I love shopping. At least, I used to really love shopping when time was plentiful and I was working so extra income could be spent on fun items I’d fine. Sometimes it was for the house, but a lot of time it was clothes.
I am not an extravagant shopper – I never spent loads of money on one thing, except a few suits when I was working professionally. I like finding nice stuff, and good deals. It took me well into my 20s to begin learning how to dress myself well for my shape, height, hair colour, skin tone etc. I was confident, and had the self-esteem I should have had when I was a teenage waif.
Fast forward a few years and two kids later. While I gained 50 and 40 pounds with my pregnancies, I was fortunate enough to lose it quickly (I credit breast feeding, genes, and living in a town home with basement laundry). But that doesn’t mean my old shape returned. Now, my body is shaped differently with marks of glory from the pregnancies and years of nursing. While I may have been able to fit into some clothes from before, others just didn’t fit right.
My breasts were a small, perky sized A. After the kids, one is a C or D, the other back to an A/B. That’s a big difference!! So lots of tops didn’t fit. And then there’s pants. I fit into most of my smaller sizes, but my butt has a different shape so the seat sags. Or, others don’t button, and may never again (thank you muffin top).
Tonight I went bathing suit shopping. I know, it’s as though I’m a sucker for punishment right? I had no luck. First, I rushed myself. Second, it’s mid-August so stock is picked over. Third: This is a new bathing suit body to fit. And things just are different.
Now, the thing is, I am rather happy with how I look. I think motherhood has provided me with a glow I didn’t have before and while the stretch marks may be noticeable, they represent a very positive thing for me. But bathing suit shopping? Sheer torture.
I am going to do some research online and try to find something that makes me feel comfortable and that does what it needs to do.
Any recommendations? How do you deal with the dreaded bathing suit shopping?
However, I did not end my shopping trip empty handed. I bought shoes.
