Reason Enough to Move to Orlando
There was a time in the not-so-distant past when the Toddler really didn't care about clothing. It was a blissful existence where I bought whatever I wanted, dressed her in it whenever I wanted, and there were no fights. I knew better than to "complain" that she should put on her Care Face for a minute, because I knew my day was coming.
It's here.
It was like someone flipped a switch. One day I was gleefully shoving chubby legs in Gap embroidered jeans and cute little sweaters, the next I was hearing, "I don't like that." Repeatedly, and always followed by, "I wanna wear polk dot dress." And so it came to be that I started sending the Toddler into her closet to pick out her own dang clothes.
In all honesty, I don't care at all what she wears. After all, I am still her personal shopper. Ultimate veto power is a wonderful thing when it comes to jeans with "Juicy" stamped across the bum (and, yes, such things exist in her size). She really can't walk out of her room with anything too terribly bad. As long as what she picks is remotely appropriate for her tasks of the day and sort of works with the weather forecast, we're all good.
All summer we've had it pretty easy. She picks out a dress, I let her wear the dress. Mind you, she would wear the exact same pink polka-dotted dress every single day if I let her, but that's OK. It's not in her closet every day, and she always manages to find some other sundress that fits the bill.
All is well.
Except.
Cooler weather is undoubtedly on the horizon. Guess who won't wear pants. Not even leggings. Guess who thinks flip-flops are The Shoes of Every Season. Guess who won't wear layers. Guess who thinks sweatshirts and sweaters are stupid. Guess who is going to be really freakin' upset when her Ogre Mother insists that she cover her legs before going out in the snow.
Good times on the horizon.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Reader Comments (48)
And the fun begins!!! Good luck with that! LOLOLOLOLOL (I'm only laughing because I feel your pain!) :)
Meh. Plop her scantily clad butt out in a snowdrift and she'll get over her aversion quickly enough.
Though, those pesky northern fall days do get quite cold.
I say you just hide all inappropriate clothing and footwear.
Or you could just send her down here. We'll be in sundresses for a long while yet ;-)
Both my sons have been very, very particular about what they want to wear. So, my rule is they can wear what they like from within a particular drawer. The drawers are by category (long sleeved, short sleeved, pants, etc.) You may want to hide the clothes that are weather inappropriate and offer up a selection of weather-appropriate.
Oh you don't even want to know how it goes down in my house. Good luck!
Cooper is currently very excited about wearing 'long shorts' - I think because he associates them with going to preschool. Maren, however, threw the mother of all tantrums the other day because I had the nerve to put her in long sleeves! She spent close to an hour trying to figure out how to get out of her shirt, and when that didn't work, she spent the next 30 minutes trying to figure out how to remove the sleeves from said shirt.
Fun times!
Cassidy doesn't really care what she wears.Thank goodness.Oh except for shoes.She is obsessed with shoes.Not just hers but everyones.That may be a problem in the future.
My 6 yr old I have been lucky with so far.I can see her slowly starting to form her own opinion on what she wears.Today she wanted to wear her Colts jersey.Love that kid.She rocks!
Guess who's going to remove all summer clothes from the closet? And replace them with overalls?
Just pack the warm stuff in her bag and go out in the cold. Once she really needs it and wants it, she'll be happy to put the warm stuff on.
bwahahahahahaha.
oh. sorry. i ... uh ... um ...
bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Oh, I feel you on this one. Gracie went through a MAJOR phase like this one. And Isaac went through a no socks phase that was delightful. It passes. And then another neat phase starts in its place.
Would she go for pink polka dot leggings? Maybe?
Forget Florida, move down here to Texas where you can wear flip flops every day of the year. Well, except for about 3 weeks, but who's counting? :-)
Ahh, the age of independence. I giggle at you and sympathize with you.
My yesr old daughter went the complete opposite on me at the beginning of summer. She wanted nothing to do with shorts and tank tops. She wanted to wear her favorite Old Navy sweater on 85-90 degree days and her favorite leggings....and boots. See I live in Michigan so even our summer days are cooler I wear jeans or "jogging pants" (stylish ones of course he he) everyday and it drives my hubby crazy. Now he has the both of us to contend with.
^ Supposed to say something like "4 year old"
My son went through that not too long ago. Good luck. You are going need it.
Have fun with that. I offer you no pity because I long to live in the land of cute little sundresses but alas we've got boy bits. So, yeh. Stop complaining.
I don't know how I've managed to avoid it, but I have yet to hit this pitfall with either of my children. I feel for you, though, cause I have a feeling my day is coming too.
Our Baby Girl doesn't care so much about what she has on, but at the end of last summer she was VERY upset when I started wearing long sleeves. She likes to put her little hand up my sleeve and rub it on her face when snuggling. Go ahead. Everybody now. AAAHHHH. It really was too cute.
Are you sure she is yours?
I missed this with girl child #1, but it's starting with #2. Two nights ago she was pouting because her pajamas were not "beatifully."
BB was positively jacked when I made him wear REAL shoes and not his Crocs the other day. Horrible mother that I am.
He's currently playing downstairs in just a t-shirt and underwear. And he has to go to school later. And it's cool and rainy out. Ugh. Pants!
I got one of those!
haha, sounds like mine who can't.stop.stripping.down.nekkid. UGH, I can't keep clothes on her to save my life!!!!
Stella loves her dresses. And it would be all fine and dandy, if it wasn't for the fact that she takes off her diaper and keeps running around without us noticing until she lifts her dress and flashes everybody while playing in the yard. Yikes.
Makes me very grateful that I have a boy that could care less what he is wearing. But I think I may have a battle with the flip flops.
Oh, I think that you might be surprised. But that surprise might be that she takes a liking to expensive ski wear! I think you have a little Stacy London on your hands!
Peace - D
awwwhh...come on Mom, just let her put the sundress OVER the pants and the sweaters...She'll be stylin'
I'm guessing she will only have to freeze once to have her change her mind!
I've already given up. He doesn't have an opinion on fashion yet (but then again he may never--as his father insisted on wearing what I called the Apple Jack shirt until I "misplaced" it), but HATES getting dressed and NEARLY figured out the tabs on his diaper.
My oldest daughter was like that. She grew out of that stage. The other day-- she looked at me and referring to how her younger sister was behaving said to me:
"I can remember acting like that. I must have driven you crazy."
She is 11... these children of ours are way to old for their ages.
i remember this stage...
Of course, now we are in the "I'm 9 going on 15 and want trendy, tramp like clothes" stage.
Which sucks.
I hope this doesn't sound awful, but after she goes out in subzero weather a time or two, I bet she will put some pants on. ;)
I'm sure it will be rough. That kid definitely has a mind of her own. Maybe if you remove all the dresses and only put pants and long sleeve tops in the closet she'll eventually get used to the idea that no dresses are forthcoming. My niece has something against jeans, and is five and still won't wear them, but we gradually convinced her that dresses are good.
My oldest...same freakin' way.
I decided it was a battle not worth fighting and she finally wised up when she was outside freezing (it did take a while though--this is the South.)
It is still a battle to get her to wear a coat.
I found this website. Funny, but nothing special. . unitl ifound this.
don't be scared.
http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-07-15T17%3A12%3A00-04%3A00&max-results=10
If I had the money, I'd have one made, just for you.
If that link doesn't work, go to cakewrecks.com. It is the July 13 2008 post, The creepiness continues.
Hee hee, sounds like you're in for a load of fun... and fights :)
I feel for ya, but selfishly will say, once again, "Thank GOD I have boys!!!"
My daughter and I fight over her outfits all the time. Maybe I'm just too much of a control freak :)
I see tights & long sleeved shirts under her little sundresses in the future for y'all.
I am with Burgh Baby: sundresses year round!
(shhhh...don't tell her---but I wear flip-flops year round.)
I operated under the Rule of Natural Consequences when my kids were small. As in: you won't get dressed? Okay, let's go to day care in our pj's and too bad if they laugh at you. Or: no jacket when it's freezing? Okay by me, but no whining!
Now before you label me a mean mommy, I promise that I never let them get hurt or frostbitten or anything. I just chose which things to fight about and which ones not to. For the most part, in the clothes wars, Mother Nature wins and eventually even the little ones figure that out.
Of course, I must confess the number one reason any of that worked: I had only boys. Totally different animals, they are. I'm still completely jealous that you have a beautiful little girl who can wear an adorable sundress, weather-appropriate or not!
Mary Ellen
Oh oh. A battle. I wanna see who wins this one. And, my Justice League advisor? ONLY dresses her daughter in Juicy. They wear matching Juicy outfits. If she wasn't nice, I'd think she was a superficial snob.
Yep, just hide anything that's not in season and let her go to it. Independence is good. It'll just make you get old REALLY quick.
Oh, also get her a button that says "I dressed myself today" and stick it on her when needed.
OH I feel ya girl. I am fighting the clothing battles myself lately and with a BOY mind you. It's ridiculous. Why do they have to have an opinion anyway?
Let's see... how could we make her think pants are cool? hmmmm...
A girl after my heart embracing the flip flops ... I wish I could wear flip flops year round.
And also - I'm glad I have a boy who will be less likely to give a damn. And thank jehovah for being the kid's personal shopper ... wtf is up with mini hoochie clothes for girls? It's awful.
smiling cuz I am in your boat right now AND the cool weather is here! Forget that I still shop--it's long sleeves and leggings that are my enemy right now.
UGH--wonder how cold she has to be before she gives in?
Let me know when you figure this one out-I too miss the days of dressing up my 'dolly.'
I think the answer to your guess who questions is me! Is it? Was I right? Oh, wait, that is what I wish were true, not what I do when it gets a little cold.
Hopefully when all that's in her closet are warm pants and sweaters she'll have to cave! Ha! Yeah right. She doesn't even like leggings? Even babylegs?
My boys wear shorts about 75% of the year! I feel like the bad mom when they go to school in 45 degree weather in their shorts! But hey, at 12 and 13, they "know better" and choose for themselves! I try to get pants on them but then I figure I have to choose my battles. I choose wisely.
Well at least she looks cute no matter what!
Flip flops aren't the shoe-for-every-season? Hmmm...not in Pittsburgh, that's for sure but I wear mine as long as I can, til my toes start getting numb. She really thinks sweaters are stupid at her age? Yeah, you're in for it. She's such a cutie though. She might end up taking over the world; her & that big head *wink*