Don’t Take My Fashion Sense, Too!

“I don’t know how you’re wearing those heels!”

Man! If I had a nickel every time someone said this. I am THAT girl. I have always been THAT girl. In my mind, the occasion always called for me to dress up, never down. I don’t own tennis shoes, I will never wear a t-shirt with jeans, and rarely will I ever leave the house without makeup on. Some may call it a self-absorbed, narcissistic tendency, others an insecurity. Me? I call it “Mommy’s girl-time”.

I have always loved getting dolled up. There’s something glamorous about the transformation from mess to dress that always makes me feel so good about myself. And no one needs to feel good about themselves more than a tired AF, hot mess mommy. Am I right?! And, when Mommy feels good, then everyone gets the benefit.

I love my kids — all 4 of them. But they sure have stripped a lot away from me over the years. They have taken my money; they have stolen my sanity; they have hijacked my body; they have occupied my time. But, gosh darn it! I will NOT let them strip me of my fashion sense too! Holding on to this part of me has allowed me to stay – well, ME! Just because I am a mom doesn’t mean I need to completely forget about the things that I enjoy. Yes, I have a lot less time now to devote to my interests, but to lose them all together would mean I’d lose myself in the process, and no mother should do that to herself. In fact, becoming a mother has provided more opportunities for me to truly appreciate and love that sensation I get when I do glam up. You know the feeling I’m talking about. It’s the same feeling you get when you finally have a chance to get your hair done for the first time postpartum. Or, it’s that excitement of anticipation when you bought a brand new pair of heels to wear for the weekend. Let’s face it, there are times when a mother just flat out has to rock the messy-bun-with-leggings-and-mismatched-socks-don’t -forget-the-spit-up-on-the-shirt look. Our hard, physical work sometimes just takes a toll on us, but it’s those messy moments that make me really appreciate the more glamorous ones, so I go all out when I can – every chance I get. I like feeling that excited, glitzy, self-assured feeling as often as I can even if it does come at a price at times.

To keep a tight grip on my fashion sense, I have made a couple of adjustments.

I wake up an entire hour before everyone else, just to have that glam session of me-time. I sip my coffee and sit in front of the mirror converting myself from zombie mom to pulled-together mom.  I thoroughly enjoy the silence as I play with all things girly from makeup, to curling wands, to wardrobe changes.

For all of my pregnancies, I have worn heels, wedges, or boots, all the way through 9 months pregnant. Why?! Because I was determined NOT to succumb to the little thieves who call me “Mommy.” I always made it a point to wear my heels proudly, through swollen ankles and all. If I looked good, then I felt good, and at 9 months preggers, those feel-good moments were few and far between.

I take the time to look my best so I can feel my best allowing me to achieve my best.

It’s a rough life, this thing called motherhood, but I will not let that strip me to my messy-hair-don’t-care core. I am holding on for dear life to my inner fashionista. I don’t do it to look good for the camera; I don’t do it to get the comments; and, I don’t do it to hide anything — err, most of the time. I try my best to look good for ME, and that makes me feel like myself. My kids will continue to take a lot from me over the years, but my fashion sense, they can’t touch. At least, not yet.

How have you stayed true to your inner-self?

Jennifer Gonzales
Wife to my high school sweetheart, Ross, and mother to 5 children: Trip, Conner, McKenzie, Piper, and Sutton, I am a born and raised Southern Louisiana Lady. I am a graduate of Mt. Carmel Academy, received my Bachelor’s in English with a concentration in Secondary Ed. from LSU followed by my Master’s of Education from UNO, and for the past 15 years, I have been outwitting high school boys as an English teacher at Holy Cross School. When I’m not grading papers, driving to baseball practices, or making grocery runs, I can be found cheering on my LSU Tigers, cutting up with my girlfriends, and attempting DIY projects around the home. I’m all about sippin’ some wine during the sunset while the kiddos play in the yard and the hubby works the grill. I’m living my best mommy life these days and am always happy to share the journey with others!

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