A Mommy Story

Over the weekend I went shopping for a new pair of jeans. My jeans from last year were nearing the end of their lifespan, and besides, I think my butt has grown slightly over the summer.

I trekked to Lane Bryant, thankfully child-free so I could try on clothing in peace. The sales woman asked if I was looking for anything in particular, and I told her I needed jeans. In less than five minutes, I was loaded up with nearly every style of jeans available. Lane Bryant has just started carrying Seven7 jeans, and listening to the sales woman describe them, they sounded like heaven in blue denim. So I grabbed those as well.

In the dressing room, my ritual of self-shaming began. Pair after pair were slid, wiggles, and tugged on. Some were too tight in the hips, others too low of a waist-line, and still others felt too stiff. Regardless, all of them also suffered from the same problem that I always have: the waist was enormous and had a huge gap in the back. My body is simply shaped in such a way that clothing does not fit me correctly.

I know I’m hippy, but surely I can’t be the only one. Can they not make jeans that are cut to accommodate curvy women? Yes, I’ve tried the Gap’s and Old Navy’s “curvy” jeans also, and well, they’re still not curvy enough for me. Small waist + large hips = not one damn pair of jeans that will fit.

I tried on the Seven7 jeans last. The waist was once again too big, but not as big as the others. Otherwise, they felt like a second skin – not too tight anywhere, lightweight, and comfortable. Dreamy, even. Maybe with a belt they would be perfect.

After leaving the dressing room, I considered purchasing the jeans. And then I looked at the price tag.

$89.50

Let me repeat: $89.50.

No. freaking. way.

I debated whether I would be willing to spend that much money on a pair of jeans. The answer quickly became no. We’re trying to pay off debt, and this would not help the cause. Besides, we’re trying for another baby – if I got pregnant I’d outgrow them soon and waste all that money.

There were more reasons, too, and they all led to me putting the jeans back and leaving empty handed.

(Of course, I couldn’t leave the mall without stopping into Gymboree and spending money on Cordy’s fall wardrobe. Sigh. Cute baby clothing is my weakness.)

And it’s a good thing I left those jeans behind, too. Maybe now I should be looking at these jeans instead.