In a valiant effort to spruce me up, my daughter said it’s time for a field trip to the Holy Grail – where the worlds of middle school girls and their middle-aged mothers collide: The Mall

In a show of shockingly bad judgment, I unwittingly enlisted a few middle school girls to help me reinvent myself before the weekend when in theory I have accepted the first date I’ve been on in nearly two decades. I stand by my original contention that I am awesome as is. And yet, it is precisely because I am so awesome, so brave and open, that I have agreed to invite and withstand some rather withering tween criticism of my general comportment.

There is (mercifully) some general agreement that I am super fun, an excellent person, a terrific mother, teacher and general all around human. There is much to work with, and (alas), so, so much to work on.

In earlier sessions, including: Best Tip for Midlife Divore and Dating Makeover? Attitude Adjustment and Seeking a Midlife Love Life? Best Dating Coach – Middle School Girls!,I have chronicled the beginning of our journey, me and my 6th grade posse of fashionistas. Now, it appears, we’re takin’ the show on the road.

Beauty makeover 101

In a valiant effort to spruce me up, my daughter said it’s time for a field trip to the Holy Grail – where the worlds of middle school girls and their middle-aged mothers collide: The Mall.

“You really think I’m ready?” I ask.

“Only one way to find out,” she says. “You drive.”

“Um, duh, you’re like, 11.”

“Right.”

Beauty makeover starts with a good foundation

We discuss goals on the way.

We will peruse a wide range of appropriate clothing options that I may or may not try on, depending on my mood and the lighting.

We will visit a smallish, relatively organic body/make up/good smells –type shop where I may (or may not) allow a sales associate to demonstrate possible make up options on my face.

We will people watch, making note of living examples of midlife women looking awesome.

Daughter: Let’s start on what you should wear….

(Gives my current look once-over….eyes wincing up my black bell-bottomed yoga pants and black A-line yoga tunic.)

Read more at: http://family.lifegoesstrong.com/article/middle-school-daughter-gives-midlife-mom-beauty-makeover-inside-out

Pamela Cytrynbaum, 46, has been telling other peoples’ stories as a journalist for more than 25 years.  She is Executive Director of the Chicago Innocence Project, where she teaches students to use investigative journalism to explore cases of possible wrongful convictions. She teaches at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, where she received her bachelor’s degree. She is also a blogger for Psychology Today at Because I’m the Mom. Previously, she was a staff writer for The Chicago Tribune and taught at Brandeis University. Pamela has reinvented herself professionally as a high school teacher, investigative reporter, college career adviser and writing coach. She spent 13 years living, parenting, writing and teaching, hiking and complaining (about all the hiking) in Oregon and recently moved with her daughter back to her hometown in suburban Chicago to begin a new life, yet again. To follow Pam on Twitter, click here and to find her on Facebook.