Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter
virtual spaces where we each inherit
our own piece of real estate
to develop and manifest our own facades.
On fleek, on point,
oozing virtual hotness.
Gucci bag, Christian Louboutin Shoes,
sporting latest trend from Kardashian goddesses.
No need for plastic surgery.
My selfies are taken from the best angles.
Filters providing the ultimate tan
and immaculate skin.
Yoga pants, messy hair
Kids dressed in garbage bags.
Sneaking off to Walmart
fetching frozen pizza and a gallon of Blue Bell.
Horror! Kelly Jo Steinbrenner Smith
on the other side of the Little Debbie display.
Run? Leave my kids
so she won’t know they are mine?
Nothing but a box of Zebra cakes shielded me.
I turned my cart, my kids and selection full of senseless calories
toward the checkout stand
pretending not to see her majesty of Grand City High School.
Unbeknownst to me,
Ms. Smith just as abruptly turned her head
Smiling at the faceless person
giving out free samples.
Tasting cardboard bacon
Avoiding the possibility
I’d see the ten pounds remaining
since baby number three popped out six weeks ago.
Everything I’ve never accomplished
ran through my head
in thirty seconds flat
on my drive home.
Failures.
Weight gain.
Parenting skills
all on display.
I’m never going back
to that God forsaken place.
Another Walmart is only 26 miles away.
I’ll start shopping there.
Pulled up to my tattered picket fence,
unloaded my 2010 minivan.
Scarfed down half the gallon of Vanilla Bean
Baking therapy commenced.
Created an Oreo cake
Shaming Martha Stewart,
posted pictures of the heavenly vision
on every social media outlet imaginable.
Oh look.
My first like.
Oh wait. It’s changed to a heart.
I’m loved.
Validated!
I’m the greatest baker/mom/woman ever!
Wait!
Who loved my cake?
Kelly Jo Steinbrenner Smith
that’s who.
My stars have aligned.
I don’t have to drive 26 miles.
Author Bio:
Kim Harris is currently attending Tarrant County College and studying to become an elementary teacher. She has six children and eleven grandchildren. Having raised five daughters, she realizes the importance of advocating for women and seeking to build each other up.
virtual spaces where we each inherit
our own piece of real estate
to develop and manifest our own facades.
On fleek, on point,
oozing virtual hotness.
Gucci bag, Christian Louboutin Shoes,
sporting latest trend from Kardashian goddesses.
No need for plastic surgery.
My selfies are taken from the best angles.
Filters providing the ultimate tan
and immaculate skin.
Yoga pants, messy hair
Kids dressed in garbage bags.
Sneaking off to Walmart
fetching frozen pizza and a gallon of Blue Bell.
Horror! Kelly Jo Steinbrenner Smith
on the other side of the Little Debbie display.
Run? Leave my kids
so she won’t know they are mine?
Nothing but a box of Zebra cakes shielded me.
I turned my cart, my kids and selection full of senseless calories
toward the checkout stand
pretending not to see her majesty of Grand City High School.
Unbeknownst to me,
Ms. Smith just as abruptly turned her head
Smiling at the faceless person
giving out free samples.
Tasting cardboard bacon
Avoiding the possibility
I’d see the ten pounds remaining
since baby number three popped out six weeks ago.
Everything I’ve never accomplished
ran through my head
in thirty seconds flat
on my drive home.
Failures.
Weight gain.
Parenting skills
all on display.
I’m never going back
to that God forsaken place.
Another Walmart is only 26 miles away.
I’ll start shopping there.
Pulled up to my tattered picket fence,
unloaded my 2010 minivan.
Scarfed down half the gallon of Vanilla Bean
Baking therapy commenced.
Created an Oreo cake
Shaming Martha Stewart,
posted pictures of the heavenly vision
on every social media outlet imaginable.
Oh look.
My first like.
Oh wait. It’s changed to a heart.
I’m loved.
Validated!
I’m the greatest baker/mom/woman ever!
Wait!
Who loved my cake?
Kelly Jo Steinbrenner Smith
that’s who.
My stars have aligned.
I don’t have to drive 26 miles.
Author Bio:
Kim Harris is currently attending Tarrant County College and studying to become an elementary teacher. She has six children and eleven grandchildren. Having raised five daughters, she realizes the importance of advocating for women and seeking to build each other up.
RSS Feed