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My Big Girl Undies

February 18, 2013 By Dana White | 53 Comments

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I debated on that post title.

Y’know, from a fear of unwanted search traffic . . .

Anyway, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about an offhanded comment I heard on one of our new favorite TV shows.

I don’t generally take lifestyle advice from sitcoms, but this one really stuck with me.  Perhaps because it hit home.

We mostly love the new show Go On with Matthew Perry.  It’s full of quirky, kind-hearted characters with psychological issues.  Who could ask for more?

I won’t go into the whole episode with the cut-to-my-heart comment, but here’s the jist.  The girls were hoping to go shopping for fancy dresses with their group leader but the trip didn’t happen. In her disappointment, one neurotic character said to two other neurotic characters, “But I wore my good underwear today!”

The response from a neurotic-but-tell-it-like-it-is character? “You’re an adult.  You should only have good underwear.”

Ummmm.  OK.

Was she talking to me?  (And if so, does that mean I’M the neurotic person who should be in a support group?)

She’s right.  I’m a grown up.

I’m old enough to drive myself to the store and pick up a package of brand new undies whenever I need them.  And I may be frugal, but wearing undies with elastic strings that hang half-way down to my knees . . . isn’t frugal.  It’s cheap.

So, over the past few weeks these words of a fictional character have been running through my brain and I’ve trashed multiple pairs of imperfect undies.

Because I’m a grown up.

And I should probably act like one.  Even in the areas of life that no one (but Hubby) sees.

 

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Filed Under: figuring myself out | 53 Comments

Comments

  1. Jessica N says

    February 18, 2013 at 9:12 am

    Haha! SO true! Maybe on this President’s Day I’ll go buy new undies. Thanks for inspiring a cheap & busy mamma! 🙂

    Reply
  2. Tanya says

    February 18, 2013 at 10:29 am

    “And I should probably act like one. Even in the areas of life that no one (but Hubby) sees.”

    How about for Hubby’s sake we say it like this…

    And I should probably act like one. Especially in the areas of life that no one but Hubby sees. 🙂

    Reply
    • Chantelle says

      October 21, 2014 at 4:01 am

      There needs to be a “like” button for this comment! You are spot on. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Cara says

    February 18, 2013 at 10:35 am

    Haha! I need to go through my underwear drawer, too, for the very same reason. Buying new underwear has been on my list of things to do for months, maybe even a year, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it, since the old raggedy stuff still “worked”. Fortunately, my sister’s mother-in-law gave her a Costco size pack of underwear for Christmas in a style she doesn’t wear, but I do, so I managed to silence my inner cheapskate!

    Reply
  4. kim says

    February 18, 2013 at 1:06 pm

    I am two weeks ahead of you! I JUST threw out the holey stuff and bought 2 new packages. It does make me feel like a grown up, or at least less of a slob.

    Reply
  5. Andrea says

    February 18, 2013 at 1:09 pm

    But but but… what if I need them? This is what I struggle with, I always am saying “What if I end up needing them one day?” Yeah right like I will need a bazillion pairs of threadbare panties. When will I ever learn? Thanks for posting the reminder!

    Reply
  6. Brooke says

    February 18, 2013 at 1:14 pm

    LOL! I broke down and got myself some new undies last weekend, while vacationing with my husband. The only problem was that I was rushing due to him standing there with an ” I hate standing in the women’s underwear isle.” expression and forgot to look at the sizes. Grabbed the wrong size. 😛 Now I have to take them back. (they are unopened. thought you all might want to know that!)

    Reply
  7. Jess says

    February 18, 2013 at 1:17 pm

    This literally has me laughing out loud! (A) Because it’s funny, and (B) because, sadly, I can totally relate. I’ve got my fair share of cotton undies that are in very embarrassing shape…and yet…there they are in my drawer and on my hiney. 😮 Me thinks it’s time to go shopping!

    Reply
  8. Cynthia says

    February 18, 2013 at 1:25 pm

    Thank you for sharing. I too have been guilty of this. But it dawned on me about a year ago that I needed to shift that ‘ only my husband ‘ thinking. Doesn’t the love of my life deserve as much effort as people I’d meet at a party or interview ? This is not to say I clean the house in heels but take more time on my appearance. From the ‘foundation’ up Uh hmm

    Reply
  9. jawinda says

    February 18, 2013 at 1:56 pm

    Ha, I have 4 pair of what I call ‘granny-pants’ to help keep me warm in the winter: they go up past my belly button, and one pair got a hole in ‘the bottom’ which I bothered to stitch up because I like them even though most people would consider them tacky. I recommend them!

    Reply
  10. Maggie says

    February 18, 2013 at 8:10 pm

    I am ruthless about undies. I may have a house that is a wreck, I may be overweight, but my underpants will not have holes in them!

    Reply
  11. SusieQTpies says

    February 18, 2013 at 8:53 pm

    I don’t want to be in a car accident and have holy undies….I mean really! 😉

    Reply
    • Kim says

      February 18, 2013 at 11:39 pm

      If you’re in an accident, I really hope the last thing on the EMT’s mind is,”Hmm, what kind of undies is she wearing? Let me stop doing CPR and check.” LOL Besides, they usually cut your clothes off when you get to the hospital anyway. Do you want them cutting up your best pair? 😉

      Reply
  12. Laura says

    February 19, 2013 at 5:19 am

    First…..I love Go On and Second…I don’t think I have a single good pair of undies…it’s always the very last thing on my list….in fact, I have more underwear than I can admit that tend to slide downnnnnnn when wearing jeans …and yet I still wear them. I’m just too darn cheap sometimes and always put myself last….Come to think of it, I’m pretty sure hubby has wear more good underwear than I do because I’m always buying them for him……Thanks for the reminder!!

    Reply
  13. Pat says

    February 19, 2013 at 8:14 am

    Ha! that is hilarious.

    I’m laughing…because, well, (this is TRUE) I’ve been known during truly desperate times to whip out the sewing machine and mend my undies, taking up the legs, waistline, and replacing ‘worn’ areas!!!
    Yes.
    Yes, I have.
    …WTMI

    Reply
  14. Melissa B says

    February 19, 2013 at 8:39 am

    So right there with ya!

    Reply
  15. S Ray says

    February 19, 2013 at 8:41 am

    How do I get past my Great Aunt telling me to save them for hard times?

    Reply
    • Kelekona says

      January 10, 2014 at 8:13 am

      S Ray, what you do is buy a few packages of undies so that you have some brand new ones in reserve for the hard times. The 1930’s were a long time ago.

      Reply
  16. Peggie says

    February 19, 2013 at 8:57 am

    Why do we do that? My undies fall apart and hardly stay up, same with bras…. but I feel wasteful buying new ones!

    Reply
  17. Kristin says

    February 19, 2013 at 9:40 am

    I think it goes back to us putting ourselves in last place. (I wonder how many bras I have that actually stay up on my shoulders? If I spent all the time I used ‘adjusting’ myself for other things, I’d be ahead of the game!) We’d never let our kids wear undies that have snapped elastic or strings, but we would. Thanks for the reminder! Maybe if I have some new ones, I’ll be more productive. Really, undies aren’t that expensive unless you buy the kind that need to be dry-cleaned (I worked with someone whose husband bought her a pair — no kidding).

    Reply
  18. Sarah says

    February 19, 2013 at 10:44 am

    Yikes, this also hit home. I literally marched my behind to Tar-jay and bought a 6 pack before I went on vacation. Why is it that a fear of going down on a plane was the final straw (and let’s be honest, if you’re going down on a plane, your undies probably will not make it…) But hey, I’ve got 6 new ones in the rotation now!

    Reply
  19. Katie B. of HousewifeHowTos.com says

    February 19, 2013 at 3:22 pm

    Oh my goodness, I’m awful about getting rid of undies. I love buying new ones, but then I feel bad about getting rid of the old ones. Can’t I trim that elastic thread that’s dangling down in the back? Surely no one will see the hole in the butt, except my husband, and I usually change into pajamas long before he goes to bed so even he won’t see!

    Seriously, my underwear drawer is bulging with undies I have no business wearing. My mother would be horrified.

    Reply
    • Linda W says

      March 6, 2015 at 11:34 am

      I was bad about getting rid of undies. It finally got so bad that I couldn’t close my drawers. I went to the dresser with a laundry basket and a cardboard box. I took the contents out of one drawer at a time. If I wanted to keep it, I put it in the laundry basket. If it was unrealistic to keep it, (too small girdle panties or raggedy) it went to the cardboard box. Then I neatly folded the keepers and put them back into the drawer.

      Reply
  20. Kathy L. says

    February 19, 2013 at 6:30 pm

    I watched one episode of a sitcom that I didn’t think was worth watching again; HOWEVER, one of the females said to another female, “You don’t have much money, but you shouldn’t be sleeping on a mattress on the floor.” Hmm. I suppose my 23-year-old son shouldn’t have to sleep on a mattress on the floor either. I was waiting to replace his carpeting before I bought a boxspring and frame, so it would be less to move. When was I REALLY going to get around to replacing the carpet? I quickly located a free boxspring on Craigslist and we used his old metal frame. I still haven’t replaced the carpeting. 😎

    Reply
  21. Pam @Mommacan says

    February 20, 2013 at 9:02 am

    Haha, its the little things you know.
    I feel the same about having nice bed sheets. Weird, but true.

    Reply
  22. Amy says

    February 21, 2013 at 11:18 am

    Last fall I broke down and bought all new underwear and threw out the old stuff. It is amazing what a difference good panties can make in your life :O) I find it funny that I have a hard time spending money on something I wear EVERY DAY but don’t think twice about overspending on a dress for the wedding of colleague’s son, who I don’t even know.

    Reply
    • Shellie says

      January 9, 2014 at 5:11 pm

      Yes. This. Exactly!

      Reply
  23. Nancy says

    July 24, 2013 at 8:23 pm

    You had me cracking up. I’m right there with ya! ~hangs head in shame~ I’m heading to the Big-Girl-Panties store first thing in the morning! Or maybe I’ll shop online tonight. Hate trying to find a parking spot at the mall.

    Reply
  24. Stephanie says

    August 1, 2013 at 4:30 am

    This is one thing I have always done. My house may be a mess, my hair may be a mess, my kids may be tired and grouchy, but I always have on nice underwear. Cleaned out my drawer. All but four were thrown out and six new ones bought. Done!

    Reply
  25. Rose says

    January 9, 2014 at 5:15 pm

    Annnnd…now I feel I should be looking for my car keys so I can go buy new undies…*sigh* why do we do that? LOL Great post!

    Reply
  26. Kim S says

    January 9, 2014 at 9:34 pm

    Maybe we need to declare January 10th, Buy New Undies Day!

    Reply
    • Clear Cut Crystal says

      February 18, 2016 at 7:34 pm

      Hilarious!

      Reply
  27. Laura says

    January 9, 2014 at 10:16 pm

    I am of the mind that you should only have good underwear BECAUSE only your husband sees it. It is a sort of token of affection and respect and good for the marriage as guys are visual creatures. And what guy doesn’t want to see their wife wearing pretty undies?

    Reply
  28. Andrea says

    January 9, 2014 at 11:04 pm

    It’s always on my list. But then I get distracted, and end up on the other side of the store and I see a short line, and then decide it’s not worth it to make another loop and just get in line and check out while it’s still easy to do so. lol But I TOTALLY need new undies.

    Reply
  29. Kiri says

    January 10, 2014 at 2:02 am

    LOL. Well remember to keep your grungy undies as well. I don’t know about you, but I wear them during particular times of the month – if you know what I mean – and it keeps my normal undies cleaner and nicer.

    Also. It’s 10 January here, I just got back from buying 7 new undies. How serendipitious is that!

    Reply
  30. Mandy says

    January 10, 2014 at 4:24 am

    Ladies, our knickers are the closest things to our body that we (well, most of us) wear every day so, for goodness sake, respect your bum with good underwear! By good I don’t mean expensive but the only holes in them should be where your legs go in! I understand the ‘certain times of month’ we can wear the not-so-great knickers but ONLY then 🙂 It took a long time for me to get into this habit btw. Go forth ladies and respect your butt! X

    Reply
  31. Kay says

    January 10, 2014 at 8:39 pm

    I have bra’s older than my 5 yr old granddaughter! Gotta get new ones! They don’t hold up my girls!!!

    Reply
  32. Connie says

    October 20, 2014 at 6:37 pm

    I am now 70 years old, but still kinda cute! But, a very long time ago I decided that I would have pretty underwear on at all times. Of course, my wonderful Mother also warned me to wear nice underwear in case of a car wreck or some other disaster. However, I feel so much better in pretty underwear, I feel like I have a little secret !

    Reply
  33. Susan says

    October 20, 2014 at 9:19 pm

    It is so bad that I have underwear in the drawer that I bought like 2 years ago and won’t wear because they aren’t comfortable. I have been meaning to throw away but can’t bring myself to because they are like new.

    Reply
  34. Brenda says

    October 20, 2014 at 9:39 pm

    Hubby & I, both Senior adults, buy new undies annually on Back-to-School Sales Tax Free Weekend. Also office supplies, shoes, anything that can wait till then that will qualify as tax free.

    Thanks for your humor & all the good tips!

    Reply
    • Elisabeth says

      December 23, 2014 at 4:52 pm

      Back to school is the perfect time. (Although there are some quirky families that do it at Christmas.) Regardless, make it a routine part of your year.

      Reply
  35. Paz says

    October 21, 2014 at 7:25 am

    Every year when I get my tax return, I buy myself 30 pairs of undies. So I always have plenty, and don’t feel panicked if I throw a pair out.

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      March 6, 2015 at 10:22 am

      This is such a good idea! Since I just got my tax return I’m going to start doing this too!

      Reply
  36. Jewlz280 says

    October 21, 2014 at 11:45 am

    I use to be, and am still, somewhat of an underthings hoarder. I’m not really sure why. I’m not of an era that felt that they needed to worry or be prepared at all times. I don’t even wear half of them! AND, I sort through them pretty often only letting go of a few at a time. So, I decided that the issue was really more of finding replacement issue. If I found a good replacement, letting go of the crappy ones would be easier. So, I went to the store and bough 4 packs! FOUR! I liked 3 packs (2 were one style and the other 2 were different). I kept the 3 and now my drawer over floweth with new, comfy and pretty panties! As I’m doing laundry, the old ones are getting cycled out. Either from coming out of the dryer and straight to trash or when I go to put them in the drawer I dig around for a sec and if I see a pair that looks grungy, out they go. I think this is going to be my new habit. Find the replacement and replace them! Sort of the same concept as with the storage containers you posted the other day. 😀

    Reply
  37. Jessica says

    March 6, 2015 at 10:21 am

    I think it’s the perfect title! Got me to click. I was just thinking about this last night. Why do I have underwear that is old or that I don’t like the way they fit? My answer, because I have the expensive VS ones that I want to get my money’s worth and wear them till they are no more. Still, I know it’s not the right way. I’m planing to do the same and throw any underwear that is no good or doesn’t fit right and buy a whole new underwear wardrobe!

    Reply
  38. Ellen says

    March 6, 2015 at 10:48 am

    I’m pretty good about the undies thing, but hubby lets his get to be a threadbare mess with elastic showing through and holes. One day I saw him in a dreadful pair and just grabbed a big ol’ pair of sewing scissors and cut one side of the undies right off his body. At first he was shocked, then laughed his (now half-uncovered) butt off. Now he buys new undies regularly and makes sure to show me that he’s throwing away the holey pairs.

    Reply
  39. Sallie says

    March 6, 2015 at 4:20 pm

    I am very petite, and consequently shop in the little girls’ department for my big girl panties. I buy a six pack, but often don’t really love one or two of the pairs, because of the color or pattern. I usually save those for “monthly” days, but this post has made me realize that I don’t even HAVE to do that; little girl’s clothes are cheap. Goodby gaudy patterned panties, even while you are still new!

    Reply
  40. andrea says

    March 6, 2015 at 9:11 pm

    Ha! My obgyn once asked me a question I couldn’t answer, that I had to admit I couldn’t answer because my underwear were so old. She patted my arm and said, “don’t worry, me too. ” So then we discussed good underwear brands and promised ourselves we would get new. The next year’s appointment we chatted about how nice it was to have new undies. Ha! That’s a nice doctor!

    Reply
  41. Bethanyh says

    April 5, 2015 at 11:10 pm

    Lol! I’m reading through backwards, and last week I bought myself two packs of undies, and a package of no-show socks? Why? Because reading your blog gave me permission to throw out the crew socks I hate wearing(but had been saving for laundry emergencies) and I’d been sorting through my clothes and getting rid of the ones I no longer wear, when I realized all my panties had holes, rips, or just felt too nasty to be putting on any more!

    Reply
  42. kay says

    July 13, 2015 at 1:54 pm

    While I do need to ensure I have “big girl undies” right now wearing pedantic sod hat. One of the many things I enjoy about your writing is your spelling and grammar.

    While the States may use the word jist I think in the context you might have meant gist. Ah, if you look at the likes of urban dictionary some of the meanings for jist might not be ones you are comfortable with.

    Reply
  43. Haley says

    February 24, 2016 at 10:28 pm

    I think the main reason undies are so hard to get rid if is because it actually involves throwing them away. You can’t (or SHOULDN’T!) donate them, but technically they can still be worn. I struggle with this with bras especially. Just throwing away a bra that cost me $40 feels hard, but once it is lumpy, the straps sag, and a wire is threatening to poke out, it is not doing me any good.

    Reply
  44. djcb says

    March 1, 2024 at 3:11 pm

    Years ago, I had two very close friends over and we got to talking about clothing. I told them that what I was wearing while I was with them wasn’t what I would normally be wearing, but I would wear around the house the most holey raggedy rags. I just didn’t want to mess up anything “nice” so I literally wore rags. These two friends were shocked, marched to my dresser and closet and began literally throwing away my rags! They said it wasn’t right to dress myself like a slob because I deserve better whether I agreed or not. I’ve never forgotten that. They took away my rags! We all had a good cry over this and many good laughs later! I still tend to dress in umm… at-home-wear at home, but never like the rags that I used to wear. That’s because of these friends’ intervention and wakeup call.

    Reply
  45. LavaidaVandelia says

    August 1, 2024 at 8:05 am

    I keep one “holey-pair” on the bottom of the stack in my drawer. It is my uh-oh reminder that I have forgotten to do my OWN laundry. (4 kids)
    This pair has saved me many times from having none to put on.
    And you would think that my brain would notice- hey, this is the last pair in the drawer! But no, I don’t notice the “last”, just the “holey”

    Reply

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