almost however they want. There are times where I put my foot down and make them brush their hair or even more shocking (to them) match. Today Lennon came into our room all “ready” for school. She was proud. We didn’t even have to ask her to get dressed.
She was feeling all sorts of full of beauty. Who wouldn’t feel full of beauty when you’re wearing your “power outfit”?
As the morning wore on, I was growing a little anxious that she was really going to wear that. (Note: I didn’t say that letting my kids make their own fashion decisions was easy. It’s not. Unless they are Piper, who usually has an innate sense of quirky, eclectic and very personalized fashion sense that I sometimes envy.) I said to her “Lennon, I’m proud of you for getting dressed all by yourself today, without even being asked.” She glowed. And then she beamed. I continued, “Do you know that I love that shirt/dress and that skirt?” She glowed more. “But, did you know though that they don’t match each other? So maybe we could find something that matches your shirt/dress or your skirt and you could still wear your favorite part of what you are wearing today with something that matches it.” I raised my eyebrows and half smiled as if I had just said something really exciting. She paused, looked at me and said “They don’t match?”
“Nope.”
She simply shrugged her shoulders and replied, “Well…I’m okay with that.”
I was resigning to the fact that I may have to be okay with her choice for the day. Later on the way home from taking the older kids to school I said “Lennon, did you know that today is St. Patrick’s Day and we are all supposed to wear green so that we don’t get pinched?” She was baffled. What kind of a holiday is this? Wearing green so that we don’t get pinched? “Lame.” I knew that this was my last chance to change her mind. “When we get home we need to change your clothes so that you have some green on. We don’t want you to get pinched today, right?”
She wasn’t the least bit worried about being pinched. “Mom, we’re not ‘tuposed to pinch. I’m not wearing green and I’m okay with that.”
In the end, I swallowed my pride and let her wear what she wanted to wear. It’s a pretty important job I have, empowering my kids. Sometimes it’s teaching them to stand up for what they believe in, sometimes it’s letting them feel the consequences of sad choices and sometimes it’s letting them feel beautiful in outfits like the one she picked out today.
After school, she came in and told me that after she got green marker on her shirt/dress, she was wearing green. It worked out perfectly.
16 comments:
You gotta give her credit...she's a strong girl ALREADY! A leader!! That's a good thing! I think it's even more awesome that you let her make her own decision bold as it may be. I think that shows such a great attribute in a mommy! Kudos to you! :)
Well you have seen my posts on Eden so you know that I pick my battles too.
But I can tell you right now that Eden would have thought that Lennon totally matched because the skirt is striped and so is the shirt. And the pink stripe in the shirt naturally matched the pink long sleeve under shirt.
Maybe not matching is a super power or a weapon, you know distracting the enemy and all...I'll go ask Eden.
I think Lennon and Keaton might be soulmates.
Those pictures are going to be awesome to put in Lennon and Shad's wedding video. =)
This is how I was... So if you need my poor mother's phone number I can give it to you. =) I think my "power outfit" were black biking shorts that had a hot pink stripe on the side of each leg with anything else I could find... yeah - my mom can talk you through this one. ;)
good for you Natalie! That is a VERY hard thing to do, I know!
Greta lately has been switching between her dress-up clothes and mismatched outfits and pajamas--hour by hour. It's so much fun! (you picked up that sarcasm, right?)
Lennon is my hero (so is her mommy). I need to remember this post every single day. I'm so bad at picking my battles.
Are you home already? That was a super quick trip! I hoped I might run into you here in the hometown.
i think back to the torture i put my mom through with socks rolled down like donuts... and that bright pink happy face on my sweater that said "don't worry. be happy." little kids are awesome.
for what it's worth, my life-long best friend has always had quirky taste in clothing. she went to europe for a year after highschool and came back with even quirkier taste. in college she'd come out of our room in yellow pants and a purple shirt and say "does this go?" and we'd all say in unison... "no!" and she'd say "oh well, i don't care. i like it." and that was that. she is now one of the most talented interior designers i know (and has super cute ecclectic style clothing). it's the crazy ones that keep life interesting and beautiful, really. :)
I didn't see anything wrong with that outfit. Mexican pancho stripes and camoflauge go with everything.
EEK! I am totally stunting my children's creativity. They are going to be weird little robots in perfectly matched cardigans who refer to me as "Mother".... as in,
"I'll have to ask *Mother* before I play kickball. She does worry so about my clothes getting soiled."
THEY.ARE.DOOMED.
help!
She is so "Red Fashion". My youngest wore kitty ears everywhere today. I wish I could. You're only young once! Let them enjoy it. Too soon they feel like they have to conform. Boo. You're a good mom.
I like this! I need to be more like you with my daughter. I think that is what we get in the most fights about in the morning. I need to just let her be free. Clint always says that I need to pick my battles!
I'm on pins and needles waiting for your next post!
k nat those two are the cutest little things ever but would you post up already? getting a little impatient here.- aren't we all?
Okay, so cute post and all, but even better are the little peeks you have given me into your new casa!!! I want more!!!xoxoxo
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