DReSSiNG a SiX-YeaR-oLD DiVa, iDLe THReaTS, and THe TooTH FaiRY

I can SO totally relate to THIS POST on the Audrey Caroline blog about trying to find clothing for six year olds!! For those of you who haven’t experienced this dilemma, in the clothing manufacturing world, size 4T officially ends the ‘toddler’ line of clothing, and BIG GIRL sizes start at size 4. So for a couple of years now, I’ve had quite a challenge trying to find cute and appropriate clothing for a small girl, when all the stores in the mall want to sell you leather hot-pants and sequined tube tops for your pre-schooler. And don’t even get me started on the SWIMSUITS with the sexy little triangle tops. It all gets EVEN WORSE at size six.

I’ve resorted to shopping at Gymboree……which I had long avoided because, well, you know I’m frugal and Gymboree prices sort of hurt my heart sometimes, especially when up til now I’ve been able to swap hairbows for clothes at a couple of boutiques (read: FREE CLOTHES. Sort of). But, she’s outgrowing the whole ’boutique’ look, and I’ve learned the whole ‘Gymbucks’ system and discovered their ‘clearance’ button on their website. I just love Gymboree ~ their clothes are CUTE, modest, and yet still ‘hip’ enough for the discerning 6 year old. For now, until she realizes that Gymboree is for LITTLE KIDS.

So about this morning.

I had bought (aka paid ACTUAL CASH MONEY for) this adorable outfit for KB, from the boutique brand Mis-tee-v-us, and she has *ReFuSeD* to wear it. Until today, when I *MADE* her. You would think I was trying to dress her in high-water plaid pants with rainbow suspenders!!! Oh, the tears….the wailing….the whining. Because I made her wear a little tunic-top with apples and pears.

I mean, come on. Would Hannah Montana wear this, or the Cheetah Girls???? And you know those are our style icons.

No- “thanks, mom, for spending your hard-earned money on this cute outfit for me.” No- “thanks, mom, for buying ME an outfit instead of spending money on YOURSELF.” And still, no- “thanks, mom, for buying me GOOD clothes instead of stained up garage-sale items or hand-me-downs.” Can I have a little gratitude, please??

So today, I resorted to the Idle Mom Threats. You know, the ‘don’t make me pull this car over’ kind of threats. I told her that she BETTER get happy, because if she complained ONE MORE TIME I would make her wear this outfit again TOMORROW. And if she complained tomorrow, she would have to wear it EVERY DAY THIS WEEK. And if she complained again after that, she would have to wear this little tunic top with the apples and pears EVERY DAY FOR THE REST OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

Like this outfit? Get used to seeing it. That is, until I can shorten a pair of plaid pants. Anyone know where I can find some rainbow suspenders?

And on an unrelated note, we had a visit from the Tooth Fairy this weekend. When she isn’t whining about her outfit, I just *LOVE* seeing her smile.

We did have some drama Saturday, the day her tooth fell out. Lots of gushing blood…… I had no idea so much blood could pour out of somebody’s mouth. It was sort of horrifying.

After she calmed down, the first thing she said was, “Can we sthtill go to Jothua’th thoccer game?”

Hee hee.

The joys of having a six-year-old.