reclaiming me

Sometimes the smallest things can make a difference. Today I painted my fingernails. I haven't painted my fingernails since before Caia was born. That's right. It has been over a year since I have put any nail polish on. I just didn't see the point. I spend my day washing dishes, washing faces, and wiping down counter tops. Polish doesn't last when your hands are immersed in water for what seems like 75% of the day. So why spend the time when they just chip and look terrible the next day?
Maybe because when I was washing the dinner dishes tonight with my newly polished fingernails, I looked down and saw pretty, feminine hands. Not frumpy mom hands. I'm not saying that having unpolished nails makes you frumpy. I'm just saying that, for me, not painting my nails was just one more instance of giving up and settling in on my personal train to frump town. Before long, I will be wearing housecoats and slippers all day long. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating but I just wanted to remind all of the young moms out there that you are more than just a mom. You are a woman. So go ahead and do something that reclaims a little bit of who you are outside of being a mom. Paint your nails, curl your hair, buy a new pair of impractical shoes. Fight the frump!

photo by: kate e. did  http://www.flickr.com/photos/katej/979719707/