Yes, postpartem I want to be a superskinny superhottie. Yes, this is something I am slightly insecure and ‘noid about. I think everyone was one totally shallow reason in their arsenal about why, if they were not Catholic and didn’t have a clue, they would use artificial means to space babies. Mine is that everytime I get down to a shape I like, I get pregnant again. And it is getting harder and harder to return back. I remember leaving the hospital in my old jeans with my first two. Now, groan. With Gorbulas I was in baggy stuff for what seemed forever. My midwife said to give the belly 9 weeks to go down. Yuck, 9 weeks of walking around looking pregnant? I think I was going back to normal clothes by week 3 or 4 because I know I let myself leave the house around then and fit into normal clothes. I also joined Weight Watchers four weeks postpartem. I was so determined.
Not that I mind looking pregnant when I am pregnant. As a matter of fact it is one of the times I feel lovliest. Quite frankly it is really neat to be able to walk around with a bulging belly and feel absolutely perfect. But you cannot totally blame me for being so shallow. You can blame me some, but I’m and odd person, I am a perfectionist in many areas, my favourite show is Spongebob, I teach the kids how to do the hustle for a homeschooling class and quiz them on KC and the Sunshine bad-I guess maybe I am not reasonably well-adjusted.
See, but part of it you can’t totally blame me for my shallowidity. Go shopping ladies, go ahead. Walk into an Old Navy. Why are all the jeans cut just under that postpartem belly? Yes, of course I wear a longer shirt over it-yikes I don’t want nobody looking at my stretch marks-but the cuts are just perfect for taking that little pocket of belly and making it stick out under your clothes. Um, ick. Hey, I’m starting to have a revelation! I think that these styles were not intended for the average woman who has had a baby! They are intended to attract someone of the opposite sex. Usually, attracting someone of the opposite sex results in a postpartem belly. Then your clothing becomes almost asexual. These days though I cannot complain like I did ten years ago when I had Rosey Posey.That all nursing and maternity clothes are totally unattractive, they have gotten much better. But what I cannot fathom is why many clothes geared towards women of childbearing age very often try to lean towards “sexy” except at the times in your life when “hello”, it is obvious you had sex. And no, I am not looking to be a sexy Mama, just an average looking young adult Mama.
Now here is part two why you cannot blame me. Madonna. Sarah Jessica Parker. Now we have celebrities having babies, which is probably who I have to thank that maternity clothes are not limited to shapless dresses with Peter Pan collars. But now we are more unforgiving to women who do not bounce right back. I have seen it. I have been to baby showers of my cousin’s daughter and heard family gossip about how heavy my cousin looks at 6 weeks postpartem. Now here we are what is supposed to be a joyful family event, but you have to train to keep gossip of loved ones away. Good grief. Aha, see another reason you cannot blame me for being so incredibly shallow: crazy family who had maybe one kid and watches way too much TV and has very unrealistic expectations of what a real postpartem woman looks like. It’s not like the average person is having 4+ kids anymore and my mother and I concur that it’s that third or fourth kid that really devastates your body.
I had a small stint when Fastolph was a baby that I was heavier than I should be-a size 10. My grandmother would call me up to say “Oh Pansy, I am making a novena for you so you lose all that weight. I am so worried about you because you are starting to look matronly and you are too young to look matronly.” When I sent her a copy of this picture from Posco’s First Holy Communion all she said was “You gained weight again? You look so heavy there.” Hmmm. “nice picture”, “good job on the suit”, “Posco looks cute” would have sufficed.
Why are we so unforgiving to women who chose motherhood? I mean in a real world, you would think the slightly more curvaceous figure would be an added sign of femininity, not ugliness. Why has androgyny become more of a symbol of sexuality? I don’t know, I am confused now. Everytime I think about the hypocracies of modern society, my head hurts and I need to eat something.
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Check out this post from Karl: http://karls.blogspot.com/2004_03_01_karls_archive.html#107958495667227279
Boo to a world that thinks women, especially moms, should be, as my Babcia calls them, “skinny ninnies.”
I have never heard any guy claim Sarah Jessica Parker is attractive, or that Madonna looks good today-I have heard guys say she is too skinny and muscular, and old looking in the face. Jennifer Lopez, not a skinny one, is considered the hottest hottie on the planet right now (and rightly so).
thanks pansy – i was hoping the entire catholic blog community would get a peek at my flab! lol!!!
🙂
Ohmygosh! I was just speaking of the low-cut Old Navy jeans phenomenon with my dh the other day. He got me a cute pink corduroy pair this last Christmas, and it’s fine as long as I’m standing. How can anyone sit while wearing these?!?!?
I don’t think I’ve ever been at a weight that I’ve found ideal for myself, although I’ve definitely been in better shape before children. But I can still identify with everything you said. Yes, even about Spongebob and the hustle (and a few more like the running man, the robo cop, and all those kind of moves that really date me… ;o) ).
Your comment about women’s pants brings me to something I’ve been meaning to blog about for a while now… Perhaps I should go do that 🙂
I think the thing to remember, is that we live in a society that has a contraceptive mentality and that the fashion even speaks to that!! Maybe we need to avoid falling into that trap and look at a different role model – the Blessed Mother!
No one can say that Mary doesn’t look comfortable. While I’m not suggesting we all walk around in gowns and veils I do think chosing comfortable clothes that are functional as well as pretty should be the goal.
BTW, ladies, check out the Lane Bryant catalog – it’s not your mother’s “fat lady” store any more. They have lots of cute clothes that are cut right and feel great.
I second Elena, another good store is Avenue. Especially for pants and skirts!
Well, I just wanted to say that I laughed out loud at your contention that every time you get down to a shape you like, you get pregnant! I guess it’s not only YOU who likes it! (wink, wink–just kidding!)