I recently attended a panel discussion at Bloomingdale’s entitled, “Momhood Through The Years.” The intention was to capture the panelist’s fashion style through varying points on the spectrum of motherhood – from new mom to empty-nester. The discussion ranged from their advice on juggling the work-life balance to their favorite fashion-forward look (we were at Bloomies after all!).
While they all were at different stops on their journey through motherhood, they all voiced one must-have. Comfort.
Each mom started their description of their preferred look with comfortable. And while comfort meant something different to each (one woman actually was comfortable in 4″ heels!) it was equally important to all of them. I stood there looking at six completely unique women/moms/employees asking for the same thing – to feel like they can be themselves.
See, that’s what I took as the definition of comfortable. They weren’t suggesting they wanted to run around in sweat pants (although that does have my vote for new office attire) they were simply wanting to feel good in their own skin.
The woman at the end of the panel, the empty-nester, resonated with me. There she was, “done” with the chaotic times of mothering, and all she wanted was to be comfortable in this next phase of her life. Although we’re at opposite ends of the parenting continuum, with her kids in college and mine still in diapers, she showed me it never gets easier, it just gets different.
My comfort today will probably not be my comfort of tomorrow. But as long as I am comfortable with my own style, be it outerwear or parenting, I may just find a little inner relaxation in this never-ending remarkable journey through momhood.