I have been following Michelle's posts on getting the weight off and totally enjoying them. I am glad that one of my posts inspired her to start a little community of adoptive moms who want to drop a couple of pounds--for the right reasons. Health. Fitness. Energy. Our other co-blogger Sandra has kept us laughing about her relationship with her treadmill. I forget his name. Tommy, isn't it? I don't know that this is an older mommy thing, but one thing that I am enjoying about the posts is the realistic and casual attitude of everyone involved.

The posts and the comments don't have that crazy, driven tone to them. "I must lose this weight or I am going to throw myself in front of a moving truck!" Maybe having kids keeps you from contemplating such a rash act. Actually, come to think of it, if you have kids and you haven't already thought about throwing yourself in front of a moving truck because of your kids, then hauling around a few extra pounds certainly won't cause you to consider such a thing.

I haven't read a single comment that hints at a desire to achieve some unrealistic weight, or an image based upon the skewed reality of television, film, the music industry, or Heaven forbid, the modeling industry! The goal seems to be simply to feel better and experience better health. I wrote in my last comment to Michelle that I am also shooting for a freshened up look. Not to be confused with the look Sandra wrote about a while back involving plastic surgery, and skin being pulled so tight as to look like an alien, and then stretched some more, and sticking a ponytail on to finish off the look. I'm still laughing about that one.

I'm too chicken to let anyone sink a scalpel, knife, syringe, or a laser beam of light into my flesh, so I'm going the natural route. I think today it is called "authentic" aging. Actually, I think I'm just doing what generations of women have done before me. Drop a few pounds. Purchase a few new clothes. Get a new haircut. Add some highlights. Go wild and wear a new shade of lipstick. Hey, you could say that I am aging...the old-fashioned way! Neat, huh?

So, yes, I'm lovin' being an older mom today. Even if it has absolutely nothing to do with being an older mother I am feeling perfectly content and secure about me, my body, my kids, my family, my life. Whatever is not quite right that I want to change, I am committed to doing it, in my own way, on my own terms, in my own time. Starting with...these last few pounds! Argh!!

But you should see the cutest outfit that I bought today. YOWZA!!!