I'll get straight to the point.
The biggest mistake I ever made was toning down my style to fit in.
Pre-kid Patty wore band tees, skinny jeans, leopard print skate shoes, red lipstick, and pink hair.
After becoming a mom, a part of me felt as though I had to tone it down so that others would take me more serious as a young mom.
I had my first child when I was 18. By 23 I was married with 3 kids. As a woman who gets the "you look so young", after discovering I am a mom of 3, it was pretty intimidating. I felt I had to dress in a way that made me look less of a hooligan. I put away my band tees and purchased clothes that were more girly and "put together". Blehk! I cringe just writing this out. I can't believe I did that to myself. I'm sorry girl!
Man, the things we do to ourselves!
It took me like 4 or 5 years before I decided that wasn't something I would do anymore. I wear what I want again. I wear what I love and express myself through my clothes. I am a mom, but that's just a part of who I am, it doesn't make up all of me.
During that time period, I felt so lost. Like I didn't know who I was or what I was doing. I feel as though the reason was due to the fact that I wasn't being true to myself. I was hiding a part of me, a really big part of me. That facade was suppressing my personality and my happiness.
I don't dress for other moms, for teachers, for strangers at the store who want to judge me, for my mom, not for anyone!...(Except my husband on date nights) ;)......and church! But that's different.
My hair is currently pink, my nails red. I have new additions to my closet and they include an Interrupters sweater and a Rancid tshirt. I look forward to a fall filled with leopard print and colorful hair as I proudly walk past the moms at school in their standard leggings and booties. Not that I'd be judging, you all look cute! It's just not who I am and not someone I need to pretend to be.
I'm showing my children that they too are free to walk to the beat of their own drum. I hope you can too.
XX Patty
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