Do not ask me to suck in and mold myself back in time

November 6th, 2012

laundry Do not ask me to suck in and mold myself back in time

In piles everywhere and somehow my eyes don’t see it: the laundry. I swear I’ll fold it tonight. The cloth diapers don’t help. And anyway, my clothes and I are no longer friends.

We bicker as I pull the jeans up and do squats to stretch them. We got in an outright fist fight the other night as I tried to pull together an outfit for my birthday dinner. The baby weight is gone, if you ask the scale. But the shape this body has taken is definitely not what it used to be. Ahem. Did you see me at 40 weeks pregnant?

My son is almost 2. That means I can wear real clothes again! But my closet has taken a real hit:

3 years ago ~ I was teaching yoga 6 days a week and wearing nothing but stretch pants.

2 years ago ~ All maternity.

1 year ago ~ Nursing tops and cheap clothes because this new body shape and size surely wouldn’t be forever. Right?

With a spirit of acceptance I spent last Saturday at Anthropologie, quizzing the girl in the dressing room. What belts work with this skirt? Can you bring me some pants to try? Yes I like color, but no, I don’t think mint green and red work together. What shoes should I wear? What do you do with the bottom of skinny pants and booties? Oh, tuck the pants IN?

anthro Do not ask me to suck in and mold myself back in time

Ok. I’ll take it.

It was not a bargain day.

But I felt amazing.

What a concept to not be squeezing into my old size. These clothes flatter and do not ask me to suck in and mold myself back in time.

This pile of laundry is going to turn into a bag for Goodwill.

6 Comments fashion, motherhood

  • Teresa

    This post made me cry. So true Michelle. Maybe I should stop buying cheap clothes and give away all the clothes that aren’t going to fit me again. I would love to feel pretty again and not mom frumpy!

  • http://www.findyourbalancehealth.com/ Michelle Pfennighaus, CHC

    Teresa, you saw New Mama Recharge coming up, right? Totally for you! xoxo

  • Julie Maloney

    Michelle, you are gorgeous just the way you are! I hope you are not suggesting you have any areas on your body that are bigger than you’d like because you’re looking very slim to me.
    My hubby and I were having a discussion a couple of days ago about the cost of clothes. We both agreed that from now on we’re going to buy clothes that make us feel good, even if they’re a bit more expensive. We don’t want a lot of clothes, just a few items, but items that make us feel good. Enjoy wearing your new outfit, it looks gorgeous on you. xxoo

  • http://www.facebook.com/jennpici.falk Jenn Pici Falk

    Ah, Anthro. I worked there for 4 years just after college and as I started yoga training…
    I hear ya on all of those fronts! Totally just got a bunch of fab new clothes for the fall and loving not having to teach every day of the week just so I can feel awesome in my heeled booties, or tights and cute skirt. Yes, I am that mama dressed cute at the playground if I can stand it. Haha. Whatever makes ya feel empowered and beautiful is a GO. :)

  • http://twitter.com/SproutLifestyle Skylor Powell

    MORE POWER TO YOU MY FRIEND! I have been doing a lot of work recently in this area, in both my work and my personal life. We are women and women are meant to have bodies for babies. That means that our bodies are going to change, a lot, from 20-50. Then we have age as a scapegoat. We are not meant to be the same size and shape forever – and yet our society has convinced us that we are meant to be thin for our whole lives with a very small frame. I am excited for you to have the opportunity a. to have a child and b. to get some new diggs to wear!! Thank you for writing this post and inspiring me and women to accept our bodies!

  • Diane

    I love the new outfit! It’s funny how just putting on a different outfit and can feel so much better :)
    Fall hit hard this year and all my ‘warm’ clothes are pilling, beat up, or just plain not flattering. I know I’ll feel better giving them to someone else and getting them out of the house…
    I’ve gotta go out and get some ‘investment’ pieces the next few weeks. Priority for at least one top this weekend, and Anthro’s on my list of shops to hit up, too :)

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