Autumn was talking about being friends with fashionable moms and how she has learned to love them for what is inside. Kudos to you Autumn.
I am still unfashionable and I'd have to admit that the bulk of my mommy friends are right in that boat with me. (Ha! Now if any local people read this, they can know just how I feel about them.) Jeans, some shirt or sweater, and flat shoes of some sort are the outfits of my life. I don't even own heels. I think I gave them up one year for Lent and never looked back. And I am very happy with this look. My husband doesn't seem to complain and that is the beauty of being married. I only have to look good to one other person. One other person who after 22 years of marriage is just happy to see food on the table most nights. He has lowered his standards to my level.
But Autumn's post reminded me of a funny story. When one of my kids was in first grade, I volunteered in his classroom every Friday. I helped pretest the kids on spelling, gave them spelling tests, and read with them. Being in the classroom has always appealed to me and I loved this Friday routine. I was the only mom that went weekly and I soon formed a bond with the teacher.
Midway through the year, we were chatting it up about something. She then mentioned one of the other moms from the class. Her comment to me about this mom? "Gosh, I'm glad she doesn't come in to help. She always looks great and it would really make me feel bad about myself to be in the classroom with her."
Another lovely role for me. Helping people feel better about themselves because I never look good. Glad to help out.
And about her end-of-the-year teacher present...
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70 comments:
LOl! That was great! I used to be'that person' that made people feel better too! aha haaaa! Wait, I'm gonna go put my sweats on right now! lol
I was JUST thinking about this topic. I am pretty sure I would dress like a hobo if it wasn't for my metro sexual/great taste brother who is a manager for American Eagle and buys me all my clothes : )
Wow that comment was bad on all kinds of levels. It's funny though that this topic has come up as I have been writing about my mother and remembering watching her walk into my 5th grade classroom and the reaction of all the kids there. They thought my momma was the prettiest of all the mom's. Well, suffice it to say I was never that kind of mom either. LOL
I spent 2008 really trying to improve. Why? Because about a year ago Oprah had a show on the air entitled "Are You a Shlumpadinka?" Now, I hardly ever watch Oprah, but there we were. And the Tongginator looked up from her puzzles and said, "they're just like you, Momma!"
Also, my ancestors are Appalachian as well. Nearest big city (ha!)... Crossville, TN.
my mama always told me to never have a friend that was prettier/skinnier/lovlier than me - it would only make me jealous. so...maybe miss teacher was just deluding herself - she was there to make YOU feel better...
yeah. that's it. :-)
oh, and on the topic...my christmas present from lo gung? a shopping spree at the outlet mall - he was tired of me looking like a bag lady after two kids. :-)
Something just like that happened to me. I used to walk with a neighbor every morning. One day while we walked, another neighbor came by. This other neighbor was one of those women who is always put together. My walking neighbor said, "I'm glad I walk with you and not her - she'd make me look bad." Well, geez, thanks a lot.
My daughter is 25 and she would not allow me to show up really bad which is kinda what I would like to do these days...foot still hurting! She also wouldn't allow me to turn into an "old woman!" My children have standads that I must maintain!
HA!!! That is so funny! That is as bad as when it's photo time with my sisters & mom, everyone fights to stand by me. I make them look skinny. I hate them sometimes.
omg, how did you react to that??? I'm thinking... maybe she felt more comfortable around you since you two were used to being around each other. Hopefully you were intimidating too at first ;)
Look at it this way, dressing down helped the boys concentrate and get better grades. The flashy dressed moms of the world only cause repeats in the classrooms.
What a mean thing for her to say!
I would have turned to her and said " I didn't want to make you feel bad so I just took my lead from the way you dressed"
Some people should engage their brain before they engage their mouth
This revelation has been hitting home with me lately wherever I go whatever I do whatever I read: Everyone is totally thinking about him/herself! OK, it's not a new revelation, I just said I'm "getting it." But it takes the pressure off to be better than I am because no one really cares except for how it relates to THEM.
The way you dress is totally the same with me.....comfy clothes and FLAT shoes (even though I'm only 5'2") My hubby actually does NOT like women who are extremely dressed up and put-together. thank god!!
Debbie you're hilarious...I laughed out loud at the husband's lowered standards, and choked at that rotten apple...you're a girl after my own heart...
I live in sweat shirt hoodies, jeans and sneakers, so I know what you mean. If I dress up its like a slow torture session, I cant stand it. People tell me I dress like a high school skateboarder, I dont care lol..Im comfy.
HA HA! The way you presented it is hilarious! Although I imagine she didnt mean it as bad as it sounded LOL!
This is even worse than when someone asks you if you are tired! So, so funny. Loved the rotten apple at the end.
Over at Life Keeps Getting Weirder, Anna has a fun post about mommy gangs, where she mocks the fashion moms.
I strive to be the Mommy that makes everyone look bad and it's damn tough to do that in Utah. You may not know this but Utah is home of the Trophy Wife and they take great pride in their clothes/handbags/tans/suburbans!
I have about 2 years to totally get my act together!
Loved the Mom Jeans photo; great reminder I need to ditch a couple pairs of mine, lol!
And about the title of this post? Don't worry friend, it's just blogging fodder. :o)
Blessings, Carolynn
Too funny - love the giving up heels for Lent.
Hey, too few things make teachers feel good about themselves - they're used as punching bags for all of society's ills (especially what they have no control over!), so you being down-to-earth and caring more about kids' learning than looking fancy - that's a great compliment!
Oh thank goodness--your profile pic suggests that you hang around the house in little catsuits and heels, eating bon bons all day.
If you don't mind, I'm still going to picture that way, because it's so cute :)
You should've punched that teacher right in the mouth and then asked her how she felt about herself! : )
that's pretty much awesome. (i write this still in my pjs and glasses--not winning any hot-mom contests in the foreseeable future:)
OMG she di'nt! ...good lord! *laughing* -- and I love the apple gift *laugh*
okay, now I'm sitting here giggling....I ..can't...type, because suddenly I'm ...just laughing....giggling...shoulders shaking....this is just...cracking me up -I'm sorry...LAUGHING! I can't believe she said that!!!!
GUFFAW!....
okay *wiping tears* -I think I'm okay now....(laugh...)
That was so funny! Did it hit her at all what she said?
I am really really like unbelievably unfashionable and I do prefer to hang out with people who are as unfashionable as myself so my low self-esteem doesn't kick in. I do think it is the perhaps the biggest benefit of being married -- you don't need to impress anyone else. I'm just waiting for my son to realize what a total slob I am. Right now, if I put on any pair of cheap earrings, he ooohs and aaaah over how pretty I am. And if I wear anything other than a t-shirt, he thinks I'm gorgeous. I love that about him...soon enough he will realize that I am on the bottom of the fashion totem pole and will make me walk 3 feet behind him.
This so reminds me to go self nominate for What Not To Wear!
heeheheeehehe!! Loved the apple--now let's go rock those mom jeans!
Blessings!
Is that what you call a backhanded insult? I'm not so much about fashion as I am about not making my butt look big. I can't help it.
You really are such a giver.
I feel naked when I leave my home in "the outfit" minus the wedding ring. It's the wedding ring that tells everyone "this hot mess is spoken for, so there!"
Oh, and I am so giving up heels for lent!
I hang out with women that are obnoxiously good-looking and fashionable so I've just given in to wearing make up everyday. Maybe I should move to -------- (not naming names so I don't offend the citizens of any make up shunning locales) so that I don't have to. Orange County, CA is not the place for cosmetics slackers. Unless you're sure enough of yourself not to care, which I'm not. Erg.
If I had to guess, Debbie, I would say that you are Mom #4 in this photo. Am I close?
I love what I like to call "feel good" comments like the one you posted here. Why just the other day, a "friend" of mine commented, "So, is that all you do? Just stay home with your kids? You don't do anything else?" It was a great confidence builder.
Luckily, you and I have found one another in the blogosphere. We don't need anyone else...we really don't. :)
-Francesca
OMG! I helped out for that same teacher I think!!!! LOL!!!!!
And you have the best readers/commentors ever!! Their responses are almost as funny as your posts.
First of all was the teacher blonde? No offense blondes, I'm one, and that totally sounds like something I would say and not realize until later that I'd totally blown it. Apple's a little too polished if you asked me.
I always thought it would be fun to be on "What Not to Wear", but, as my son pointed out, I would kill anyone who video taped me at home in my jammies at 5:20 in the afternoon.
Old Navy bottoms ROCK!
Hahahahahaha!!!!
I feel like that all the time.
I go to the Wal*Mart on the bad side of town just to feel pretty : )
I used to take great care and attention of my appearance and clothing. Now, I don't seem to care so much anymore. At least I take off the pj pants each day to put on sweats.
Although, I am much worse in the winter, it is easier to get dressed up in the summer.
I've never in my whole life eaten a Girl Scout Cookie (the horror, I know!) so I'm super excited to go out and do it with her then buy some boxes to call my own! ;o)
That's awesome!
May I suggest something fattening rather than a rotten apple? Why yes I used low fat stuff (wink, wink) why do you ask? That noise? That's your arteries clogging as we speak. Side effects may include swelling of the bootay.
LOL! I am so not the mother I thought I'd be-- in my mind I'm all prepped out with a matching handbag, but in reality I am in perma black yoga pants, white long sleeve t-shirts and slippers. It's terrible.
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
You are hilarious and that comment was priceless. Some people should not be allowed to speak...
he he he! Well listen honey, as long as you aren't wearing "mom jeans" it's okay. I don't own heels. Think they are ridiculous. But I'm not so stylish either. Cowboy boots and jeans with a white T are my standard. My husband has not yet lowered his expectations to mine, but he will...eventually *U*
Usually I'm the person putting my foot in my mouth like that. Then I have to say, "OH! I didn't mean that YOU aren't fashionable or cute...(choke, cough)" Yup, I'm kinda dumb. I just ramble until the stupidest thing ever comes out. It's fun.
Another hilarious post, lady.
Ha ha, I'm SURE she didn't mean it the way it sounded! =) Too funny!!!
LOL! I can't believe she said that!
yeah well--at least people don't ask you to stand next to them so they can look skinny.
Gee what were you to that teacher - chopped liver?
Actually, I love chopped liver. With onions.
Me, I was fashionable for one week in my 20s.
Heel, don't have 'em either. I do have a pair of 3" wedge heel boots. I love those. Any kind of wedge heel I go for.
One of my son's friends said "Your mom is so nice. She's kinda cool." Braden's response? "Yeah, but she always dresses like a mom."
Hmmm...
Oh my word. Sorry for giggling but I have said some clueless things like that which come out so wrong! I seriously doubt the teacher meant it the way it sounded. She really meant, "I'm so glad you're helping in the classroom because you don't dress up every day and make the rest of us feel badly about ourselves. I mean how practical would her outfit be when you're helping first graders glue construction paper to paper plates?"
Oh Man!!!
What a great story. Now, you have to know that she didn't mean it as an insult to you. Some people just don't use their filter system.
I wonder if she had any idea of what she had said.
Geez, that's funny.
You rock, helper mom! Love my scrubs and sweats. The fashionable are both wealthy and have lots of free time to take care of their own needs. :)
I just LAUGHED OUT LOUD!!!
holy hell that was funny.
I don't own heels and consider myself the height of fashion. I'm the only one who does, of course, but that's where delusions come in handy.
Ouch, that's harsh! Forgive her father, for she obviously did not know what she was saying!
Love the apple! Serves her right.
Thanks for dropping by,
http://www.momshomerun.blogspot.com
Hahaha, I'm working on my husbands training. He's come so far in the last few years but still work to be done.
Yeah, I live in jeans or sweats, tennies, and t-shirts. I only dress up (casually) when I go to work. We don't even have casual Fridays. Bastards.
Ah, but now that I'm single and feeling the need to meet someone, I'm going to have to play dress-up, at least a little bit. Yeesh, what we do for men . . .
KJ
http://fragrantliar.blogspot.com
I'm perfectly okay with being the frumpy mom. And, yay for you being the mom that volunteered. Whenever a mom came near my classes, they made the sign of the cross and hung garlic around their necks.
Sadly, I know exactly what she meant by that comment! We had a mom that NEVER looked bad. She was always made up, skinny as can be and dressed to kill. We were supposed to go on a girl scout trip and no one wanted to room with her for fear she actually woke up looking like that! It would just make the rest of us feel bad.
I just blogged about something close to this last week! How my heels are slowly turning in to flat comfy shoes! But, like I said... I wouldn't change staying home for ANYTHING and the comfort thing is just a bonus right?
Big Hugs - Tiffany
Oops! Did she get your foot to go with hers in her mouth?
I used to volunteer at the kids' school. I did it so much it led to my current position. :)
bwahahahahaha... you and me, kid. you and me.
Hey! I left you a little something over at my blog :D
Hey! I left you a little something over at my page :D
I'm not a mom and I'm still not fashionable...sigh. I'm very much a uniform type person!
You’ve been tagged!
I’d be very interested to hear your replies so I hope you have the time; details at http://www.afiori.com
Nice to know kids prefer real down to earth Mums and not fashion princesses!
I've been married 26 years and am heartily glad that my husband has lowered his expectations. Win Win for both of us.
HAHAHA - Brilliant! For a teacher, she wasn't too smart.
I didn't think they sold heels in Tennessee. (Except for "professionals", that is)
Hey, I come from a loooong line of cousin marrying, Tennessee stock. I can jest.
Heee heeee! I had a compliment JUST like that once. After I smoothed the hair back down on my neck, I realized that she wasn't being all that complimentary to herself either. Great apple pic just the same.
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