I was recently asked if I wore makeup everyday even when home.
Hmm…I guess that depends on what the definition of “makeup” is. If it means the whole works – foundation, eye shadow, blusher, lipstick…..then NO.
But I do put on loose face powder, only because I do not like a sticky, greasy face! Lol! And lip balm coz I have extremely dry lips that crack and peel and itch (!) if I don’t look after it.
But let’s not talk about me!
Let’s instead talk about how we, SAHMs should be dressing/grooming when we are at home. If you read Flylady’s website and participate in her email reminders, the first thing she tells newbies to do is to get dressed all the way to your shoes!
Yes, I can hear you saying, “It makes sense to dress up when I am going to work but at home? When no one is looking at me except my children? Whatever for?”
Ah! There is good reason for that. Remember – what you look like affects how you feel. If you stay dressed in your PJs, you’ll definitely not feel like working! But if you are dressed up appropriately for the job at hand, you will feel more ready to tackle whatever obstacles that stand in your way. Really – try it and you’ll see.
So does that mean you have to spend money??? Yes and no.
Obviously, you need not be togged out in the latest fashion But you will need to be groomed and that means no sloppy, out-of-shape t-shirt (which probably makes you look much heavier than you are! Now that’s a depressing image!).
Be comfortable by all means but not sloppy! So do throw out clothes that are not flattering or in tatters. Get some decent presentable clothing. A tip – if you live near a wet market, the stalls there sell really affordable clothes. Sometimes you can even bargain when buying more than one item!
Now first things first. Do wash up and get dressed immediately upon rising. Whether you shower of not is your call. But in our home, the first thing we do is to do a quick shower the moment we are awake. That includes the baby too! It’s just a habit that my parents inculcated in us from young and which I continue with my children. Personally, I like it coz it washes off the sleepiness!
Then get dressed in the appropriate clothes. SAHMs are working mums! Just that we don’t report for work at an office. Again, whether you put on makeup or not is your personal choice. If you used to do it when you were working and makes you feel more “professional”, then do it! But if you have never put on make up even when working in the corporate world, then don’t. But – do wash up and be clean!
Remember – being groomed does not mean putting on the whole works. Pare it down to the minimal and yet still look groomed. Here’s when I find a 2-way foundation powder very helpful. Saves you time and yet you come off looking polished. Just remember to choose one that matches your skin tone. You don’t want to look as tough you have a mask on!
Are you ready now? I always ask myself this question – if someone were to come and visit me unannounced, would I feel embarrassed to greet her in how I look? If yes, then I need to re-examine my look. I should be ready to meet anyone anytime and more importantly, if I have to suddenly rush out of the home, I will still be presentable.
I was at a service one Sunday when I heard Pastor William Sam, formerly from Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church (now at Faith Methodist Church) quote Bill Bright of Campus Crusade, saying that a woman’s looks before she marries is due to genes but her looks after marriage is due to the way her dh treats her. Then just recently a friend said an older lady gave her a similar line – that how a woman looks reflects her relationship with her dh!
Hmm….So ladies, if you are letting yourself go because of your strained relationship with your dh, then perhaps you need to be praying about it? And if your relationship is fine but you are looking sloppy, then you are doing your dh a disservice by looking sloppy.
One more thing that I have to add here – our dhs, being male, are visually oriented creatures. To come home daily to find a dishevelled and grumpy-faced wife is not what he wants to look forward to. Once in a while that happens, yes, especially if you have sick children to tend to and are sleep deprived yourself. But this shouldn’t be a daily occurence.
Yes, it would be nice if he really understood totally that our jobs as SAHMs is a physically and emotionally tiring one. But you mustn’t forget, as my former teacher once told me, our dhs go out to work and sees nicely groomed ladies working side-by-side with him daily.
Then he comes home to meet a sloppy looking wife. Now – which place would he start to prefer more?
Let me confess here that as we add on more children, it takes more and more discipline to look nice. So I struggle to remember all that I am telling you too. But being slightly vain, helps! Lol!
Let’s not get sloppy, dear sisters. If we look terrible, what testimony are we to the people looking at us? They’ll agree with the world that children are a terrible burden, not a blessing, not a reward that God has given to us.
I have a Hot Mama Makeover under the Freebies category if you need more tips on how to look good and feel good. It’s free. Just sign up for it and you’ll be able to access the file. No strings attached.