Getting ready for a shift staffing the admissions desk at the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum means wearing one of the Scandinavian-looking aprons I purchased the the museum gift shop. I attach my name tag and put essentials in the front pockets, including keys, cellphone, lip goop, hankie, staff contact numbers, and pen. It’s my unofficial uniform.
It turns out I love wearing an apron to work. Why?
- Fit. Aprons fit me better than even my best fitting dress-for-success jackets. My aprons fit as I lost 30 pounds. They will fit when I gain back 35.
- Practical. Deep, front pockets are perfect for keeping the essentials mentioned above handy without unsightly bulges. My newborn daughter’s first pediatrician wore an apron to examine her in the hospital. I still remember it. Perfect, I thought. Of course you should wear an apron to meet an infant patient.
- Cheerful. Wearing an apron makes me feel put-together and happy. It communicates I’m helpful and approachable. Back in the day when I served as
communication and marketing staff during large assemblies, I got a similar reaction by using my daughter’s long-outgrown wagon in the convention center. Unlike a hand truck, it’s smile-producing to see a little red wagon transporting supplies.
Admittedly, wearing an apron to work is a bit quirky, which is the perfect amount of quirky for me.
Sue Edison-Swift 4/19/2019
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