Losing Control

I have been a mother now for four years, five months and eleven days.   For the majority of that time I have felt in control of most things baby/toddler/child related.  I determine when my children eat, when they bathe, when they get to watch TV.  I determine where we are going on a given day and who we will see.  The power is in my hands.  Though, that doesn’t mean I don’t get request for other things or protests against what I say.  But the truth of the matter is, I am the parent and I make the rules.  Right?

One thing that I have really enjoyed having control over for the past four years, five months and eleven days is what my children wear and how they are presented when we’re out of the house.  By that I mean, I love dressing my girls in cute outfits and coordinating their hair accessories to match.  I take pride in their neatness and overall put-together-ness.  It’s sort of like a hobby of mine.  That might sound materialistic or even ridiculous to some, but to me, it’s just the way I like it.  It doesn’t mean that I shop at high end stores or dress my girls in fancy clothes.  In fact, 95% of their wardrobe comes from Target or Kohls.  I am a bargain shopper.  What it does mean is that I just like them to look neat, clean and presentable whenever we’re out.  I like them to be dressed properly for the day/occasion and the weather.  Up until recently, I have had complete control over this.

ENTER 4 year, 5 month, 11 day old daughter. EXIT mom’s control of outfit selection.

I love being a mom to girls.  It really suits me. {Though honestly I don’t know anything else.}  But it definitely has it’s challenges.  As much as I love dressing my girls, I simply don’t have the time or energy to argue about clothes with a four and a half year old.  The mornings are much too rushed as it is and without at least two cups of coffee in me, I just can’t stand to put up the fight.  Even if I did, a meltdown of epic proportions would ensue and I’d ultimately give in to get her to shut up! {Please do not criticize my parenting strategy, or lack there of.}

So, yesterday morning, as we were getting ready for the day, my daughter asks, “Mom, can I wear whatever I want?”  I’d say this question gets asked as average of 5 out of 7 days of the week.  Typically I say yes, but I do ask to see the outfit before it’s put on.  If the outfit is weather appropriate and suitable for whatever the day has in store, I don’t fight it {even if it’s the complete opposite of what I would have picked out for the day.}  I do have to say though, Brinley does know how to coordinate an outfit so my efforts thus far have been worth it.  The clothes she chooses almost always match and look cute.  {I, of course, do still have control over what is purchased!  Thank God!}

Anyway, back to yesterday morning… Brinley lays out her outfit of choice and I go in to her room to approve of it.  She has picked out pink leggings, a jean skirt, pink socks, and a pink, long sleeved shirt.  Sounds great, right?  Well, the pink shirt had a black cat on it with Halloween themed stars and said “Scaredy Cat”.  I mentioned to her that it was a Halloween shirt and that Halloween had already passed but I must have forgotten to put the shirt away.  I suggested another pink shirt to go with the outfit but she insisted on this one.  So, I let it go.  And I let my daughter go out, to a play date even, in a Halloween shirt in March.