Jenny McCarthy on the funniest thing about motherhood

Life magazine asked Jenny McCarthy what the funniest thing about motherhood is. 

She responded: "How you let yourself go. I look in the mirror, and I think, ‘Oh, my God, I’ve had that mustache for three weeks’!  I have to cut it. I even have three long black hairs that grow out of my cheek."

Do you think you’ve "let yourself go" after having your kids? I think after you have kids, you don’t have time and you have to prioritize. Sometimes it’s all you can do just to remember to make sure you are wearing clean underwear!

Comments

Neural on December 10th, 2006

Well…. I’d like to think that I have not let myself go. However, I gained 65 lbs while pregnant, had lost 38.5 of those by 5 weeks post-partum… and now at 9.5 months post-partum, have put back on 17.5 of those lost!!! So I’ve only lost about 21.5 of the 65 lbs I put on!!! So, yeah, I’d have to say I let myself go! AND I’ve still been breastfeeding! I suck!

Maximum Big Surprise on December 10th, 2006

No, I can’t say that I’ve let myself go. I think it’s important to still be yourself and to feel good about yourself. I love my kids to death, but I am also my own person. I have never understood the whole “I haven’t showered in 2 days” thing. If you want to find the time for yourself, you will.

Jennifer R on December 10th, 2006

I absolutely try my darndest not to! I try to make sure my hair is always cut and my clothes fit nicely. When I look good, I feel awesome!

Amy on December 10th, 2006

Well, I’d have to say I’m the same way…I’d like to think I haven’t but if you looked at me today I’m in mismatched sweats, no makeup, half painted fingernails and messy hair with grown out highlights. I am proud to say that I weigh 5 pounds less than I did when I got pregnant…but thats just because I’m so busy chasing my energetic 16 month old!

Shannon on December 10th, 2006

Wait…we’re supposed to wear clean underwear?

Lorus on December 10th, 2006

When my daughter was a baby I really didn’t have the time to care of myself because she was high needs and took up every ounce of energy I had. Once she got older (toddlerhood) I started spending more time on myself again. It felt good to get back to my regular self.

gabriella on December 10th, 2006

I think Jenny is lying a bit. She is an actress, how many celebrity moms have mustaches and stuff like that lol. Their looks is a big part of their job, most of them are waxed, have personal stylists, makeup people, etc, and they still go to events and look great or even when we see them in pictures shopping with their kids, they look good. As for non celebrity moms you can always make time to keep you hair, nails, makeup looking decent, because like Jennifer R posted, when you look good you usually feel good too IMO.

Carrie on December 10th, 2006

Yes, it’s so true – and I think most of us still have daydreams and aspirations to turn back the clock and look and feel the way we did before. The good news is that despite the way I feel about the way I look, my husband still says I’m beautiful, and just yesterday, my 4 yr old said with no prompting from anyone, “Mom, you’re like the skinniest girl ever”. (And let me tell you….there’s no way a 210 lb woman is the skinniest girl ever). But it’s still nice to hear!!

Kori on December 11th, 2006

I don’t think I ever really let myself go, but some luxuries went out the door. I box-dye now, do my own pedicures, etc…only once a year will I do a salon day, I used to do it every 6-8 weeks. But I still self-maintain. When my son was an infant I did live in sweats but I was always clean. I too do not understand the “I didn’t shower today” thing, I just put him in his bassinet right next to the shower and kept the curtain half-open so I could see him. Or put him in his little portable swing next to the shower. My son just turned 3 and I will tell you- it was this year that my body went back to totally normal. I no longer look like I just had a baby, or had a baby at all, but it took time and patience, I never worried about the extra 5 pounds.

Kresta on December 11th, 2006

I remember when my kids were babies that I didn’t have time or money to spend on myself. I still kept myself clean but hair cuts, leg shaving and long baths were definitely few and far between. I even remember needing to use the toilet but never quite getting around to it until I was going to burst. Oh yes, and the cold cups of coffee left in the oddest places.

Kirstie on December 11th, 2006

my daughter turned one last month and when she was a newborn it was hard to spend time on myself but i always had time to shower and run a brush through my hair. Babies sleep or nap and thats when i have time for myself and i wait until my daughter is in bed at night to have my shower.

Darcy on December 11th, 2006

haha, Shannon! funny.

Morgan on December 11th, 2006

I don’t even have a chance to pee during the day with 3 kids!

Laura AS1 on December 11th, 2006

I guess some would call it “Letting yourself go” while I like to call it “living in a more relaxed state”. I was never exactly high maintenance, but I would have not gone out shopping or something with elastic-waist pants and no makeup, things I frequently do now.

Karen on December 13th, 2006

It depends on your level of commitment
to your appearance. I have friends who
continued to look great after having
children, they just got up earlier to
put on makeup and style their hair.

Anna on January 21st, 2007

I think for the first few months, when the newborn is just so needy, you have to put your own needs on the back burner. There are only so many hours in a day! But as the baby gets older, I agree that it is important to make time for yourself. We can’t do it all and some things will just have to wait.