Thank goodness we’ve finally gotten Mother’s Day out of the way for another year! 

Yes, we know it makes us sound a little churlish to say this, but we’ve always dreaded this time of year, when the onslaught of targeted ads and e-mails manage to reduce one of the deepest and most complex relationships known to humankind to an all-you-can-eat brunch and a hallmark card. 
Don’t misunderstand us-- we’ve loved every Macaroni necklace and hastily constructed popsicle-stick frame we’ve ever gotten.  (For a complete How-To, see last year’s ”Mother’s Day Made Easy!” )

It’s just that, (with apologies to Charles Dickens), these retailer-driven holidays have always seemed like a bunch of humbug to us.

Are we the only ones who find something slightly depressing about the whole Mother’s Day concept?.  Maybe it’s because it makes us feel so old and matronly, like the first time someone called us “Ma’am”.   It’s like we all suddenly have become some weird version of a Sunday School teacher, regardless of how un-Motherly we might otherwise be.

Even knocked-up  Jamie Lynn Spears got all ladyish and matchy yesterday with a white purse and cardigan, and, naturally!--pearls (that apparently kept getting hung up on her left breast.  Doncha hate when that happens?) 

Which begs the question:  How does a real-life Mom, i.e., one who actually raises her children herself and/or with a partner (as opposed to the Nanny, or Manny, or whatever the latest outsourcing trend may be) stay trendy and cute without compromising the dignity and respectability of, you know, Motherhood?

It isn’t easy, of course.  Because for most new mommies, not only do they have a lot less time and disposable income (owing, in no small part, to how much disposable diapers cost these days--my gawd, what’s in those things, cashmere?) to chase down the latest trends, but they have even less desire.  ("I haven’t slept six hours straight in over a year and you want to talk about ankle boots?” is a typical, sometimes snappier-than-necessary, response.) 

 The ugly truth is that  the major priority-shift that the pitter-patter of little feet inevitably brings about can make chasing down a $485 pair of Manolos seem shamefully trivial, as anyone who remembers episode 83 (season 6) of Sex And The City can tell you. 

Not that there aren’t plenty of people who are more obsessed with being a Hot Mom than a good mom. 

For instance, everyone was absolutely stunned to learn that Dina Lohan was receiving a Mother Of The Year award last week until they saw the boobed & botoxed members of the Long Island Mother’s organization who bestowed it without, believe it or not, any sense of irony whatsoever.  (While the debacle was widely covered by sites like TMZ, the hands-down best caption summarizing the event goes to Gawker, at least if you’re a Roald Dahl fan.)  We’re not sure who was home watching the kids (you know, the ones who actually made this glistening, french-manicured, chardonnay-fueled tribute to Motherhood possible) while all this was going on, but we thank God for them, whoever they are.  

Unfortunately, books like these



And the MILFies who love them aren’t much help for the mommy who wants to keep the skank-factor to a minimum.



But does that mean women who spend more time with their child than their personal trainer have to settle for dressing like Miss Lippy the kindergarten teacher from Billy Madison,  all loose tops and Eileen Fischer-style stretchy pants and clogs?

Of course not!



Every era has had it’s Great Mommy Style icons, and today is no exception.  While Britney or Teri might not have mastered it yet, there are a few celebrities who have embraced their new maturity with grace, dignity, and fabulous clothes.  Like Katie Holmes, of course,


 but also Angelina Jolie, who, yes, pretty much limits her wardrobe to black, white, and khaki; but with four kids, who can blame her?



And--who’d of thunk it? 

Jennifer Lopez, who, and we can’t believe we’re saying it-- we think has the potential to bring back the kind of full-out Mom glamour the likes of which we haven’t seen since the Donna Reed knocked it out of the park in the 50’s. 

(Most people credit June Cleaver with the pearls & apron look, but, as far as we’re concerned, it was DR who truly rocked housewife chic ).



In other words, Mommy Style should be a look unto itself, not a warmed-over version of something else. 



Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re going to put on our pink apron and wave around some pots and pans…