Motherhood is like a bra – shopping for them, wearing them, and the beautiful relief of taking them off at the end of the day.
Finding the perfect bra feels like an impossible task.
Sometimes, my bra is uncomfortable, pinches me, and feels too tight. If you have a larger chest, finding the right balance of support while not encouraging the uni-boob is like finding a needle in the proverbial haystack. With the right amount of support comes sore shoulders from the straps digging and chafing under the band because it wicks all the sweat and holds it prisoner on your delicate skin. In almost 30 years of bra-wearing, I have still not found the ultimate over-the-shoulder boulder holder. It makes me wonder, outside of a custom-made brasserie, does the perfect bra even exist?
Perfect moms don’t exist.
We try but tend to fall short because perfect is not realistic. Perfection does not pay the bills, get dinner on the table, or tackle the ever-mounting pile of laundry or the five million other things on our calendars and to-do lists. The idea of perfection is a false narrative. Growing up, without social media, my mom didn’t care about a perfect “mom-fit” or an aesthetically pleasing dinner. Her denim jumpers did the trick, and when her famous meatloaf hit the table, we ate it because that was our only option (and it was damn good).
Nowadays, there is an unseen pressure to host the perfect play date with colorful and healthy snacks, wear the latest trends, and get your kids the newest toys, technology, and name brands. Social media often perpetuates the idea of a perfect mom who does it all with no hair out of place!
We are the perfect mothers for our kids. We don’t have to be the kind of mom Instagram tells us to be, but rather the kind of mom our kids need. We feed them the best we can, we wear our old college sweats because no matter what, they fit, and we love our kids. The perfect mom does not exist, but being the best you can for yourself and your family is perfection enough.
Bras provide support for the girls.
Bras are the wardrobe equivalent of a good personal trainer—lifting, shaping, and holding everything in place even when chaos surrounds us. They provide different levels of support, whether you’re an underwire gal, strapping on a sports bra for running or a HIIT workout, or hanging in a bralette. A well-fitted bra gives structure, support, and confidence, like a built-in scaffolding for your wardrobe. Whether your bra is being taken on a long run or a long nap on the couch, they provide support and comfort under our clothes, something many moms find a requirement in their post-baby days.
Friends are the motherhood support system.
Finding my mom friends was one of the greatest gifts of motherhood. Knowing they are a text away when I need advice, a venting session, or an extra set of hands makes the rough days of motherhood a little less lonely. The support system of friends is invaluable and helps to alleviate the mental and emotional load of motherhood. I am so lucky to have friends with kids of all ages, so there is always someone who has been through what we are facing and is happy to share what worked or didn’t with their situation. They swoop in with a glass of wine and an emergency stash of cheese and snacks, offering advice and lending an ear for all the motherhood woes.
Bras and friends are essential for holding things together, offering support when life gets heavy, and somehow making everything feel a little more secure—no matter how much you’re juggling!
Bras accommodate your ever-changing body.
Are you on the middle hooks, feeling sleek and comfortable? Or maybe you’ve shed a few pounds and are now tightening it to the last hooks for that perfect fit? Then there’s the stretch-out stage, where it only stays up on the tightest hook. Or perhaps it’s that time of the month, and you’re loosening the band to accommodate the inevitable bloat.
Just like our bodies, bras offer the flexibility to adapt. They stretch and grow with us throughout pregnancy, providing support while stretching at the seams. And while we might not always ‘bounce back,’ our bras continue to show up, flexing alongside us through sleepless nights, spilled milk, and the never-ending cycle of laundry, always there to lift us up when we need it most.
Motherhood is the ultimate test of flexibility.
When you think you’ve got a solid routine, your kids decide today is the day to stop sleeping, pop a new tooth, and throw in the stomach bug for good measure. You learn to adapt, often in real-time, whether it’s squeezing in a five-minute shower while your baby’s napping or navigating the delicate balance between being a part-time therapist for your tween and not coming off too overbearing. Flexibility becomes your middle name as you contort yourself to fit your kid’s ever-changing needs. Patience stretches thin daily, and our expectations often change on the fly. Yet, somehow, you find a way to keep it together.
Finding the perfect bra feels like an impossible task. Whether you hit up the local department store and take yourself hostage in the dressing room with 100 different styles or order online, finding a “just right” fit feels like a task that will never be accomplished.
Perfect moms don’t exist. We give our all – mind, body, and soul, to our little ones. But at the end of the day, showing up and loving them for who they are is the most perfect we could ever be.
