The Beauty of Age
Growing up I never had much vanity, at least I don’t think I did. And I don’t believe that I do now, but I have become more conscious of the changes in my appearance, especially my skin.
I don’t do a lot of makeup, never have, just the bare minimum unless it’s a special outing. That’s how my kids can tell when I’m up to something out of the norm. “It’s the ‘mom you’re wearing eye shadow where you going?’”
Funny story, at some point awhile ago I wanted to try fake lashes. So I marched into the nail shop and asked for some. There were so many choices—individual, strip, mink, etc. After about 15 minutes of pondering I felt strip were best for me because I didn’t know how long I would be able to tolerate them and I didn’t want to be ripping 10 pieces off my lids messing up my real lashes.
Anyway I get home and the kids were like something’s different about you. After about an hour, they determined what it was and Jacob said to me “now you look like all the other moms” in a disappointing tone. I didn’t really know how to take that so I just left it alone. He wasn’t disappointed long, I couldn’t get used to the feeling of something stuck to my lids, so they came off within a week.
About a month ago, I noticed a small bump on my neckline. I first thought maybe something had bitten me but that wasn’t the case. I kept tabs on it for a week. It was presenting like a skin tag but I had never had one of those before and then I came to the realization that it’s a mole—something common on my mom’s side of the family and one thing I hoped not to inherit genetically.
Nonetheless I have made an appointment to have it checked out and I’m not going into the doctor’s office in a panic like I did 10 years ago when I got my first age spot. I had noticed a spot on my toe that I had never seen before. I freaked out and called the doctor promptly. I marched into that office with a mission and the doctor could sense my anxiety. I tore off my sock and pointed it out quickly, the doctor examined it briefly and looked at me with a gentle smile and deemed it an age spot. I know she was laughing real hard on the inside.
Well since that time I have made it a point to be more aware of the subtle changes in my skin and to remember as much as I can about my family’s history. There is a point to those health history forms at the doctor’s office which take a good 10 minutes to fill out, if you take it seriously. So as you get older and afflictions come, those forms do have a purpose.
Robyn had her next to the last pediatric appointment last week, as the doc pointed out so unkindly. As with all annual exams came the review of the family history. There was little I could provide about her paternal side of the family because there’s not a lot he remembers or knows to share. So I’m going to just keep monitoring my skin, keep the unhealthy products to a minimum, and keep track of my health history.