A few samplings of the clothes bought. I'm in love with the flats the most!
For the past seven years my life has consisted of diapers, runny noses, routines, schedules, disinfecting, Good Night Moon, time outs, and healthy meals. I jumped into my daycare provider role wholeheartedly. I got messy right along with the kids and their activities and I've never regretted it for a minute. For this reason alone, 99% of my wardrobe consists of yoga pants, sweat pants, a few pairs of jeans, and anything with a good amount of stretch that easily moves with me as I crawl around the floor pretending to be a hippo (yes, I said hippo and not horse). This has been my daily wardrobe for seven years. It's actually pretty, well, comfortable.
A few months ago, I took a position on the Board of Directions of the Des Moines Children's Museum. Pair this with a few extra projects and events coming up and I knew what I had to do.
I spent money. On (casual) business clothes. On shoes (flats, heels, boots, you name it I've bought it). On new make up. On new jewelry. On new coats and jackets that didn't have the word puffer in it. I bought a pair of black pants. I haven't owned a pair of black pants that properly fit in, oh, SEVEN YEARS.
While most of my days are spent in yoga pants still, my evenings and weekends are now spent in "fancy" clothes, using grown up words (I have yet to remind anyone to grab a tissue). I'm thoroughly enjoying putting on my business clothes and talking to adults. It's comforting to know that I can still hold an intellectually stimulating conversation while expressing my thoughts and ideas. I feel as though I'm re-entering society after time away.
I will shamefully admit that I haven't worn heels since my early college days. The poor sales women had to stifle her laughter while I first struggled to get the leather boots on (have you ever tried to get a tight fitting leather boot on for the first time???? It's next to impossible) and then nearly falling over as I took my first step. I've been practicing walking in the new boots in my living room before I brave them in public.
This is true stuff for a work at home mom. I've been running businesses from my couch in yoga pants. Comforting, empowering, yet still a world away from business suits, legal documents (and phrases), working as a team, and dealing with the general public.
Oh, and for the record, I totally bought a new pair of yoga pants with all of my fancy business clothes. Old habits die hard.