I'm too fat, too skinny, too tall, too short. I have huge feet, stubby fingers, a bald head, and hair growing in places it shouldn't. My teeth are crooked, I have bags under my eyes, I hate the flab that gives an extra wave as I say hello with my hands. My nose is too big, my hair is too curly, I can't stand the tire that sits around my waist. My butt is too big, my butt is too flat, will these zits ever go away? I don't have any boobs, I have way too much boob, my double chin mocks me every time I move my mouth. My knees are fat, my ankles too wide, if I were starving...I could eat the cottage cheese from my thighs.
I could go on and on...IMPERFECTIONS we all have them. Perhaps I missed one or more of your secret self conscience body parts or maybe I didn't, but the truth is...we are not perfect...and we know it.
I have come to the conclusion that there are two main reasons why we have these annoying things about us. 1. Lack of exercise/Living an unhealthy lifestyle and 2. Genetics.
I know that the tire hanging around my waist and the flab waving to you from my underarm is due to my complete and utter hate for exercise. I honestly don't think I've ever liked exercise...ever! And yes, I've done it for extended periods of time. I think that whole "you learn to love it" saying is BS, but hey, keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better. I, on the other hand, have come to the realization that I will never like it. I didn't say I'll never do it, I will just whine and groan and watch the clock when I do...don't judge!
I don't know about you, but I think I got some crappy genes AND unfortunately, I think I gave some of those same crappy genes to my kids. In the future, I will probably be reading some kind of blog entry about the suckyness I gave to my kids genetically.hopefully that will be therapy enough for them. If not, I have a therapy fund already started just in case. I can totally write a book about all the things that suck about my body, but I am not going to dwell on them, because 1. I'm totally beautiful (ask my husband, he tells me everyday), and 2. There are just some things I cannot change and have come to realize that the dark circles under my eyes will only go away with make-up, which I don't wear, so I just rock those circles naturally every day.
One thing I have always been self conscience about was my smile...well, not really my smile per say, but my teeth. I had many strikes from the get go.
1. Genetics! Narrow mouth, crowded teeth, and just bad teeth in general
2. Self admitted thumb sucker until the age of 12 (I can't even imagine Raya sucking her thumb)
3. Number 3 of 5 kids who was raised on a self employed construction workers salary. Braces were not an option.
So I found a potential sugar daddy who promised me that even though he loved me the way I was, he would someday pay to fix my teeth. Fast forward 14 years, 4 kids later, and a new career for the mister, you can see me rockin' the teen aged braces...so what if I'm in my mid 30's. I mean, my orthodontist says "It's never too late to have a perfect smile" as he takes my monthly payment, but in reality, he's right and I am on the path for at least a better one AND it's coming along rather nicely.
It's been six months and already there has been a huge change:
Day Before Braces:
About two weeks ago:
A week ago, I officially became a grown up. You are probably wondering how a women, who at age 35, can just now become a grown-up...wonder no more...
You are probably wondering what you are looking at in the above picture. That bloody white thing in the center of the picture is my very last baby tooth. I would love to say that it was holding on for dear life, but if you check out the size of that root, you and I both know that that tooth wasn't going anywhere. So on my quest to my "better" smile, I headed off to the oral surgeon to have it removed and that was the easy part.
For whatever reason, my adult tooth never pushed that baby tooth out. It's a little strange because my adult tooth is in perfect position to come down...it just didn't. After getting my baby tooth removed, I had to have another "procedure" done to help bring that adult tooth down. I don't want to go into too much gory detail...oh, who am I kidding...yes, I do. The surgeon had to cut my gums and expose the impacted tooth. Then, he had to remove bone from around the tooth and attach a bracket to it. This is particularly hard because the tooth has to be dry in order for the bracket to be glued on. When you cut away gum tissue and remove bone, it bleeds, a lot! Lastly, he has to attach a chain from the bracket to my wire on my braces before stitching m up with 4 stitches. When I go and see my orthodontist on Friday, he will start pulling on the chain to encourage the adult tooth to move into position. Let's just hope it does because apparently, it's normal for it not too.
Of course being the documentor that I am, I had to take a picture. Totally disgusting, I know...but I also know you really want to see it too. So here it is:
It was a little painful. I thought for sure it was going to be a long few weeks and the prescription and refill for Norco would be my new best friend, but alas, I was wrong. The Norco perspiration never got filled and 3 Motrin were all that entered my body after this procedure. Of course, I'm now dealing with a canker sore on steroids, but it's not too bothersome.
I've never been a vain person. Sure, there have been things that I've wanted to change about myself. I mean, I can't even tell you how many times I've joined Weight Watchers in between the times I've done some other crazy diet, but teeth have always been the number one most self conscience thing I've had about myself to date. You know that saying "Sometimes it really hurts to be beautiful" or "being pretty isn't easy"? I've always thought those quotes referred to women wearing uncomfortable clothes and shoes they've squeezed their feet into because it's the only pair of shoes that is right for that outfit, but there's one thing for darn sure...those girls have nothing on me. Shooooot, I'm rockin' the white trash meth look right now being toothless and all...and that my friends, is not easy, but I can totally pull it off because despite the fact I have many flaws...I am beautiful, and so are you!
Say Cheese!
Now aint that sexy?
