Inside: Why I wear mom jeans like a badge of honor, and why you should too!
“I’m not a woman anymore…I’m a mom!”
So goes a line from the infamous “Mom Jeans” SNL skit.
“Gap and Old Navy Make MOM Jeans!!”
That was the title of a viral blog post on Pinterest a couple years back, with the author professing a mission to free others “from the noose” of mom jeans.
MOM jeans — they say it like it’s a bad word.
Why I Am Proud to Say I Wear Mom Jeans
Every time I see something mocking “mom” jeans it makes me cringe.
I wear Gap jeans.
And I was overjoyed to finally purchase a pair of “normal” jeans five months after the birth of my first baby.
I assumed that since I was slim before my pregnancy that I would have no trouble getting back into shape. I heard breastfeeding just melted away the pounds.
Not for me.
(Read what DID work: my 5 essential weight loss tips for breastfeeding moms!)
An unplanned c-section meant I could hardly walk, let alone exercise for the first eight weeks postpartum. Consequently, the weight clung to my midsection. It was a very discouraging experience.
When I was finally cleared for physical activity, I hit it hard. I worked out six days a week, graduating from walking and light yoga to more intense cardio and weight training.
One day my husband told me it was time to put away the maternity clothes — they were hanging off my butt. We went to a store that I thought might have something to fit my more mature shape at an affordable price.
That store was The Gap.
I still had some inches to lose, so I figured that I would get a few pairs of pants until I needed to buy smaller ones again a few months down the road.
When I tried on that first pair of size 27 (keep in mind I’m only 5’3″) Gap boot cut jeans and they gasp FIT, it was such a rewarding feeling. My hard work and dedication had paid off.
So what if they weren’t the most trendy jeans on the planet — they had a solid waistband and an actual button and to me that was a huge accomplishment!
me in my mom jeans
Mom Jeans are a Badge of Honor
Mom jeans aren’t something to be ashamed of — they mean that you did something amazing.
You brought life into this world mama!
Yes, your body is different now.
Your shape changes. Skin is looser. Your belly button may never look the same again. (Who knew you could mourn the loss of your “normal” looking belly button!)
But every mom I’ve ever talked to would give all that up over and over again because the trade-off is so worth it.
Our “mom jeans” are a badge of honor — we know what we went through to get back into these jeans.
Many of us sacrificed so much to become a mother, and equally as much to reclaim our womanly figures and get our body back after baby.
Even Kim Kardashian proudly wears mom jeans!
On her blog, Kim defends the often ridiculed fashion choice, saying, “for some reason, high-waisted jeans are always branded with this negative term, and I think it’s kind of ridiculous. Any woman who is proud of her curves should be able to flaunt them in high-waisted jeans.”
This is the kind of message we should be sharing — one of positivity and support for our fellow ladies and mothers.
There’s nothing wrong with buying what you can afford and what you feel comfortable in. And if you’ve ever slipped into a pair of stretchy, pull-on “mom jeans” you know just how comfortable they really are!
Like the old saying goes: it’s not about what you wear, it’s how you wear it.
And when you’re crawling around on the floor with a preschooler and 8-month-old baby on a mission, you’ll gladly wear those flexible, comfortable mom jeans!
You might not want to take them off either!
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akw62307 says
I refuse to buy expensive jeans! I’ve lived in old navy jeans for years and have no plans to change that anytime soon!
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
I’m not going to say I’ve never bought expensive jeans (pre-kids of course haha). But I just thought it was very mean-spirited to make fun of what so many of us wear on a daily basis!
Bree says
Hahaha love this post!
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Thanks! It was fun to write!
XlinaXMX says
I recently had a c section and I’m just getting to the point I can do things and not wanna pass out. I really struggled with finding a good pair of jeans and finally ended up with a pair if walmart jeans. Insanely comfy !!!
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
C-section recovery can be so tough! Especially if your incision is still sore, you care way more about comfort than how stuff looks. I wore granny panties for like 3 months! LOL
Carolina says
I don’t want to feel pressured to buy expensive jeans either!
To be fair though, I remember that blog post and she wasn’t saying ALL Gap and ON jeans are mom jeans. It’s all about pocket placement (and a few other details) and the pocket placement on your jeans is great, not “mom-jeanish” at all. I also have some Old Navy jeans that do not fit like “mom jeans” either. 😉 It’s really about the cut/placement, not the brand.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Thanks for reassuring me that mine are not mom jeans 🙂 I wrote this right after I bought my first pair of regular jeans since before I was pregnant, so I was very passionate about the topic!
Carolina says
I understand! 🙂 Adjusting to postpartum body and figuring out if/how clothes fit differently can be tough! My body took quite a while to really recover after carrying twins to full-term and I remember that first postpartum shopping trip well. 🙂