What I Wore Wednesday (and the pressure to look good)

Well, another week has come and gone, and I'm linking up with Lindsey again for What I Wore Wednesday!

I have to say that, um, knowing I was going to do this post resulted in me getting dressed more than I would have otherwise.  (But not to worry, I still spent two days in comfy clothes!)  AND, I find I am much more motivated to do the things I need to do (like homeschooling and housework and errands) when I've gotten out of my pjs.  Go figure!  :)

WIWW aside, I feel pressure as a mom-to-many to look somewhat decent when I leave the house with my kids.  I'm not sure if that's an inherently bad (or good?) thing.  But I find that people expect me to look tired...frazzled...and miserable.  Because surely someone in my position must really, really hate their life.  (No, I'm not being neurotic--I've had all sorts of people tell me I'm brave, "better you than me!", "your house must be a zoo", "you don't LOOK like you have seven kids" etc.)

So I feel like I have to show people that even though I do have multitudes o' children, I wear makeup and don't live in stained pajamas (most of the time.)  Do other moms feel this way?  Do moms who have one or two children feel the pressure too, or is it only moms to many?  Granted, I wore makeup and liked to shop pre-kids so it's not as if I've changed per se. 

But I'm much more likely to throw my hair back in a ponytail and go out in my comfies if I'm going without my children.  If a kid's involved, you can be sure I get ready for the day and put effort into my appearance.  Weird!

Anyhow, here is my photo-documentation of the past week, along with what we did each day.  And I'll let you know about our consult with the heart surgeon tomorrow.  (My two daughters just home from Ethiopia, who were born with Down syndrome, are both having heart surgery soon.  You can read a little bit about that here.)

Wendesday.  Homeschooling and kids' soccer games.

camisole: Target

sweater: thrifted

jeans: Forever 21

shoes: Target

Thursday.  Big kids at school and a playdate and RCIA.

camisole: Target

sweater: thrifted

jeans: thrifted

flats: thrifted

Friday.  Parish homeschool group and Costco and dinner with friends.

camisole: Gap

dress: thrifted

sweater: thrifted

leggings: Target

boots: thrifted

Saturday.  Home with sick kids.

tshirt: thrifted

sweatshirt: thrifted

yoga pants: thrifted

Sunday.  Home with sick kids and thrifting.

shirt: thrifted

jeans: thrifted

Monday.  Homeschooling and housework and an evening meeting.

pink sweater: thrifted

stripy cardigan sweater: thrifted

skirt: thrifted

leggings: Target

boots: thrifted

Tuesday.  Consult with girls' heart surgeon at the hospital and homeschooling and kids' soccer practice.

shirt: thrifted

cardigan sweater: thrifted

jeans: Forever 21

boots: thrifted

hand-stamped necklace: Lisa Leonard Designs

red necklace: Ethiopia 

What I Wore Wednesday

Taking a break from all of the heavier posts, and doing something completely random and superficial today.  :)  (I would say it's vain, except there's nothing vain when I do "What I Wore Wednesday"--remember the bathing suit top I wore to church?!  'Nuff said.  :)  )

I'm linking up with Lindsey for What I Wore Wednesday.

As a homeschooling, stay-at-home-as-much-as-possible mom, I'm trying to make an effort to, um, get dressed each day.  (I say "trying to make an effort", because I'm not entirely sure I want to make the effort.  I'm so that person that likes to be comfortable, and am happy to remain in my pjs all the livelong day.  BUT, I don't want that for my kids so much--memories of mom living in her sweats, except for when we leave the house.) 

Here are my attempts for the week (well technically just since Sunday, since that's when I started taking pictures.  Of myself.  Which is rather awkward and unusual.  There was one I took of my face, but Kevin said I looked crazed.  So headless me it is.)  The vast majority of my clothing comes from the slightly stinky thrift store near my house, because while I love clothes, I don't love PAYING a lot for clothes.  Yes, I'm a total cheapskate, and rather proud of it.  :)

So, I'm going to attempt to do this each Wednesday.  To keep things light during a somewhat crazy and more than a little nerve-wracking time in my life.  There will probably be a fair share of yoga pants + tshirt pics because, well, being comfy rocks.  :) 

Sunday.  Mass and thrifting and relaxing.

dress--thrifted

sweater--Target clearance

boots--thrifted

scarf--Ethiopia

Monday.  Homeschooling and a friend visiting.

camisole--Forever 21

tank top--Target clearance

skirt--thrifted

Tuesday.  Homeschooling and soccer practice.

tank top (complete with wrinkles--see, I told you I wasn't vain!)--Target clearance

sweater--Target clearance

skirt--Target clearance (four years ago)

As you can see, nothing exciting or remotely interesting, but sometimes you just want to read something mindless on a Wednesday.

And I didn't mention Down syndrome, adoption, my seven children, or heart surgery once!  :)