I remember a long time ago, before my wee lad was born,  I would notice mothers or pregnant women, and  I seemed to notice that there were two types: the ones that were beautiful, elegant and always poised and the other type, who weren’t.

I would think “why don’t they look after themselves?” I mean, how difficult can it be to put on a pair of nice high heels and some mascara?!  Why didn’t these women make a little bit of an effort?

There was never a question in my mind what type of mother I was going to be! ( And just in case you were wondering, I was going to be elegant, always wearing clean and freshly ironed clothes, my handbag matching my shoes and so on)

What did I know?

So what do you think happened when I got pregnant?  I was not one of the women who had that certain glow. No, I was more like a grey duck; grey because I didn’t feel good (or was I green), and duck because I waddled like one. I opted against heels and for comfy clothes and didn’t have much energy to do my hair or put on make up!

[For the record, can I please point out that it was the middle of winter (in Norway!) when I gave birth, so I think that is at least some excuse for being comfy…]

I wish I could say that being pregnant or being a mum made those priorities change and that I found something more important in life to concentrate on so I no longer cared about how I looked. But, the honest truth is that I was just too tired to do much about it, although I thought about it every time I looked at myself in the mirror.

I mean, just getting time to go to the hairdresser takes so much planning with the husband and the grandmother  (who are the designated babysitters) that I just don’t have the energy.

I am back at work now so can only go the hairdresser on a Saturday but there are always other things that get prioritised instead. (I actually am considering buying hair dye at the grocery store! I wouldn’t say that’s such a bad thing but I have always been so worried that my hair will end up going green or something that I have never dared to try it before, so for me to consider this option just highlights how desperate I have become.)

And what ever happened to my nails? I used to spend a lot of time filing them and choosing the right polish, but now I can’t even remember the last time I did them. I actually prefer them short now—less chance of scratching the baby of course—it is just so much more practical. (Can’t believe I just said that… “practical”… oh no, is there any hope left?)

Furthermore, I just did something I previously never would have admitted to, never actually would have done:  I just bought my first pair of Ugg boots. And guess what? They are sooo comfortable!

Who cares about being elegant when you can be comfortable?

I do hope this is just a temporary situation and that, in the not too distant future, I will dust off my Jimmy Choos and again be an elegant version of myself.  As I live in Norway though, and we are in the middle of winter—and winter here means a lot of snow–there is no way I can start being elegant right at this moment.

So I think I had better wait until spring, when the snow has melted. That gives me another month to just be comfortable. At least I have a proper excuse… don’t I?

What pieces of your “former self” have you left behind since becoming a mum? Do you miss it/them?

This is an original World Moms Blog post by Asta Burrows in Oslo, Norway.  Asta can be found on her Facebook Page or on Twitter @AstaBurrows.

Photo credited to Asta Burrows

Astrid Warren (Norway)

Astrid is a Norwegian thirty something, married, working mum to a wee lad who is almost three and a baby born in 2012! She grew up in Norway, but moved to London, England after she met her husband. After living there during her twenties, she has since returned to Norway and settled down in her nation's capital of Oslo to raise her family. She finds herself slowly turning into her own mother as her free time is spent reading, walking, knitting and meeting up with other mums for coffee. (Ok, she still secretly loves going to the pub, too!). However, there isn't much time for any of the above, as she now enjoys spending most of her time crawling around on the floor, while playing with her children! Check out her blog, Quintessentially Burrows. She's also on Twitter @MrsSWarren.

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