Road Trip Summer continues! We're on our way to another nearby destination... in the meantime, if you haven't entered my Summer Road Trip contest, you need to do so NOW: I'm accepting entries until midnight (PST), June 30. Winners will be drawn on July 1.
I don't enjoy shopping for clothes - not for me, nor my husband - and especially not for my daughter, who has had the audacity to develop a mind of her own. I've learned that I need to hang back in the store and let HER discover the items she likes (because if I show them to her, it's an automatic "No").
It was so much easier (and fun) when she was little. Back then, she didn't really care what I gave her to wear.
I practically cried when she got too big to wear Gymboree, and in the last few years, I had to wave goodbye to Children's Place and GapKids, too (although the latter isn't because the clothes don't fit -- she just doesn't think they're cool). I sadly accepted my fate as a LimitedToo shopper, and then (all too soon) became a regular at Abercrombie, Hollister, Aeropostale and American Eagle.
I was relieved that her middle school required the kids to wear a uniform of sorts: mainly white or navy polo shirts and blue or khaki jeans. The girls dress it up a little by layering white and navy t-shirts under the polos -- but in the scheme of tween-age fashion, it's simple and easy.
The problems come up when we have to attend an event where jeans and t-shirts won't do. This week, we will both have to dress up a little... which is how I found myself shopping with Megan this afternoon.
It wasn't pretty.
The problem is that my middle schooler is smaller than the average 12-year-old. She's too old for the typical kid's styles... but can't carry off any of the Junior dresses she actually liked.
This afternoon, we hit just about every store in our local mall -- without luck. She even consented to re-visiting those aforementioned kids' stores (LimitedToo, Children's Place and GapKids). Even I had to admit that the pickings were slim. The closest style we found was at Macy's, but it was emblazoned with a Hannah Montana logo -- which for a 12-year-old, was a deal-breaker.
And then Megan reminded me of the pretty party dress that has been hanging in her closet for as long as she can remember. It had belonged to the daughter of our pre-school's office manager -- and when Megan left to start kindergarten, the woman gave it to me, because she thought it would look good on Megan some day.
Seven years later, that day has come.
Once we'd solved the problem of the dress, we turned our attention to shoes. After all, flip flops and sneakers wouldn't do.
It wasn't that long ago that I was railing against the trend of selling girls' shoes with heels, which I thought was ridiculous for elementary-age children who need shoes they can run and play in -- even at parties and special events.
But that was then. She's now what my grandmother would have called "a young lady." And so when Megan picked out a cute pair of strappy sandals - with heels - I gave her my blessing. And I think they look really good.
So our afternoon of shopping wasn't as painful as I'd anticipated.
But I still miss those days of dressing her in Gymboree.
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