
For the past few months, I have been struggling with my shorts, not running or athletic shorts, but casual day to day shorts. I can wear them to school, running errands, around the house….They are a very practical piece of clothing for me. But as styles are getting shorter and tighter, I have struggled to find shorts that (1) I like, (2) fit the budget and (3) aren’t too tight or too short, but don’t make my legs look like sticks. And they get double points if I can find a pair that are light and comfortable enough that I can wear them while playing soccer with my boys. It has become the impossible task.
On the weekend, I made one last attempt to find one – just one – pair of shorts. After combing through several shops, I gave up, went home and pulled out my yoga shorts. Now these aren’t true yoga shorts because my prudish husband does not like it when I wear anything tight (which, on another note, makes wearing running tights in the winter rather interesting).

These are actually running shorts, which I wore for cross-country but have since crossed the threshold to the yoga studio. I ran into a friend wearing the same style at the grocery store, I have seen moms wearing them at their kids’ events, and many girls are wearing them at school because they don’t violate dress code. Maybe, just maybe, I can wear these casually.
On Tuesday, I put them on when I got home from school. They aren’t too short; my butt is covered. In fact, the backs of the 50+ year old thighs are hiding well under them too. They aren’t tight; Dave won’t complain. They’re stylish. “I’m good to go,’ I thought, and I headed to the kitchen.
“Ooo, look at Mom in her shorty shorts!” the littlest dude called out.
“They aren’t that short, are they?”
“No, they’re okay. Wait! You aren’t wearing those to soccer practice are you?”
“Ummm….”
“Mom, you are NOT wearing those shorty shorts to soccer! You need to change!”
“I hate my other shorts. I feel like an old lady in them.”
“Mom, let’s think about your age. Your other shorts are just fine.”
I’m glad that I’m his mother, not his daughter. It seems that my son has inherited the “prude” gene and I am still on the hunt for a pair of shorts. Maybe I should buy a pair of shorty shorts and wear those around. Then, no one will complain when I wear these.
These shots look great to me. Not too short or tight. Having gone through the hair restrictions at my house, I think you should wear the shorts you like until everyone at your house is used to them. Good luck! — from Robin Welsh