My day as a Fairy Princess
By Heather Ledeboer | Category: The Journey of Motherhood
I did something a little out of character last week Wednesday. I wore a tutu all day (with jeans). Not just in the house with my kids, I had a hair appointment in town and wore it there as well. Why? It was my social experiment. I wanted to see how I would feel and how those around me would react to this type of attire.
My daughter has a tutu and whenever she wears it, lookout, because everyone has something to say about it. "Ohhh she is so cute!" "Oh what a little princess" and so on. So how about a 28 year old mom of 2? Would I get the same response?
To give you a little more background, I will explain that this tutu was lovingly made for me by Anneke, our Mom 4 Life customer service assistant at my request. This experiment was planned and not just random. I even had some super cute Prima Crocs on to complete the ensemble!
After I got dressed and my daughter had some fun playing in the tulle, I started about my day. My son took some notice but didn’t really have much to say until my husband said, "Hunter doesn’t mommy look pretty today?" "Oh yes!" he then replied. My assistants were not too surprised to see my outfit because they knew Anneke had been making it for me and had even helped me choose the best length (we had decided on mid-thigh). It felt a little strange to be fairly like in my appearance but I will admit it was fun. The tricky part for me was leaving my house and wearing this outfit in public. As I walked down the street to my hair appointment I was pretty self conscious. I felt like everyone must be looking at me and wondering what the heck I was wearing and why. OR perhaps they were all caught up in the beauty of the fairy princess passing them by, either way I felt I had an audience. I was so sure that everyone was looking at me that, for my own sake, had to walk with a lot of confidence so that at least they would guess I must have it on for a reason. After all, someone that carries herself with confidence can get away with a lot more than someone timid it seems. Once in the salon, my hair dresser (whom I had never met before) greeted me warmly and asked something to the effect of if I was a dance instructor (he he). I filled her in on the story and she was very sweet and said she felt I could pull the look off:). I will also mention that my hair appointment was to get "fashion red" (I had no idea there was a term for this kind of color) highlights similar to my blogging friend here. This is also slightly "untypical" for be but something I had been wanting to try for fun for a while (nothing like doing it all on the same day LOL!)
By the end of the day, I retired my tutu to my closet for the time being. It can be tiring as a fairy princess. I realized in retrospect I should have taken someone with me to town to follow behind and really watch to see how people reacted to it. I was so busy looking confident I couldn’t tell LOL. Who knows, maybe they never even noticed!
As a parent isn’t it great how we get the "freedom" to enjoy the fun fancy free parts of life again without worrying about what others think? Don’t we think it is cute if a mom is dancing in the store with her toddler? If we see a dad racing he son to the car, don’t we smile? If I (wearing a tutu) was walking with my daughter (also in a tutu), wouldn’t you think we were both so cute (and likely doing it for some fun reason)? What a blessing that God grants parents a "free ticket to revisit childhood". It is so much harder to visit it on our own (without feeling silly).
As a side note, I would love to hear your feedback. What would your (honest) thoughts be if you had seen me walking down the road in my tutu? Or, tell us about something out of character that you have done just to challenge yourself and the way you think or feel about life?
P.S. Just for the record, I do think my outfit was pretty stylish:). If you want to start a new trend with me and get your own tutu, just let me know:)!
If I had seen you, I would have smiled. I am smiling right now.
I have thought similar thoughts recently about how awesome it is with kids to just have that innocent and carefree take on life- to see life in the eyes of a child. It is SO freeing and should not be limited to how old you are. And I think you should post more pics of your new hair!
Steph
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Thanks Steph:), it is not typical for me to be “self conscious” and I was sort of frustrated at myself for feeling that way. Perhaps if I try it again:). New hair pictures. . . ok I will see about that:).
Heather
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Hi Heather-
I would definitely smile and go out of my way to say how cute you looked and would ask you where you got it.
I am always impressed at people who have their own sense of style and even people who wear things that don’t compliment them. But, heck they “feel” hot in it and that is what matters.
I think people are too self conscious about what others think and I know I find myself in that position. To do something different, perhaps even going against the grain and doing something simply because “you” want to do it is empowering and adds a little zest in the day.
You look so adorable!!!
Debbbie Savage
Baby Emi Jewelry
http://www.babyemijewelry.com
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Thanks Debbie, you are so kind. You would look adorable in a tutu too!:)
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I agree with the other two gals! I definitely would smile and probably come up to you and give you a high five! (and tell you to keep on rockin’!)
I love to be wacky and spontaneous…borderline strange as Clint calls it!
Terri WILL definitely have a tutu (when she starts to walk that is…) I’ll have to get a matching one!
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Thanks Elizabeth:) MAN no one high fived me on Wedneday, that would have been cool!
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