I’m sure I’m not unique in saying that I have a “momiform”! Not really anything pretty or especially nice, just something comfortable and easy to move in. As I’m writing this I’m wearing my momiform. Unattractive as it is, it is my most prized article of clothing and I’ll wear it till its rags.
My “momiform” is a denim dress I got off Old Navy’s clearance rack for $3.97, the dress is somehow loose and not-so-loose all at the same time! It hits just above my knees and has buttons running all the way up it, (great for nursing). It has the weirdest bubble sleeves and it somehow extenuates, my postpartum love handles. As I’m sitting here I’m wondering when I washed this last. It’s the first thing I slip on in the morning, and when it finally comes off at night it’s haphazardly thrown across my nightstand or the bench at the foot of our bed. It’s usually worn with $2 Walmart rubber sandals. This dress hasn’t been seen by anyone but my husband and baby; in fact, I might die if someday a surprise visitor knocks on our door.
This dress is my favorite and it stands as a symbol of the most important job I’ll ever have. At any given time, my dress could be covered in soapy water from doing the dishes, or slobber from my teething baby, or any number of random fluids and stains. As it gets colder it has a hint of smoke from starting or stocking the fire that keeps us warm. Right now there’s a pesto-ey slobber spot on the shoulder from my baby burying her gooey face into me. The dress probably gets washed twice a week. Gross, I know! It never leaves my house, except for early morning trips to get the trash on the street or late night runs for the mail. 99% of the time its gross, and 100% of the time it makes me look like the pigeon lady from Mary Poppins.
I know it’s silly to be so attached to a dress, and maybe it’s not the dress but what I’m doing when I wear it. It’s the endless dinners, and dusting, the constant laundry and vacuuming, the time spent on the floor playing with my sweet girl. Each mystery wet spot, and stain means that I was busy helping my family, and that means the world to me. I’m grateful every morning to slip on my uniform and go to work!
