Because of the nature of my work ( I am a human snot rag, bib, food shield, sponge, what have you), I have little occasion to dress with an air of comeliness. But, every morning I awake at the same time (5:50 AM), shower and don clean, pressed clothes. I face myself in the mirror, smooth my hands over the wrinkle free surface of my clothing, and rally myself for a favorable day. That confidence, and cleanliness, lasts for about 20 minutes- at which point, the children wake for school and The Baby takes a handful of sliced bananas and decides she is going to go all simian and hurl them at my shirt. By the evening, my sweater bears the road map of my passage through the day.
This is why I do not spend much money on clothing. It is one less thing to cry over. It is not all dirty and gross, however. That spot where the drool soaks through to the skin of my shoulder, is the same place where each of my kids rests his or her freshly shampooed and conditioned head when they come to give me a hug good night.
