What a Dress Means for Self-Care

Dress: LulaRoe Amelia Dress | Shoes: The Root Collective (Use this link for 10% off) | Baby Carrier: LILLEBaby Complete Embossed Luxe – Brilliance c/o | Diaper Bag: Kalencom “Berlin” Bag c/o (Use code SBMOLLY15 for 15% off) | Earrings: Nickel and Suede c/o

Photography by Em Grey

Something I hear so often from mamas is how they’ve lost their identity in their children after having kids. They’ve lost their style identity, their hobbies, their free time, etc. etc. etc.

I get it. Trust me, I get it more than you probably realize. 

This is something I honestly struggle with all the time. It’s SO easy to get wrapped up in all-things-kid-related and forget that before kids you were YOU. You had likes, dislikes, hobbies, style, a career, a spouse, etc. etc. etc. The list goes on.

Don’t get me wrong, kids are AWESOME and I love my kids so much it makes my head spin. BUT, I find myself more often than I’d like sacrificing a lot of things that, quite frankly, aren’t healthy for me to sacrifice, at the expense of my kids. I can’t be the best wife, the best friend, the best sister, the best daughter, and ultimately the best mother if I’m not also taking care of myself.

I get so many moms that email me and ask me, “How do you actually get dressed every day and not look covered in spit up and baby fluids and sleeplessness?” 

Oh girl, let me tell you. Amos was a profuse spitter-upper for the first five months of his life. He still does, but he is certainly better than he was. 

Want to know what I did? I just carried a change of clothes (or 6) with me wherever I went. I had burp clothes and burp rags EVERYWHERE. I was always prepared.

And, ESPECIALLY the first few months, I kept it really simple in my wardrobe. Heck, I still do for the most part… but especially when I was tired and exhausted and couldn’t think straight, I kept it simple.

This outfit? THIS IS SIMPLE. You guys, everyone is like, “But you’re so dressed up!” 

Guess what? This is ONE DRESS. One article of clothing. It’s stretchy, it’s soft, it has pockets, and it zips up so I can easily nurse in it if I need to. Sure, it might look fancy-ish, but it’s so easy.

Then I’ve got comfortable flats, lightweight leather earrings, I put Amos on in a baby carrier (#babywearing for the win), throw my diaper bag over the shoulder and BOOM. Good to go. 

There’s nothing about this outfit that is clingy or uncomfortable or “stressful.” Yet, when I put it on, I instantly feel better, more confident, less frumpy, and ready to take on the day.

I realize this might sound frivolous or shallow or something… but I’m serious! When you actually take three minutes to brush your hair, put on a comfortable dress that makes you feel beautiful, and for some extra fun, a bold red lipgloss… you just instantly have a little extra pep in your step.  Who knows what I mean?

This is the kind of thing that I’ll wear just to run errands with Amos while Lilly is at school or something. He can take a nap on me in the carrier, I can get stuff done. WIN. WIN.

Now what about you? Who’s with me? Are you doing enough self-care to make sure you’re the best spouse / mama / friend / sister/ daughter you can be? What might you need to do to take better care of yourself?