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The dreaded P word
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I hate this word. It is a word I have used more in the last two and a half years than any other time in my life. The word I am talking about is ’practical’. I have become Mrs.Practical. A word that a few years ago I would have shunned. I’ll take style over practical any day. But then I became pregnant and the ’P’ word started creeping in to my vocab. It started on maternity leave when I would be looking for clothes that were stylish, comfy and da da daaaaa…practical. Practical nursing tops and bras that had practical straps and fastenings for
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breast-feeding. Then it was jeans with stretchy waist-bands for the growing bump. I told myself that this practical-ness would stop post pregnancy and once I was back into my normal wardrobe. Fast forward two years and its practically my middle name. Cringe.
Pre-baby I would spend a good chunk of my working wage in Topshop, Zara etc looking for things I liked as opposed to things I needed. I would have bought a pair of ridiculous heels for a night out.
Post baby I’ll take a pair of Nike trainers over heels any day. The main reason being my feet now
Pre-baby I would spend a good chunk of my working wage in Topshop, Zara etc looking for things I liked as opposed to things I needed. I would have bought a pair of ridiculous heels for a night out.
Post baby I’ll take a pair of Nike trainers over heels any day. The main reason being my feet now
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resemble Frodo Baggins feet – thanks Pregnancy.
I’ve also realised that there’s a big difference between want and need since becoming a mum.
DREAM/WANT – a pair of high, toe squishingly, aching heels for no reason or once in a blue moon night out.
THE REALITY/NEED – comfy as slippers Nikes to walk/run after a two year old in the park.
DREAM/WANT – fresh white t-shirt from Cos.
THE REALITY/NEED – cheap, preferably non-white tees from h&m that will eventually get covered in Ella’s Kitchen food pouches.
Every time I buy something ’nice’ now I
I’ve also realised that there’s a big difference between want and need since becoming a mum.
DREAM/WANT – a pair of high, toe squishingly, aching heels for no reason or once in a blue moon night out.
THE REALITY/NEED – comfy as slippers Nikes to walk/run after a two year old in the park.
DREAM/WANT – fresh white t-shirt from Cos.
THE REALITY/NEED – cheap, preferably non-white tees from h&m that will eventually get covered in Ella’s Kitchen food pouches.
Every time I buy something ’nice’ now I
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think ’I’ll save it for best’, until I realised there is no ’best’ anymore. You have to pick and choose your Sunday best days. I had a friend come and stay recently so for four hours I got to escape one Saturday evening ’sans child’ and go to a pub, so of course dressed in my favourite,new Topshop still with the tags on silk shirt, jeans, heels, a small handbag, jacket and jewellery. I was me but with bells on! Even though I was way over dressed for where we were going I didn’t care. It meant I could wear the good stuff without fear of
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crayons/Play-doh and food stuffs being wiped all over them and the ’P’ word did not exist.
A friend of mine after the birth of her son had resorted to power walking around the park for hours a day to get her little one to sleep and as it was winter had to buy a practical coat. She hated this and dubbed it her ”Carole Jackson off Eastenders coat”. I knew what she meant, (but she still looked great). Now while I’m not that practical, I’m not exactly buying combat pants with multiple pockets on the legs for my keys, phone, kids raisins, nappies and
A friend of mine after the birth of her son had resorted to power walking around the park for hours a day to get her little one to sleep and as it was winter had to buy a practical coat. She hated this and dubbed it her ”Carole Jackson off Eastenders coat”. I knew what she meant, (but she still looked great). Now while I’m not that practical, I’m not exactly buying combat pants with multiple pockets on the legs for my keys, phone, kids raisins, nappies and
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pen-knives. I’ve had to become more practical, frugal and wise with my lack of funds as I am a full time mum and my husband is the sole breadwinner. So with less money to play with each month, I have to be practical with what I buy. When I go to buy or put an item in my basket online I have to think about every other item it will go with in my wardrobe. Living in Canada for the last year and leaving the amazing British high street behind was a challenge. Finding decent clothes here that are good enough to stand up to the freezing temperatures of
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winter-time and still follow some kind of fashion trend has been hard.
My usual morning routine is to look through all the lovely Instagram posts of the cool, well dressed mums I admire out there and try and emulate their outfit by rooting through my wardrobe to see what items I have that resemble theirs. I have no desire to become dowdy or un-stylish, I have just had to become practical at this time in my life. I know that when my little one is older, less messy and I’m back at work I will be found once again browsing the rails at my favourite stores
My usual morning routine is to look through all the lovely Instagram posts of the cool, well dressed mums I admire out there and try and emulate their outfit by rooting through my wardrobe to see what items I have that resemble theirs. I have no desire to become dowdy or un-stylish, I have just had to become practical at this time in my life. I know that when my little one is older, less messy and I’m back at work I will be found once again browsing the rails at my favourite stores
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at the weekends and the P-word will be less of a priority. However being practical isn’t all bad as I have rediscovered my love for trainers (click = adds a new pair of Nikes to my shopping trolley).
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