The question was posed to me why I have chosen to Steampunk my life, and how it will effect my parenting style. I like this question because it made me think and pushed me to search out the resources I have been meaning to search since Phoenix was born.
First, why Steampunk?
I have been into Victorian fashion since I was really young, as I have mentioned before. I am also a Sci-fi geek, the two meld and make Steampunk. I also LOVE Jules Verne and his futuristic view of France and the world. I've always leaned toward a Goth look, but I knew I wasn't GOTH. So it was to my utter school-girlish delight when I discovered the wide world of Steam. (Les Vaporistes is the French equivalent)
Second, why NOW?
Because my parents wouldn't allow me to identify with any "group" that weren't JW's or "biblical." Nothing more, nothing less. I was already planning a full wardrobe re-do, simplifying and only buying a few Bohemian basics. My clothes are old, and the ones that aren't just don't fit me as a person, as the majority of them were bought while I lived at home. (With the exception of being, almost in it's entirety, made up of black. burgundy, ballet pink, and creme, my favored clothing colors.) SO, I plan on spending about $200 on an everyday wardrobe in addition to the few items I want to keep, and than save for my sewing machine and start my business rolling. I will be doing seamstress work, and continuing to make jewelry, as well as start to make various velvet and lace accessories I have had in my mind's eye for a few years. I also have other resources to cut down on the expenses of making a Victorian and Steampunk wardrobe.
Thirdly, regarding being a Steampunk parent.
It's not really that hard. In general I will continue dressing very bohemian, with the addition of corsets. It's just an extension of myself. I am going to make a Steampunk carrier, try to buy a Perambulator, and raise my son how I have planned to all along, free to be himself. And if I am not free to be MYSELF, what kind of example am I setting? Dressing in a Victorian/ Steampunk way actually makes me feel right. I feel terribly out of place in jeans, always have. I also want my son to be happy, so if he doesn't like Steampunk, that's OK, I am sure there will be something else he likes just as much. My biggest issue as a parent is that I watched my mother deny herself, betray herself, so often "because she was a parent" or "because she was a JW." It was a terrible example, and to see how unhappy she, and my grandmother, are, it breaks my heart. There was no reason my mom couldn't continue dressing AWESOME because she had us, there was no reason her or my Grandma had to give up music. My Mom SHOULD have been in a band, she SHOULD have been in stage productions, and people SHOULD have had the privilege to hear the AMAZING voice I grew up hearing. I don't want my children to look at my life while I was raising them and say "Poor Mom," I want them to say, "LOOK AT MY MOM!" and to be proud of my accomplishments, my determination to be ME. Sometimes I think I might put too much on my plate, but than I remember who I am, I hate being stagnant there is a reason why I am studying both Art History AND Dance, I never want to stop learning, so I chose two areas that you will always have something to learn.
