Mom Sexy Prom 2010 with Mary Mommyologist!

Mary The Mommyologist has come up with the amazing concept of Bringing Mom Sexy Back. I've posted about bringing my own mom sexy back here. It's really struck a chord with me, which is why I jumped right on the bandwagon when she initiated the idea of Mom Sexy Prom. As mothers, many of us lose our mojo and get so wrapped up in the daily grind that we forget who we are, and who we were before we had kids. We're working with Mary Mommyologist to prove that we've still got "IT," and so here's my Mom Sexy Prom post...with a twist!

photo courtesy of Amazon.com

I sat there with Mary,

We sat there, we two,

And I said, "Why, can I

go to Mom Sexy Prom with you?"

So I took off my dirty t-shirt and jeans

And found a darling dress to don.

Added some makeup, jewelry, high heels--

It's time to get my Mom Sexy on!

"Have no fear!" said The Mother Load.

"I can wear this dainty dress.

And at the same time I can vacuum

And clean up this mess!"

"I can juggle phone calls
While I shine countertops.
I can cook a delicious dinner
Without wearing my flip-flops!"

"But that is not all I can do!"

Said The Mother Load...

"Look at me!

Look at me now!" said the broad.

"I can bathe Thing One & Thing Two,

Scrub them head to feet.

I'll do it all in my Prom dress and pearls

While missing nery a beat!"

"I can do even more!"
Said the Mother Load then.
"I can stand tall in my heels
And carry two things, or ten!"

"I am the Mom in the Prom," she said with a smile.
"I schlep their hula hoops, their books and their ball.
 I put away the milk, the rake and the clean clothes.
In my dress I try to do it all and walk tall!"

But don't forget The Mother Load is green.
Every Sunday evening she hoists her blue bin
And carries it to the curb
Because not recycling is the biggest sin!

Growing Up vs. Dressing Up, or Why I'd Like to be Five Again

This is me, circa 1981 (5 yrs old), about to go to a friend's dress-up party.

I've always loved this photograph. Ironically, this is how I imagined I'd dress most of the time once I grew up. I couldn't wait to be like my mom and get fancy on Friday and Saturday nights to go out on the town. Earrings, makeup, perfume, pantyhose, high heels---these were the tangible symbols of womanhood I quietly coveted.

The amusing reality now that I have actually grown up is that I spend most days in workout gear, sweatpants, jeans, or jammies. Motherhood is lots of things, but glamorous isn't one of them. I spend too much time feeling badly for not putting more effort into my appearance. Yet it hardly seems worth it when my days are filled with snot, mashed up cookies, spilled juice, dirty little hands and the occasional vomitus. I can't play Duck, Duck, Goose in a dress, or even in a nice pair of slacks. Get Play Doh or watercolors on my nice Banana Republic blouse? No thank you! Comfortable and casual clothing is key.

Motherhood isn't glamorous. It's the hardest job I've ever had. I keep waiting for it to get easier, but the joke is on me---because it never will.

Life would be much simpler if I could rewind to the dress-up days. I'd put on Mom's party dress, heels and jewelry, prance around for a bit, and then take it all off, leaving it in a puddle on the floor, a dream for another day.