A mother in J Brand skinny jeans with an impeccably dressed daughter walks past, giving me the Mummy Once-over, and I flinch. Since I had Minnie, I've learned that the Mummy Once-over is even more savage than the Manhattan Once-over. In the Mummy Once-over, they don't just assess and price your clothes to the nearest penny in one sweeping glance. Oh no. They also take in your child's clothes, pram brand, nappy bag, snack choice and whether your child is smiling, snotty or screaming. Which I know is a lot to take in, in a one-second glance, but believe me, mothers are multi-taskers.
A mother in stylish J Brand jeans walks by with her perfectly dressed daughter, casting a judgmental look my way that makes me uncomfortable. Since becoming a mom, I've realized that this glance, which I refer to as the "Mummy Once-over," is even more critical than the typical Manhattan evaluation. It involves an instant assessment not just of my outfit but also of my child's appearance, the pram we use, the diaper bag we have, and even what snacks we're offering.
This one-second appraisal might seem overwhelming, but I have come to understand that mothers have a remarkable ability to observe and analyze multiple factors at once. The Mummy Once-over is a comprehensive judgment that reflects the pressures of motherhood, where every detail is scrutinized, showcasing the societal expectations placed on moms regarding appearances and childcare choices.
