideways on the bottom of the printer and it was me at the bridal shower (over 8 years ago), REALLY slender, high heels, cute dress and a HUGE difference from now and I secretly got really angry and finally told him later. "What? Do you miss the old me???" I asked him(not too nicely mind you)!!!!! LOL come to find out I was responsible for the picture falling there. I'd printed something and the paper printing pushed the picture down there (it was on top of the printer) he said he saw it fall while all my stuff was printing oops! lol lol. So I was angry for no reason.
But about the slinky spandex comment at the bottom, I started weight watchers and secretly want to slip into a bikini when Sam and I go somewhere next year lol lol!!!!Don't know if I'll be bold enough to do it when the time comes but the desire is kind of there lol
Blame it on the cultural influences!!!!! (sorry for the long post)
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