The Old Me

This past Thursday I had the opportunity to go out for a Girls' Night Out with all the Navy moms from our playgroup who will be leaving the area in the next week or so. It was AWESOME!

It was challenging trying to "get ready" while caring for a toddler and then putting her down to bed. I showered in the afternoon and did things in spurts throughout the rest of the time, finishing up with makeup and clothes after she went to sleep. Kind of funny, took me like 4 hours instead of the usual one it used to take me.

So, I didn't feel like it, but decided to wear a skirt and contacts, and do my makeup like I used to do (you know, pre-motherhood when I had oodles of free time to do those sorts of luxurious things, although I didn't know it then. SIGH, who does?). I come out of the bathroom, looking HOT complete with big hair and all (if I do say so myself), and my husband couldn't stop complimenting me. I was so excited that he was lavishing all this attention on me, hell, that he even NOTICED, was awesome. He was so appreciative of my appearance that we had to take a detour to the bedroom before I left (wink wink - with strict instructions NOT to mess up my hair or makeup!).

I grabbed my purse, complete with ONLY MY THINGS - wallet, cell, lip gloss, keys - and headed out. No diapers, or wipes, or toys, or sippies, or snacks. I felt such a feeling of anticipation while I was driving to the restaurant, just like the old days when I would go out, except then I didn't look in the rearview mirror to an empty car seat! I was just thinking of how good this whole experience was for me ( I have been having a rough time with my appearance lately - in dire need of a hair color, cut, and style, acne issues, weight gain, low self-confidence, blah blah blah) and how much I felt like MYSELF - looking good and ready for fun, full of confidence and ready to go. God, I realized how much I missed ME!

So, when I arrive, the girls all gasp and fuss over how good I look. It became painfully clear to me that I really need to start making more of an effort. It's not that I am apathetic or don't care, but when you are hanging out at home all day with a toddler, what is the point, really, in trying that hard? Sometimes, it is not worth the extra effort to use mascara or go for cute hair when your itinerary involves baby gym and the grocery store. But with that strong of a reaction, I realized that it probably wouldn't hurt to start trying a little. Just a tad, really. It would probably help me in the long run (more on that later).

But, anyways, we had a great time laughing, eating great food, drinking wine, and reminiscing. Conversations mostly revolved around Navy life, our crazy husbands, and silly kids - but it was so much fun to just BE, with my friends, as Stacy, not mommy or wife. We closed down the restaurant and stood talking in the parking lot for almost an hour! Then, with a sigh of contentment and a smidge of resignation, we said good night and made our ways back to our real lives.