*Some reflections of shopping for a swimsuit 3 months postpartum with my 4th child*
I had been putting off "swim soup" shopping all season. (My 4 year old called them that.) Is there anyone who enjoys shopping for these? Well, the kids had a pool party that afternoon, and Matt was going to be working on our kitchen. Since he wouldn't be there, I needed to be ready to get in the pool. Matt had to run to Home Depot that morning, so I asked him to pick me up a swimsuit there that looked to be about my size. He came home with kitchen stuff and donuts.
Sooo, I went out later that day- nothing like the last minute- on a mission to find a suit that will cover these child bearin' hips! "Kohls will have one," I assured myself. "I'll just snatch up a sporty one I like and be on my way." Ha! They only had like 2 swimsuits hanging on the clearance rack and a few dangling bottoms that looked like they'd been trampled on with dusty footprints and all. Everyone stayed clear of these for good reason. Even the crotch sticker "placed for your safety" had been crumbled. Apparently, swimsuit season was over and shopping for a suit in July is crazy.
No worries. My back-up plan was to just buy a fitted workout tank and throw on a pair of running shorts. Now, I know it had been many moons of me growing babies and taking care of children, so I hadn't exactly been shopping for workout apparel in awhile. Well, I discovered stores didn't sell fitted tanks anymore. They sell loose ones. Those are more forgiving of Mama bellies... well, at least until you jump in a pool and find it floating around your neck.
Ok, let's try Burlington. They had more than 2 suits. Phew. That's a better start. I'm not the type of person anyone goes to for fashion advice, but I think there's a problem when I looked through the rack and couldn't figure out how they were to be worn! A lot had changed in the 10 years I was busy with babies. The suits had a lot of holes... holes everywhere! Little holes, big gaping holes, and more straps than I have arms for! Some suits didn't even have straps! I grabbed a few suits that looked to be about the right size (and that had the correct number of holes for my limbs) and headed to the dressing room. I giggled over my choices as I tried to stretch the tight material over my body. This fits here but didn't fit there. In that moment of time, I was grateful not to have my usual audience. I always shop with my children, but that day they were not with me to ask me all kinds of personal questions and give me their unsolicited opinions. As I pulled one over my head, the padding came flying up practically hitting me in the nose! I am a plain Jane- simple- sometimes sporty. But, this girl walked out of Burlington with a swim dress in a pattern that looked like I walked off the set as Betty or Wilma from the Flintstones.
I had just enough time to get it home and wash it before the big pool party. When I put it on to leave, one of the straps snapped! My husband came to the rescue and fastened a handy safety pin to the strap and sent me on my way. So, I went.
For the love of the children.
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