Sometimes when I tell Clara we need to run some errands to the post office, grocery store, bank, and playground, she asks to be dressed like a ladybug princess. This is when I try to envision what life will be like when she is a teenager.
Because it puts silly little things like this into perspective.
In my mind, we will have our share of arguments as she navigates the crazy world of boyfriends, alcohol, drugs, etc. Please note that if I think about this too much my head will explode! I know I will be longing for the easy days when all she wanted was to go out dressed like a ladybug princess!
So.
If she wants to run errands dressed like a ladybug princess in public???
I’ll be picking my battles.
Oh yes, I think of those days too. I feel the same way. 🙂
When I used to cashier I’d get the biggest kick out of seeing kids come in “dressed up”, they are always so cute.
My son likes to wear his rain boots…all.the.time. I say Meh, g’head but his dad has a kaniption fit. I just laugh.
Dear Valerie,
As long as she has clothes on, I’m happy!
Love,
Mark
My 4 year old daughter is the same way! I never know what she will want to wear when we go out! I totally agree with you-Pick your battles! Costumes are not something to nit pick over!
First, I must tell you that I let my little ones dress as the wish to go out and my little princess ladybug has grown into a lovely young woman and so far as navigated all those difficult things you spoke of even better because she knows she has a mom that is there for her and yet lets her be who she is.
Secondly, after being a Mom for so long, I now know that if I am in a group with a lot of Moms I don’t know, I always navigate over to the ones who have little ones dressed as princess ladybugs. They are the ones I understand and want to get to know.
Thank you, Phyllis — That is so sweet & very re-assuring!!! 🙂
Well, crap. I have been significantly underdressedbwhen running errands.
Oh, she reminds me of Ramona in the first Ramona book. I prefer telling myself that our daughter will follow her parents’ footsteps and will never have a rebellious phase (it never hurts to dream, right?)
Oooh, Clara is so cute.
I have a stubborn little girl and life is all about battles now. And then, just like you, I think about teenage years and I realize that wearing her undies on top of her pants and undressing in public when she suddenly realizes that she’s in fact hates clothes is probably nothing comparing to what awaits us in 10 years or so. 😀
So true….I’ve let my daughter be a tiger, pirate, wear goggles, and wear a knit strawberry hat for almost every day of being 3! Definitely pick your battles!
oh Valerie, my youngest does this ALL the time – I let her! I find is sweet & fun. She wants to imagine she’s a princess in the real world – go ahead bc in my heart she is and soon enough she will be embarrassed to think she even did this (yikes those teenage years!) so I embrace the fun of it all and cherish these days.
We usually get compliments and I think that encourages her. Most people find it adorable and we haven’t had issues where she wants to do it in a place that would be inappropriate.
Ladybug on Princess – ladybug on! 🙂
Exactly…. Pick your battles wisely and win them EVERY time!
If my kids had their way they’d wear nothing but hero and princess costumes. But they have to be washed sometimes….
So true! (and well written, btw)
🙂
I’m with you! Plus, she makes one adorable ladybug princess!
My youngest wore his dinosaur costume. Every day. For three months. Then he added a lightsabre and became a Jedi Dinosaur. Good times, I say.
Maybe the costumes are her way of connecting to the world. Your support of her now, might just guarantee you’ll have a lot fewer battles to pick with her later. You gotta be proud of her! Kids know the rest of the world isn’t wearing pretty ladybug princess costumes. And they probably think what’s wrong with all of us! Kids do so many things instinctually, too bad for us we’ve lost most of our connection to that. Bravo Clara.
I always enjoy seeing ballerinas, firefighters, ladybugs, superheroes, etc. when they come to visit me at the library! Go imagination!!!
My 10 year-old wore her dress-up clothes as real clothes for about three years of her life. 🙂 Once she even insisted that i wear a crown, too. I figured it couldn’t hurt anything, it might brighten someone’s day, and more importantly, it meant a lot to her. She still remembers it! You are wise to choose your battles…these precious years don’t last long!
I wouldn’t argue it either! None of my kids have actually had the idea to go out in their dress-ups, as much as they love playing in them at home. When they do, I won’t think twice. My 4 & 6 year old have been dressing themselves since they were 2 & 3 so quite often we wear things that look far sillier than a lovely ladybug.
She just may turn out like me–into bling, still wearing a tiara, and acting like a princess. Not sure if that is good or bad.