Notes from a former hipster turned mom...

Damn do I feel old. Or just out of touch. When did this happen? When did Mommy trump Jennifer? Don’t get me wrong - being a mom is the best thing in the world. I wouldn’t change it for anything - not even those glory days of old. But sometimes I gotta wonder…what the hell happened? The money that I used to contribute to local bars and live music is now redirected to Gymboree and the Disney Store. Instead of those kickin black heels, I buy shoes that are good for chasing down the toddler carrying the glass jar of marinara sauce at the grocery store. Instead of displaying the treasures I’ve collected as I’ve traveled, my shelves display Dora’s playhouse and tea sets. Instead of the Record Bar on Friday night we visit Chuck E. Cheese’s. Instead of that great Wyeth painting, my walls display rainbows and horses and people that resemble potatoes with single eyebrows. I’ve completely come to terms with all of these adjustments. But I’m having a hard time with one. I drive a minivan. Damn things are just so practical. I’m okay with the fact that I own one, and when I’m with the kids I’m totally fine with it. But it is the one thing in my semi-new mom life that totally labels me a mom when I’m not with the girls. Even with the windows down and those kickin black heels on and the Black Angles blasting…I’m a mom. A mom with sunglasses that are sticky from the hands that just ate a fruit roll-up pushing them up on a tiny nose. But I’m a rockin’ mama. I’m proud that my preschooler asked if we could go see the Beatles some time. I love that when we talked about Band of Horses she got this smile on her face as she pictured a bunch of horses playing beautiful music. I’m proud that she loves to dance to MMJ’s “Off the Record” and wants to know why Bob Marley is telling her to Get Up, Stand Up. The hipster in me just won't die - it just has new priorities...and a new ride.