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The Mommy Uniform

Posted by Lyette Reback on January 27, 2015.
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LyetteVerYou ladies know what I am talking about…the khaki capris, the Target t-shirt…the one we’ve been wearing for two years running. It could include a favorite pair of jean shorts, or (gasp) sweats. I’ve seen (and admittedly, worn) this lovely ensemble with sneakers or open toed sandals…and the toes haven’t been painted in weeks…months…maybe even years.

I never want to come and lay a burden on you. My whole goal is to encourage moms in our journey. I lay awake at night and wonder how I can best strengthen all of you. And sometimes, what I need to do is serve up a big heap of honesty.

After giving birth to Verity (and a subsequent tear in my spinal sac had left me with an incredible headache, unable to move!) it had been almost two weeks of laying on my bed…in my lair…of despair…stale air…head hurting beyond repair…and finally, after a plea for prayer (this rhyming is lasting way longer than I thought possible!) I felt…BETTER! And I was able to get dressed and put on my makeup! A solid “smokey eye” and my new lip gloss made me LOOK much improved, even if physically, I wasn’t all there. And then I remembered about a post on “mommy uniforms” I had wanted to write a while back.

One morning at a cross country meet, I surveyed my peers. Moms who had braved the early morning, coffee in hand, to come watch their children compete.  These moms all had on the standard mommy uniform that may have been comfortable to wear, but was not very flattering.  

And I’m thinking that was not the look these moms where going for. But the expression on their faces, the haggard appearance of their clothes, and the attitude that accompanied their less than glowing faces all said, “I hate this job. I’m not a happy mom. I can’t believe I have to be here this early for junior to run. I don’t care how I look. How quickly can we get this over with!”

Moms, if we were “professionals,” we would never show up for “work” looking like that. We would never go to an interview for a job in that condition, and not with that kind of attitude…at least not if we actually expected to be employed. But let me say this: those little whippersnappers we are carting all over town are “interviewing” us daily…and here is the question they ask and we answer as we live our life and “dress for success.”

Are we happy? Are we joyful?

Does our look say “I can do this job” or “I like my job” or even more importantly….”MY JOB IS CRITICAL AND IT MATTERS.”

See, what we wear, and how we present ourself speaks volumes about the priority we place on our value in our position. We communicate to our little girls about how motherhood is beautiful, and we can be a beautiful mother every day. We express to our son that his future wife will not only be pretty on their wedding day, but she will be beautiful as she lives her life with him, and brings new life into the world.

Maybe your not all big hair and Maybelline like me…and that is FINE. What I am asking you to consider is that we put our best foot forward as many days a week as we can. Represent our profession well! Represent your family in an attractive way when you step outside those four walls. Give yourself a shot of confidence every morning by just taking a few extra minutes for hair, to dress nicely and maybe a bit of makeup. It always makes a huge difference in my attitude when I look nice, even if my day isn’t going well. Somehow a haggard appearance makes me feel overwhelmed before I even get out of the gate in my routine. Give it a try as a new practice if you have fallen out of the habit…see if you can get dressed nicely and get your makeup on…(even perfume!)…let’s say for 7 days straight…and see what a difference it makes! Anybody wanna take the challenge?

January 27, 2015

Filed Under: Moms

Comments

  1. michellewiginton says

    November 22, 2013 at 7:42 pm

    Thank you…that truly blessed me and made my day!!

    Reply
    • Lyette Reback says

      January 29, 2015 at 6:34 am

      xoxoxo Keep marching Michelle!

      Reply
  2. Amanda says

    January 27, 2015 at 9:03 am

    One of my all time favorite posts!!! This is very true!!! Thank you for reminding us that our “job” is important! We need to dress the part!

    Reply
    • Lyette Reback says

      January 29, 2015 at 6:35 am

      I know personally, the days I never make it out of my jammies don’t fare so well. But at least for those days, I have now gotten smarter and gotten cuter pj’s!

      Reply
  3. Rachel says

    January 27, 2015 at 2:16 pm

    When mommy feels good about herself the entire family benefits. Thank you for the reminder.

    Reply
    • Lyette Reback says

      January 29, 2015 at 6:36 am

      Yes Rachel. It is just as simple as you put it. Your one sentence sums up what my 500 words intended beautifully.

      Reply
  4. Marissa says

    January 27, 2015 at 8:29 pm

    “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
    1 Samuel 16:7

    Reply
    • Lyette Reback says

      January 29, 2015 at 6:41 am

      You’re absolutely right. The Lord looks on the heart. But our neighbors, our friends, our husband’s do not have God’s keen insight. They see what’s on the outside and oftentimes, like it or not, make assumptions about us based on what they see. Our inner person, the kind gentle spirit and love and joy is like the yummy cake….our clothing and appearance are like the icing. When we look at a pretty cake, we can only see what’s covering it. We take a bite and hopefully the entire desert is as yummy as it looked! Can a cake be delicious on the outside even if it is poorly decorated? Absolutely. Completely. But most may not even give it a taste or a try.

      Silly analogy, but I think it’s applicable. We should NOT be solely focused on our outward appearance, but we should pay it mind. And I know personally, I feel better when I do. And that was the crux of my post.

      Reply
  5. Lauren Anderson says

    November 17, 2015 at 3:43 pm

    I am so excited that I have found your website. I came across it on Pinterest one day and have spent the past couple days now reading through all of your posts from the most recent to the very beginning. I am so encouraged by you and your reminders that Mommyhood is something wonderful even though sometimes the going gets tough. My husband has questioned me sometimes as to why applying mascara and concealer is just something I do in the morning just like brushing my teeth and washing my face, and I have told him that it makes me feel like I am just a bit more prepared to start my day with my two girls. I have made an effort to never leave the house without first looking in the mirror and making sure that I look good. When you look good it makes you feel a bit better too. Thank you so much again for everything that you share with us moms, keep up the fabulous work.

    Reply
    • Lyette Reback says

      November 18, 2015 at 12:09 pm

      I agree…when I look better I feel better. Mommy hood is tough enough without looking like I’ve been hit by a Mack truck!

      Reply

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