School’s Up!
After a long weekend (one that I’m super thankful for because I finally got some much needed R&R), came time for school once again for my kiddies. This absentee mumsie had to play good Mom today 🙂 I had to attend to my children and see them off on their first day of school.
I’ve always known I’d never be one of those Stage Moms that teachers (and other parents haha) dread about. Because honestly I am first to admit I’m not a great Mom. I try, but I think I fail in many aspects of motherhood. For one, I’m not always around for my kids (this I really regret the most, because I wish I didn’t have to work just so I can spend all my time with them… kids grow up so fast… sigh). Second, the very time I have “free time” for my kids and I to engage in some fun activity, I end up staying in bed and falling asleep. I mean, isn’t that just pathetic? Whatever happened to sacrificing “personal” time for the kids? *tsk tsk shame on me* And I don’t even know why I am sharing all this with you– I feel worse now than I did before I wrote this all out for everyone to read! *Sob*
I originally had some work commitments today, but I ended up canceling them all last night because for once, I’d like to play Good mom and bring the not-so-lil-ones *sob* to school. You know, to meet their teachers, see how they interact with the other kids in their new environment… So, I woke up early, pulled out my favorite pair of jeans (mind you, my fave pair of jeans only cost me Php 300 😀 *proud shopper haha*), put on a black shirt, tied my hair up into a bun, and went to school. I have to tell you hags, I was all wide-eyed at what I saw in school. More on that after this one sentence haha… 🙂
I made efforts to “connect” with the teachers of my kids– in fact, I’m glad I met them and got the chance to talk to them.
Ok. Now, what made my jaw drop was the amount of designer bags floating about in the arms of these fashionable women who call themselves Moms of the other kids in my child’s class! I felt so left out! WoOoOOh! *Scorching hot Mamas!*
What bags did I see in the classroom of 25 little students with their moms?
Chanel 2.55 Vintage Black Jumbo
LV Damier Azur Speedy
(photo from eluxury.com; priced at US$685)
LV Monogram Petit Noe
LV Monogram Canvas Speedy
(There were actually a few moms who sported this Pandora bag :D)
LV Damier Canvas Speedy
(photo from eluxury.com; priced at US$685)
LV Denim Neo Cabby
(photo from eluxury.com. Priced at US$1,860)
LV Monogram Papillon
Gucci Monogram Hobo
(the mom who carried this exact same bag, is SO chic!!! She is tall and very nicely tanned, and looks gorgeous without even trying! *envy envy*)
I was embarrassed to take photos of these fashionable moms strutting their designer bags since this was THE day of the kids and not some event for me to blog about (shame on me for blogging about it now hahaha). I have to admit, I was ogling these young moms *hehe stalker stalker!*
Meanwhile I looked like… oh Gawd. Ok let’s put it this way– If I had taken a photo of me today with my kids and then show the very same photo to my children ten years later, they’d probably want to dissociate themselves with me ASAP. Yes, I was comfortably dressed, but holy hellhole I looked like a friggin’ handmaiden next to them hot young mommas! *Big sigh*… and with the big +1 year to my age in a few more days, I really felt… *cough* OLD!
Seeing so many designer bags in the school of my children made me think about this– peer pressure. Not pressure for the kids, but for the moms of the kids. Imagine going to some Parent Auxiliary group (or whatever they’re called hahaha… sorry, I don’t know what they’re called even though I know I’m in one hahaha… tsk tsk :D) and seeing all kinds of arm candy… Makes you really want to own one too– it IS pressure. That is, if you succumb. (Geez I’m probably the first sucker to succumb hahaha. Methinks Mrs.T= shameless label whore and victim of swipe abuse… Muwahahaha… bad girl. Need to go to reform school asap!)
Which leads me to this conclusion *ahem, serious tone* (and again the very same thing I had been discussing in the past): if you have the means to get a designer bag, go ahead and indulge. But if you will sacrifice your child’s tuition and educational future (oh Gawd that sounds like me *flogs myself*) to buy a nice bag, or worse, if you have to borrow money from friends/ relatives just so you can tote something “designer” to the parent group, here’s news: Not owning a designer bag won’t kill you. 🙂 At the end of the day, having parent meetings in your child’s school is not really about showing off the beautiful bags that you own (even if it’s tempting to do so). Those meetings are really all about your children. With that in mind, I shall start practicing what I preach haha. (Such a hypocrite I am. Hmmph!).
On a more serious note, I really do hope I can be a better Mom for my kids. I hope, and I hope for all moms out there, to be able to dedicate extra time for our children despite our hectic work schedules (and woohoo lucky for those moms who don’t have office- like “work” hours!). Hehe… pssst… And somehow though, I still hope to see some nice bags when I go to those Parent meetings 🙂 But enough bags for this baghag wannabe. This time, I’m more than happy to just sit on the sidelines and watch all the nice bags go by 🙂 *Enough swipe abuse. This installment queen has to pay off debt!!*
Bottom line, I’m one happy camper because today’s little trip to school made me feel complete (the only time I actually felt like a real Mom! Sheesh!!) Seeing all those yummy arm candy? It’s a nice consolation! 🙂
Night for now hags! Tomorrow, I have to play Good Mum again. For other moms out there, hope your child’s first day of school is as memorable as mine 🙂
x
Mrs.T
mrs. T!
happy birthday!
i hope you pardon my brenda comment ok.
if you show up in jeans and t shirt to school, hey, that’s normal.
But Mrs.T bring your Hermes! Talbog yang mga mommies na yan.
BDR
Hi Mrs T! But you have fabulous collection of your own!!
My question is WHAT BAG WERE YOU USING WHEN YOU WENT TO SCHOOL?
Hugs
MPR
i had that dilemma myself when i was working as an expat. most of my colleagues and clients had at least one designer bag. felt so kawawa so i saved up and bought my first one… the problem was, i did not stop. it felt like a virus that wouldn’t die. now that im semi-retired and my hermes, channels, pradas, guccis, gamos, etiennes are just rotting away but the virus remains inside my body and hits me once in a while. i might give in to a Palermo one of these days… 🙂
Hi Mrs. T! I really enjoy reading your blog. I have a handbag fetish too although I do not own a designer handbag (wish I did! Gucci, Burberry and Ferragamo are having a sale here in BKK. 30% off! But I’m saving up for something else).
I had the same experience in my daughter’s first day at summer school. Last Monday, I took my daughter to school (we just moved to Bangkok early this year and we enrolled our daughter in an International School) and there were designer handbags everywhere! I probably looked like a yaya compared to the glam moms — I was wearing walking shorts, a shirt and flip flops, while the other moms had make-up on and high heels. It was culture shock for me! I guess you really need to have a strong will not to give in to peer pressure. Haha!
Some mothers actually go broke to buy bags to impress other mothers. Its ridiculous but its true.
Good Morning Mrs. T,
Well, like you I also am one of those that don’t look pale when attending PTC’s and other school activities. Parents of today seems to be dressing up for parties when they go to school to mingle with other parents. Bags you’ve mention is really a common sight. But I have to agree with you that it ain’t necessary to flaunt them to others. Happy birthday.
funny, but i buy my bags for my own satisfction– i find it guilty parading it around others, am i weird or what? sometimes i buy it and just keep it in my closet out of guilt, hahahah! -jsg
hey jsg! the same with me…i buy signature bags for my personal satisfaction. i’m guilty of having too many bags so i decided to apply the “dagdag bawas” principle. i have 20 bags in my closet, if i buy one, i have to give one away. why 20? you may ask, i think it’s a good number to include all kinds of bags (hobos, pochettes, totes, etc.) in shapes and colors but i will always go back to my tessuto. my all-time favorite.
I was also shocked to see all those designer bags on the chic looking mommies at my daughter’s first day of school! Eye-candy talaga! But there’s an equal number of moms who are in sneakers and floppy Sportsac bags that look cool and confident.
I bought an LV something a few months ago, and I haven’t worn it as much because 1) it’s not really as comfortable as my non-designer bags 2) It doesn’t do anything for me–I don’t feel good or bad wearing it. Wala. Maybe I’m one of the lucky ones who don’t care for designer-anything (therefore don’t end up spending anything! haha)
But I love reading your blog and other people’s comments because more than anything, it’s about a passion you have found (too bad nalang that it’s an expensive passion).
Mrs T,
I enjoy reading your blog. Accidentally stumbled upon it while googling for chanel classic flap photos. Just like you I am a bag hag (Chanel, Dior, Gucci, LV, Burberry, Chloe, Bulgari, Fendi with matching shoes and sunglasses) but never paying full price. During Neiman Marcus store sale in June and December, my fave SA keeps the best selection and calls me up so I can choose what I like. So to the baghags in the US make friends with SAs and you’ll never regret it. Just be ready to break your bank account. At the moment I’m on a personal ban for buying a new purse oh but wait…just learned that LV’s Neverfull in Damier is exclusive in Hawaii and Japan so I have to get that first then activate the ban ;)LV’s so bad they stopped shipping to mainland therefore you have to be in Hawaii or Japan to buy the purse (bummer) but when there’s a will there’s a way…a friend is traveling to Hawaii and will buy it for me since the bag will not be available in the US til Jan 09 and I can’t wait that long…
Continue blogging…