As I sit and drink my morning beverage from the cup that say “Mom on the outside. Babe on the inside,” I have to think: does one really preclude the other? I say no. I mean, think about it – Heather Locklear, Mom? Yes. Babe? Yes. My Aunt Christine is both a Mom and a Babe (now she’s a Nana, but still a Babe). I think many a husband thinks of his wife as a babe despite that she’s a mother 24/7. And that’s the issue. Maybe it’s the mom who thinks of herself as mom- not babe.

So let’s look at “babe” and “mom”.

The same babe who gets you a beer (or a soda or a snack) is the mom who gets the child’s drink, snack, book, etc. (The babe and mom – both are there to lend a hand).

The same babe who knew all about politics and current events when you met her, is the mom who can keep her children entranced by telling them a story about how she can call Santa at anytime (she has his cell phone number), and that she knows for a fact that Rudolph just had his nose checked at the vet and he’ll be just fine for the long trip.

The babe who impressed with her ability to calculate (in her head) the sales tax for anything is the mom who manages to get things at the grocery store for free (There was a sale! She had a coupon! It got doubled! …So she bought Charlie a new Hot Wheels).

The babe who baked you brownies on your first date is the mom who tries out new treat recipes for playgroups and puts the leftovers in your lunch (well, at least you get the leftovers).

The babe who asked you to help her fight a few battles for her is the mom who has found the moxie to go to the mat for her children, because their true causes are more important than her staying in her comfort zone.

Hmmm – it seems to me that the mom is a babe who has utilized her pre-mom attributes and maximized their potential. Sometimes though, moms put aside an important aspect of the art of being a babe. Packaging.

I used to wear skirts and heels. Now, I’m lucky my husband likes me in jeans and a tee shirt. Almost nine years ago I donned my mom uniform – shorts and a tee or jeans and a tee. And sneakers! For nine years! I need a change. You can tell me there are designer sweat suits but they are still just that – sweat suits (sorry, outfits). That won’t work for me. Hmm – what can I find to please both the sleeping fashion diva in me and the functioning mom? I’ve got it. A skort. That’ll work. Looks like a skirt, feels like a short. And, most of the time it requires sandals. Not sneakers!! Woo hoo! I’m already feeling prettier. Now, where’s my lipstick? I know I wore it to that wedding four months ago….