mummyof2pr
When I've got home from a hard day's work, after I've made tea, washed up, sorted bags and settled the DC I put on my nightie. It's fresh out the drawer, blue and white striped, has a few holes in it, not to mention a bleach stain, and it comes up to mid-thigh, though it is quite a snug fit as it's been tumble dried many times. I team it with a fleecy grey dressing gown (beltless as that got mangled in the washing machine years ago) and purple slippers. That is my lounge wear, albeit with the blinds closed. You're honestly saying that if I realised I needed milk for tomorrow you wouldn't judge me walking in the local Co-op like that? Everything's covered, I'm showing no more thigh than some ladies on a Friday night, I'm not wearing a bra but that's fine, my wonky F cups are fine to jiggle freely. My knickers were clean on this morning, I had a shower this morning and washed my hair? What's wrong with me rocking up to the Co-op like that? In fact, what's wrong with me doing the school run like that?
It's standards.
You also mention that there are far worse sights, alcoholics, drug dealers etc. In my village the people whose houses are regularly raided by the police are the people who walk past my living room window at 9am with a crate of Fosters over their shoulder in their pyjamas. And that's what I base my judgement on. People who I know to habitually wear their pyjamas in public are drug abusers, alcoholics or both.
I have a lot to be judged on. A quick AS will deal with that. But it's standards we set ourselves. When I'm at work I wear a suit because it's a professional environment and I'm representing my workplace. It's the same at home, albeit with jeans and Sketchers instead of suit and boots. It shows pride in yourself, what you're doing and who you're with, and if you go out in public in your pjs it shows a lack of all of that pride.
There is another thread I've commented on where the OP went out to find her truculent DD whilst wearing her pjs and dressing gown, and her DD was very embarrassed her mother turning up like that. My children would be absolutely horrified if I turned up at the school, either for pick up or parents' evening, in my pyjamas.
It's standards.