Lately I've been reflecting on how much things have changed over the course of my marriage. Darren & I were married almost 5 years before we had Oscar. Now - not to discount the joys of children & motherhood.... those were a good 5 years. We lived in San Diego most of them in a condo we bought & remodeled. We had two (pretty good) incomes. We were both architects. We traveled. We were thin, cute & tan. We spent our incomes on good food, good clothes & good friends. We spent our weekends at the beach, working out, and them meeting friends for coctails and parties. Ahhhh. Good times.
Fast forward 9 years to today. Darren returned to his normal travel schedule & caught a cab at 4:30am this am to PDX. So this is my first day all on my own with my three children. Oscar 4, Calvin 2, Jack 1 month. Calvin & Jack have colds. I was trying to think of what we could do today that would be super super low key & not spread our germs too much. So I decided to drop off my maternity clothes at Goodwill & then take the clan to our favorite coffee shop Blue Gardenia for steamers & cookies. I got everyone up, dressed & fed and out of the house by about 9:30am. I thought I was doing great until we got to the coffee shop. After me & my tornado enter I notice two very stylish women about my age having coffee. My boys & I settle into a table & I get a good view of them; while Oscar and Calvin eat thier cookies I am hit w/ how different I LOOK from them today. I survey my group & notice I forgot to comb Oscar's hair - if you've seen him you know that his un combed hair resembles something Dr. Suess draws. He was also wearing a combination of colors that shouldn't be seen out of the house. Calvin has a broken arm & his nose is a constant stream I can no longer keep up with. Jack has recently broke out in baby acne that is similar to the before pro-active commercials. And then there is me. My day old hair is up in a pony tail. I've no make up on. I'm wearing one of the few things that fit me now (the maternity clothes are too big but my normal clothes don't fit either - not that they would be in style even if they did)..... a black track suit. Which incidentally the San Diego version of me wouldn't have been caught dead in, especially w/o make up & day old hair. Oh.. and Jack's spit up is on my shoulder too. I did manage to brush my teeth this morning but if THAT is what makes a good day... I probably need a little work.
Yes I realize this is just a phase & I had a baby just weeks ago. And yes I realize I wouldn't trade in the kids for all the beach in the world. But those women sitting there w/ thier purses (remember those girls - no diaper compartements), make up (yes even w/ eye liner), accessories (really nice ones that would be ruined by a nursing babies arm reaching up & grabbing it), this seasons shoes (not flip flops), stylish clothes, etc... made me look forward to a time when I have more time to focus on me. Those of you w/ little kids can relate I'm sure.
There will come a day when a good day is based on how OUR hair & clothes turned out... not that we got our teeth brushed before heading out the door.
3 comments:
Your body has just created 3 beautiful little boys and there are lasting repurcussions: 1) less makeup, 2) more spit up, 3) less patience, 4)more weight, 5) less sleep 6) more runny noses, 7)more joy, 8) more love, 9) more kisses. 9 years ago, you wouldn't have been caught dead in a track suit, but you probably wouldn't have believed that you could enjoy 3 boys nearly as much, that you enjoy nursing and that you would look forward to taking your kids to preschool! And that your body could do something so amazing!
Hang in there!
Ahhhh....I caught a glimpse of myself today and I think I had the same thoughts. No make-up, hair NOT flat-ironed and mismatched clothes..including a hoodie which according to What Not to Wear is reserved for early 20 something year olds.
I unfortunately did NOT have my kids with me to help explain the picture.
I agree with all of the wonderful things Shawnna said....but man, I will also welcome the day that the kids can all dress themselves and take care of hygiene....so I can do mine!
i wasn't sure if to laugh or cry reading this one. glad you and darren got to see each other at your peaks (and pics to remember). you'll always have "san diego".
and would you really give up motherhood for heels?
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