What’s your ‘purse-onal’ story?
I can still remember that denim jean purse I carried back in junior high. It had a New Kids On the Block pin on the shoulder strap and a Garfield plastic wallet inside. I probably only had a few dollars inside the wallet, money from a birthday gift that I saved for a rainy day. And of course, I’m sure that purse carried a Bonnie Bell pink lip gloss too.
I grew up in the days before cell phones, iTouches or other small gadgets that keep us connected to the world. My purse was simple, yet it carried the essentials for my teen lifestyle.
These days, my purse is the wallet stashed inside the kids’ diaper backpack. I love the backpack style–keeps those hands and arms free to wrangle the tot and baby in and out of shopping carts, the stroller and car. Gone are the days of that cute plastic wallet that carried just the essentials. Today my wallet is stuffed with receipts, store coupons that will likely expire before I remember to use them and an array of business cards/store loyalty cards and oh yes, that all important credit card that trails my shopping with each swipe and signature.
Lately I find myself in search of the perfect purse, one to hold the essentials on the inside and look pretty on the outside. Not too big as to weigh down on my shoulder, and not too small so I can’t fit anything inside it.
I have a stash of old purses. There is the cute turquoise bag I used for that blind date when I met my husband for drinks. And there is the little black bag I pull out when I dress up for weddings. There is the faux purse I bought while visiting my college roommate in New York and the bargain purse I found when I wandered away from the aisles of groceries and toilet paper.
There are different purses for different stages of my life. I’m two years and six months into the realm of motherhood, still feeling my way around, still finding out where I belong. Some days I miss grabbing my handbag and joining a friend for an office coffee break, and some days I giggle with my toddler as we make a secret stop for a doughnut and mommy’s coffee.
As women, it seems our accessories tell so many stories about ourselves. What is your “purse-onal” story?
Melissa Riske is a mother, freelance writer and more. She’s a member of Mothers & More DuPage Chapter No. 1 in DuPage Illinois.
Read more about the 2013 Power of A Purse campaign at http://mothersandmore.org/Power_of_a_Purse/Power_of_a_Purse_index.php
Want to share your own Purse-onal story, tell us at powerofapurse@mothersandmore.org.
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11:14 AM on March 8th, 2013
What a great perspective on the evolution of your purse Melissa! Now that I am beyond the days of younger kids, I can often tell a new mom by the bag she carries. Even without her child in tow, the bag is usually large, utilitarian, and she undoubtedly will pull out several toys, sippy cups or food wrappers before the item she is actually looking for appears. And all of the other moms in the Starbucks line nod quietly in shared understanding.
4:17 PM on March 14th, 2013
I enjoyed reading this, Melissa. I like the thought that purses and accessories tell a little story about us.
A dear friend of mine took an inventory of the items in her grandmother’s purse the day after she died. It told a wonderful story about the woman’s life and her last days. My friends and I often joke: “I promise I’ll go through your purse when you die and take out the incriminating stuff before anyone else gets to it!”
7:05 PM on March 15th, 2013
I sometimes look at my now school-aged children and miss the babies that they were. What I never miss? The diaper bag that was my “purse” for at least five years. It’s such a relief to grab my little bag that fits just my wallet, keys, phone, tissues and lip gloss (which I generally forget to apply). My kiddos will still try to get me to carry things for them sometimes, but now they have their own bags to fill. My little girl at six is far more the fashionista than I am — she’s the one that encourages me to have more than one purse and make some effort to look stylish. So, when I get nostalgic over the by-gone baby days, I can look forward to picking out purses with my getting-bigger-every-day daughter. I can’t wait to see what she will put in her hers.