why do mums of toddlers dress like they are going into battle?

[Pharoahnuff]

i know I think i did.
ALl bagged up, flat boots, look of grim determination. In my day it was all combat trousers, quilty gilets and timberlands.
now its ugly Fly boots and ill fitting skinnies

I probably make more of an effort with make up now than pre-DS, as before I was slim enough and with good enough skin to not wear make up every day. Now I feel like I need to do something to hide the eye bags, and try to distract from my wobbly waistline! Am trying to lose weight, so clothes are all ill-fitting as they are now a bit too big, but want to get back to pre pregnancy size so not wasting money buying more!

I never get the 'it takes five minutes' thing. Maybe it does, but there are heaps of other things that also only 'take five minutes' and have to be done too. It takes me 30 UNINTERRUPTED minutes to shower, dress, iron hair and put on make up. If the dcs are hassling me it can take much much longer.

But I do put on make up now, and I always keep lipstick and blush in my bag so I can put it on it the car if I do run out of time.

I still wear my stilletoes on a regular basis, on the days I really CBA I have jeans and converse.
I have DS 2.5yo and DD 3mo I will never have fly boots though.

I don't wear make up v often though and I always wear the look of determination

It feels like years since we've had one of these!

Fish: How come you all look like shit? I never looked like shit. I looked great.

All: You bitchy, shallow, plastic cow. You must have been a shit mother. You probably traded your baby for a new mascara.

ThePoorMans

My problem is accessories, i don't know what goes

Am also a potbellied apple shaped 26 year old, what should i be wearing?

I have a 2 year old and I wear boots, skinnys and vest tops. The skinny fit right btw! Wanted to add that

I will not wear heels when out shopping with my son as he walks a lot and I struggle to keep up with him in flats! I have heeled boots that's might wear occasionally.

I only wear eye liner and mascara. This is something I have always done so nothing different and just go over my hair quickly with a brush and straighteners. It takes me about 15 mins to get me and my son ready AMD we both look presentable

Feels offended about this post lol! Maybe depends where u live but here they all wear ugg boots! I have 3 & 1yr old wash my hair and do my mascara eyebrow pencil concealer in morning, but I do wear fly boots which I love! Thought I was doing well treating myself to a nice pair of winter boots ha ha! And wouldn't want to look like all the usual ones here in their leggings uggs parka jackets!

issimma I'm inclined to think a full body stocking under my clothes is the only answer. with catheter.

Make up if all you do is the school run seems pointless.
When I do wear it, I forget and rub my eyes
I did have make up on to to the shopping mall, but only so as not to show up my almost 11y DD2.

(She had makeup on, hair done, outfit carefully chosen. I think she long ago decided that she has to do smart, fashionable, organised and punctual for her hopeless elder sister and me)

Next time you are at the park with your toddler, wearing your nice heeled shoes, a clutch bag, skirt, tights and nice jacket just look round at the mum who is happily pushing her children on the swings. She is wearing a big thick jacket (hat,scarf and gloves) and has a big bag with her.

She is quite happy to stay at the park all morning, cause she is not freezing. That big bag contains a wealth of goodies, snacks, drinks, nappies, wipes probably a spare pair of pants and maybe even a wee flask of coffee for herself.

And as you drag your child away from the park cause you are freezing while your child screams 'its not fair, I want to stay' take a moment to consider why we wear 'mum clothes'

Oh thats so funny switchtvoff

Because obviously I'd take a clutch bag to the park

There is a middle ground you know.

I bloody hate the park.

Just sayin'.

lol yes, because every 'mum' wants to spend all day in the park.
I have never worn battle dress btw, but that's probably as I only have one DD and don't ever do the kneeling down park thing. Thank god those days are over!
And really, anyone who says they don't even have 5 mins to apply make up is lying or deluded.

I love boots like that! Love 'em. I don't think it's because I have toddlers - in fact I don't as mine are much older now. I think it's because I was a teenager in the late 70s/early 80s and DMs etc were fashionable (well they were amongst my friends). I have never quite got out of the slightly punky/slightly Boho look I'm afraid. Don't think I ever will now...

I saw a mum in the playground last summer wearing a skintight white minidress and white stilettos.

Bender, how do you remember her? Last summer is not even a long distant memory! I just don't notice anything. Although it must have been striking!

This thread is similar to the one about mumsy outfits.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/a1383506-I-have-a-Mum-purse-Mum-jeans-and-also-Mum-hair
But bizarrely, it's completely different MNers on it.

I suffered from PND after the birth of DS1 so appearance did not appear on the radar. It's true it is a question of priorities. All I wanted to do was sleep.
The counsellor asked this question I do remember: you take care of your child; why would you not take care of yourself as well?
Taking care of myself, my appearance, was a good way to start feeling better. And I am dead chuffed at some pictures of me as a mum when I look pretty with a bit of eye shadow and blusher.
So from this point of view, I agree with you, Bender, one needs to protect one's sense of self from toddler erosion!

And I agree with Pharoahnuff too, my children like it when I look nice. DS1 always notices when I wear a dress, he likes accessorizing me with bangles and DS2, 8 months and breastfeeding, likes nothing better than a necklace. Bought a laser cut black bear necklace on etsy in his honour.

I think it is a question of consistency. I worry about the mums who look disshevelled but whose kids look neat. Are they struggling? I don't buy into self-sacrifice either, because it never pays off in the long run IMO.

So I don't have time to apply body lotion every day like I used to as a student. God, these were the days!

For anyone seeking realistic mum-style advice and bolstering pep talk for any shape or form, I recommend Gok.

lol at the poormans

i think i have revealed quite enough abotu my galosh style shoes and fleece moments ;)

and LOl at taking a clutch bag to the park
theres been many a thread when crapmums ;) have revelead they use a ( INHALES) carrier bag

arf at 'how do you remember her?' how could i not? it was my first visit to banstead...they do things differently there.

Howling at switchtvoff

Just take a minute everyone.

I loathe those huge Mum rucksacks full of chopped up cucumber,colouring books and Kendall mint cake 'just in case'

Go to Pret a Manger like the rest of us

Oh yes the huge mum rucksacks that are full of shit useful essentials.
Worn when nipping into town for an hour...

See I never saw the point in them... (sorry to go on)

Surely carting the bloody child around is bad enough but hey, why not make things doubly worse for yourself and add a fecking huge rucksack into the equation.