So I get an email from someone alerting me to this post about momshells and the concern about the definition of 'sexy' and can we please be careful how we call people. NewChristianVoices blogger Caron Guillo writes:
"Are these people seriously suggesting I’m expected to be sexy on top of everything else? Puh-lease!
If that’s the case, then on behalf of moms everywhere, I’d like to suggest we overthrow the traditional definition of “sexy,” staging a vocabulary coup, if you will. Is it not bad enough that the term “Desperate Housewives” has been hijacked by Hollywood?
I’ll toss out a few suggestions to get us started.
A sexy mom:
Laughs. A lot.
Is smart.
Can run a vacuum with a baby on her hip.
Plans awesome vacations on a tight budget.
Is brave.
Puts makeup on three days out of seven.
Teaches her kids pretend languages.
Takes her children out in the middle of the night to watch meteor showers. And packs hot chocolate.
Works to support the family.
Stays home to raise the kids.
I'm game. And then I left a comment because quite frankly it is fun to engage in a dialogue about these things. I wrote:
A rose is still a rose, if called by another name. Got to love Shakespeare!
The Associated Press recently interviewed me about the term momshell. It is merely another trendy word to describe what has existed for eons - fabulous, powerful women doing the very best they can in all areas of their lives.
Who can remember all the minutae of their children's day, much less their own, cook a great meal, keep the house (and said children) clean, and run a successful business all at once (or pretty darn simultaneously)?
Moms.
That people appreciate your lusciousness is not objectifying. We know we're hot - with or without curlers on our heads!
Getting caught up in words is a bit like arguing about color. Everyone has their preference so who cares? My kids have often worn a worrisome combination of shades to school. It doesn't really matter. It's not about 'anything goes', but about going with the flow and realizing this trend shall pass. I'm proud to be a hot mom. There's nothing shameful about it. After all, remember what made us moms in the first place?
And the truth of it is we are all moms that come in different shapes and sizes and religious/spiritual/agnostic slants. I believe in redefining ourselves as we deem fit. You don't have to measure yourself against anyone but your own self.
And that's the truth, y'all.
