The Importance of Your Appearance at Home

I received the following in an email from my cousin Cindy.  It was so appreciated!  I needed the reminder.
 

The View From Childhood:  The Importance of Your Appearance at Home
 
by Charlotte Siems
 
Girly.  What does that word mean to you?  Pink feather boas and
flaming red high heels come to mind.  Bling, sparkles and lace.  Tea
parties and coffee with girlfriends.
 
Somehow femininity has gotten a bad rap.  Those who scoff and think it
means weakness don't understand the true strength of a woman who knows
who she is and isn't afraid to live it.
 
Busy women can get in a rut of "sensible" clothing and plain,
serviceable shoes.  Or worse yet, a daily uniform of t-shirt, jeans
and flip flops.  After all, we're going to get fingerprinted with
peanut butter and we've got that shower to scrub.  Who cares what you
wear at home, right?
 
Ahem.  If your memorial service were held next week, what would be
your family's memories of you?  What photos of you would show up in
the slide show?  "I remember Mom always wore that Eskimo Joe's t-shirt
and the jeans with the ripped back pocket."  (Sorry, I just attended a
funeral and it got me to thinking).
 
What childhood impressions do you want to leave?  It's worth thinking about.
 
Do your young children know the swish of a skirt?  Do they ever see
you in a fresh color with pretty touches of lace?  When you put on
makeup and fix your hair do they ask where you're going?
 
Yes, I know it's not realistic to wear pearls and heels to do
housework.  But how about a cheerful apron and some earrings?
 
You are building memories every single day, memories for your marriage
and your family.  Those little touches do matter.  For instance,
fragrance:  perfume, scented lotion, or clean soap smell.  A pleasant
whiff when Mom walks by.  Our sense of smell is keenly tied to memory.
 
When's the last time you bought something really girly?  Something
sparkly or lacy and definitely not practical.  Whether you wear it in
the kitchen or the bedroom, it might just put a spring in your step as
you feel pretty and feminine.
 
Let's get down to the nitty gritty.  What condition are your
underthings in? Cotton underwear with stretched out elastic strings
hanging down, or smooth microfiber unmentionables in a delicious
color?  Undergarments that used to be white but are now a grayish
unknown color or a peachy-pink lace-trimmed little something?  Maybe
no one but you and your husband see them, but uh, I rest my case.
 
Don't underestimate the effect of your clothing and grooming on your
day.  On the days when you fix your hair, put on makeup and dress
pretty, you feel better about yourself.  You know you do.
 
Just a friendly little neighborhood reminder that your family is
watching you.  Make the view a little more pleasant.
 
"Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from
little things - I am tempted to think there are no little things."  ~
Bruce Barton
 
 
****************
 
Charlotte Siems
is a home-maker, home manager, T-Tapp Trainer, teacher, speaker and
author.  Her story of losing over 100 pounds with T-Tapp has
encouraged thousands of people all over the world.  She specializes in
making home management and T-Tapp "doable" for real people and real
life.  She is happy to be a wife and mother of twelve children whom
she has successfully taught at home for 25 years.