Vanity

The very motion of dipping your finger into a pot of lip gloss -- there is an intent to alter perception. The cosmetics industries flourish even in third world counties. Why is that?

I look at my own table top full of bottles, tubes and pots of cosmetics. Each one promises to highlight, conceal, remedy and tinge the face or body. When did I amass such a collection of appearance-altering instruments? Being so well equipped, am I in the business of perception alteration? Whoah. People get paid a lot of money to do that, and here I am excelling at it in front of my bathroom mirror.

Yes, folks, I had these thoughts in exactly the spare 10 seconds I had between leaving my son to finish his breakfast and the imminent cries of my breastfed baby. I haven't even had my daily dose of caffeine yet! I will not even attempt to answer these deep questions about people needing to alter their appearance in the quest for acceptance. I do not need a headache this early in the morning.

So now as I type this let me breakdown my most up to date perception-altering state: I have some face powder on and lip gloss. Underneath is face moisturiser with an spf15+. I also happen to have all my jewelery on: watch, rings, bracelet, necklace and earrings.

Where have I gone to warrant my appearance and where else am I going? I spent about 5 minutes on myself before rounding up my 7 year old, his enormous school bag (lunch and snacks packed: check!) and my 3 month old in her car capsule into the car. I have dropped my son off at school and then came straight back home. There. And this is where this blog starts. I am all gussied up to face this laptop, check my email and type these words.

Therefore I pose the question: is vanity worth it when all I am facing is my laptop screen and I am about to do house cleaning?

The resounding answer in my head is YES!

I feel better knowing that in case I have to leave the house and face another human being, I will not look anything that reminds people of Sigmund the Sea Monster (remember that show?). I will also revel in the fact that my spf will protect my skin so that in the years to come, my husband and children will not utter the sentence, "Look! A walking prune! Oh, no...it's just mum.". In the event that my trip to the shops is recorded in any way (for posterity or for security -- thanks cctv!) I know I will not look like a train wreck who has not quite woken up yet.

Grateful am I that my sister is a manager in cosmetics retail and that a friend works for a major cosmetics company-- for the generous gifts and samples, I thank you both profusely.

But above all, I thank God for the spare 5 minutes given to me to make myself look and feel better. Motherhood is not the beginning of membership to track pants world and "What tornado hit you" land-- it is taking those little moments I have to myself so I can come back to the unique and fearfully created person that I am. And if Mum needs a bit of gloss to make it through the day doing one of the noblest jobs in the world, I say dip your finger in the pot, gloss it on and smile.

This face was brought to you today by Kit Cosmetics and Clarins.

NOTE* At the time of this blog's publication, the blogger was last seen pushing the vacuum cleaner -- complete with makeup, jewelery, high heeled shoes and her good jeans on.

Normality

I awoke this morning with a slight feeling of apprehension. Some may say that it is the natural guilt that mums are bestowed with upon giving birth. But this was different. There was a sense of "I have not idea what is in store for me" kind of feeling.

I realised that the kind of day I will be having today will probably be what I will be stuck with for the next 3 years -- at least. I took that long to bounce back to normality with my firstborn, and maybe this is what lies ahead now that I have a little bub of a daughter. Or am I wrong in assuming that this time will be a replica of what happened last time? After all, I have miraculously shrunk back into my old jeans already, 2 months into being a new mum again.

But what is normality? For a fashion lover like myself, it means getting out of breastfeeding-friendly clothes. For the fashionista/social butterfly tendencies I possess, it means getting back into catch-ups with family and friends over tea or a glass of wine on endless, lazy afternoons, talking about almost anything. Oh, and to just drive into the city on a whim, take out the credit card and spend up on King Street.

Perspective shift!

Whose definition of normality is this?

At this stage of my search for answers, my 7-year old son comes into the bedroom. He snuggles up to my side of the bed and puts his arms around me. (Fine, he declares that he did not feel like going to school but that is just the travel withdrawal talking.) And as if on cue, my 3 month old gives out a big yawn from her bassinet and looks around. She catches my eye and flashes this big toothless smile. The kind that was borne out of absolute delight.

Here is the clincher. My wonderful hubby stumbles out of the shower and declares that since he did not get me a present for my birthday (and I thought it was BLISS enough that he took over all the chores on Saturday and Sunday), that he would pay for the Marc Jacobs bag I had clocked up on my credit card a few weeks ago when we were in Manila.

Oh my. What a great new level of normality I have been blessed with. Different, but so much better.

A sparkly glimpse of things to come

It is officially 15 minutes before my 34th birthday comes to an end. I have had a great day with my family -- and for the FIRST time, it did not rain on my birthday ! It has rained almost every year -- well, since I started noticing it anyway. A sign of how different things will be in the next year perhaps?

But what a start. I woke up to my son and husband's gentle rousing of "Happy Birthday" as they carefully placed a tray of hot cooked breakfast on the bed and of course, my usual English Breakfast tea. I have to admit that for a few seconds, I was concerned at what state the kitchen was in. Everything was forgiven and forgotten when I saw a note from my 7 year old placed underneath my plate that said "Happy Birthday Mummy. Have a great day."

My gentle giant of a husband quickly ushered my son back downstairs so that I can have a few moments of peace. Even my 3 month old was in on the surprise: she slept quietly in the bassinet beside me until I had my last bite.

How simple but sincere gestures can make one put things into perspective -- how utterly amazing. Not a lot of flashy glitter needed here. Just a hint of sparkle was a enough to make things so clear.

So maybe this is what my 34th year will be like.