I feel like often times "mom" can be kind of derogatory. Mom jeans. Mom haircut. Etc.
Anyone else notice this? How does it make you feel?
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For me I feel like those terms are more geared towards older generations. I think moms nowadays are pretty hip! My mom is actually pretty fashionable! A mom haircut to me just means short hair.
When I was young I used to think there's a special place grandmas go to buy their clothes
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I think you're lame, but not because you're a mom.
*But yes, I definitely feel this way. No one wants to be caught in mom jeans or the mom pony-tail! I kind of don't care anymore though. If someone were to comment on my mom style, I'd just be all "Well I'm a mom, so that makes sense."
*Please know that I'm totally just teasing, I don't think you're lame.
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I think it does. When I think of mom jeans or mom hair, I think of the photo below.
It doesn't bother me though. I kind of just laugh it off because, it really isn't what moms are today.
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I am glad you posted this, because I do think sometimes, yeah, moms get a bad rap, especially with not taking care of themselves.
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I hear it in a flattering way more often, like "she's my second mom" or "she's like a mom to me" (coming from students).
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@snowjewelz: lol re grandmas having a special store. I asked my mom once when I was little and she said They all go to Lord and Taylor's. I still can't shop there.
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@snowjewelz: yeah it definitely makes me picture more my mom's era. She talks about how she didn't take care of herself and everything was about the kids. I wonder if that was more the trend then? And now it's okay for moms to take care of themselves? It doesn't feel like that though.
@Adira: it is true though!
@looch: why do you think that is?
@cmomma17: aww!
@.twist.: great sketch. And part of what made me think of this. And I definitely teased my mom about her jeans.
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@.twist.: Haha, this is exactly what I think of when I hear "mom xyz"
And yeah.. I kind of do. It reminds me of that "run like a girl" commercial where they asked people to do things "like a girl". I think "mom" has a similar negative connotation as old, outdated, stuffy, unfashionable, etc. Meh.... oh well.
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@Mrs. Detour: Hahaha! Even L&T is not uncool now tho! But I can attest that all the grandmas go to the L&T salons
@jedeve: Or maybe mom's have 1 look (like that pic above) and it took some years for moms to break the mold? Or maybe for fashion to not be so restrictive for moms? It's a very interesting thought!
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When used as an adjective, yes. I don't particularly like the connotation, though.
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@jedeve: I think it has a lot to do with postpartum body issues, not being comfortable dressing a changing body, so the focus on their kids and let themselves fade into the background.
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Yeah I feel that way. I cringe at the idea of referring to myself as "a mom." Not sure there's any way to get around it though.
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I'll admit, this is totally something I over analyze at times. Last time I went to get my hair cut I was thinking, "I really just want to cut it shorter so it's easier to deal with. But oh god, that would be like a mom cut, wouldn't it? I don't think I want a mom cut!" I also have issues with minivans and certain styles of jeans. I know it's totally stupid, and yet I find myself worrying about it anyways. Being a SAHM has been kind of weird for me, I guess sometimes I just worry that I'm losing my identity to that of 'mom' so I zone in on stupid stuff like what my hair looks like and what I'm driving.
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Often it's meant in a derogatory way, much in the way doing something "like a girl" is used negatively (don't even get me started on that one.). It's not like it's common to make fun of men and say they have "dad hair," or "dad jeans." As a culture we still focus on what women look like and unfairly hold women to a standard of always being outwardly beautiful. If a mom (who *should* be able to do everything with a smile on her face) fails at having a perfect figure, hairstyle, fashion sense, etc., she's ridiculed by calling her what she is, as if it's a bad thing. So yes, I suppose I find it offensive, or simply unjust to make fun of someone by calling her style "mom" style. If anything, knowing how hard moms work, and how much we sacrifice, it should be a compliment.
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@wonderstruck: I feel the same way.
@erinpye: I feel like women are supposed to be sexualized and since being a mom isn't very sexual it's looked down upon in someways.
I wonder if there were times or are cultures where motherhood is seen differently? I feel like we give lip service to the idea that it's a beautiful thing but then we mock it also.
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@jedeve: Bingo. Often, a woman's worth in this culture is in how sexy she is. Or rather, how sexy men find her: male gaze, Madonna-whore issues, and all that. It's messed up.
So maybe, "mom" is more appropriately synonymous with "unsexy."
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I think it can mean lame, but not completely. Mom jeans- yes, but I feel like that just refers to that one style, not that moms today wear terrible unflattering jeans (in fact, as I mentioned on the fad thread, it's freaking 20 year olds wearing 'mom jeans'!) But I can admit I do dress "like a mom"- comfort is key when I'm up and down on the ground with my crawler and getting dirt and food on me on a daily basis. So, yeah, I'm not as stylish as I used to be, whatever.
I don't think 'Mom car' has to be a bad thing- DH and I talk about what kind of mom car we will get (still making do with our one sedan now). Our mom car will definitely have style, it will just be bigger and fit two car seats too.
So... yeah, it just doesn't bother me. Then again, you can't even see my mom haircut because it's always in a ponytail
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@erinpye: Dad dancing?
The term here is mumsy. Mumsy = frumpy.
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