Why This 41-Year-Young Mom Walked the Runway & What It Taught Her Kids! Parenting Motherhood

I recently had the opportunity to model clothing in a fashion show, “Modern Meets Industrial,” at La Petite Boutique in Richmond, Va. I have a theatre background but I’ve never done anything quite like this before. However, I teach my boys to try new things, challenge themselves and step outside their comfort zones, so I decided I should practice what I preach. 

More than that, though, the show featured women of all shapes and sizes, from age 30 to 60. None of us would be considered traditional models by today’s unrealistic beauty standards. But at this show we were applauded, cheered for, told we looked fabulous. And we felt fabulous, too, in clothes made for women of all sizes. This is another message I wanted to send to my boys – one about body positivity, one about real women who don’t look like the women in magazines. 

We aren’t Barbies; we aren’t air brushed; we’re real. Of course we should teach this to our girls. But our boys need this lesson, too. I think my sons received the message. And while they didn’t readily admit it, I think they thought it was kinda cool that their 41-year-young mom put down her books and closed her laptop … and walked the runway.

Photos: Barbara Shore; Jewelry Designer: Petra Meiren

30Seconds tribe members Nanci Burn, Barbara Shore, Helen Campbell, Lisa Rine and Jennifer Wright Lo Prete also participated in the fashion show!