We went to Motherhood Maternity and it didn’t suck at all.

I don’t know where, exactly, I got it in my head that taking Cheri to Motherhood Maternity would be a bad thing. That store saved us from having the worst Saturday ever.

It all started when our apartment complex’s pool was opened Saturday. We look forward to this every year, even though we really don’t make the most use out of it. We agreed since we were both off work this week we’d take a dip at least once a day, weather permitting. That, of course, requires getting Cheri a new bathing suit to accommodate her pregnant state. I thought for sure having one of the largest shopping malls in Iowa right in our backyard would be sufficient enough to find a choice of suits for her. Boy, I messed that one up. Having done no research before venturing out, we bounced from one store to the next. Target had all of one ugly choice, an all-black number Cheri didn’t exactly like (and didn’t hold her rapidly expanding bust line anyway). JCPenny was also a bust, as was Younker’s, Sears, Dillard’s, and all the stores in between. Cheri didn’t have a meltdown, but was certainly feeling emotional about this, since she was discovering she was a new market share that was being neglected. Fortunately, a teeny, tiny, tiny, teeny little Motherhood Maternity store in the middle of the mall was open, and we cut our losses and went in.

Thankfully, I am happy to report the clerks were incredibly kind and understanding. One clerk explained that most of the big box stores have gotten out of the maternity clothing market, save for their online storefronts. This seems sad to me, since I, as a man, have never had to think twice about grabbing new trunks for the summer. Anyway, Cheri got the help she needed, and within a half-hour, left with a cute new suit, and a new bottle for the baby. Yes, Motherhood has you coming and going: we are on their mailing list, and will soon be getting a copy of Parenting Magazine in the mail. I’m actually all for it. This was simply another experience of the pregnancy made more real. Cheri was happy and we took a dip in the pool later that day. A sad side note today: it rained and got really cold. But then, we discovered something else that was promising. The Gordman’s across the street from the mall also had maternity clothes. Today I bought a light blue polo for Cheri there.