This week I discovered that Macy’s has an entire department dedicated to “Shapewear”. This includes items with taglines like “fat-free dressing” and “body behave”. One tag said “Your clothes shouldn’t require 45 minutes of cardio to wear”. It was really quite amazing to go through; tubes, tanks, slips. This is some very serious spandex we’re talking about- “Spanx” is just the beginning. There is a piece to go under just about any cut dress you can find.
I also discovered that I clearly have no concept of the size and shape of my body. If you’ve never had a baby before, let me enlighten you- there is a very specific post-partum body that new mommies have. We’ll just call it a bit curvier with a pudgy lower abdomen.
Now, I’ve had this “mommy body” once before, so why am I only being enlightened to this booming shapewear industry now? Because last time I had another “accessory” to distract from the curves. It’s what most women get with their mommy body, it’s their baby. No one cares what you look like when you’re holding or pushing around that bundle of joy. Your hair doesn’t need to be done, you can go out makeup free; your clothes don’t have to fit properly. All you need to look like a million bucks is that gorgeous baby and the smile he or she puts on your face.
Why do I even care how I look right now? Matt and I have a wedding to attend this weekend. Yes, four weeks and one day after giving birth to Abby, and exactly three weeks to the day after laying her to rest, Matt and I will be at a wedding for very close friends of ours. Matt is actually in the wedding, and I will encase myself in military grade spandex under my dress to look half way decent next to him. I am praying for the strength to make it through this event and be joyful for our friends who are celebrating such a wonderful time in their lives. We’re glad to be with our friends; we would never want to miss celebrating such an important event. But it will be the first time I’m really going out in public beyond dropping Connor at school or shopping with my mother. Much like Arthur’s mom, I’m just hoping no one pulls the trigger.
