Pixie and Clothes (5 Comments)
I was asked a question in the comments on this post and I thought I’d answer it in a blog post since it was going to be a fairly long, drawn out affair. I am good at making short stories long.
The question was:
“I’m curious… when Pixie refuses to wear the clothes she has vowed to wear, do you return them knowing that she will never cave in, or do you hang them in the closet to be “stashed” until you pass them on to someone else? I have often wondered the fate of Pixie’s rejects.”
I don’t take them back usually because it’s been too long before I realize that she has “issues” with it, or I’ve washed it first, or it was bought at a store far, far away in a another galaxy. In the case of the jeans, I had washed them in an attempt to set color and keep them from fading as quickly. I bought two skort outfits at the beginning of the summer that she swore she would wear- she’s worn one once or twice and the other not at all. I hope her sister likes them- which is usually my back up plan. There is also the chance, which does happen- see below story about the jeans, that she will change her mind.
Pixie just gets strange ideas in her head about things. She doesn’t want to wear some shirts because they are too long and cover up the waist band of her pants/skirt. I don’t want her having short shirts and flashing her belly ring to the world. (Just seeing if you are awake.) She finally wore her new jeans on Saturday, which is a long, drawn out story in itself but I am sure you are tired of hearing all the angst, she wanted them rolled up even though they are a great length. I don’t know what it is with her and short things- preparing for the flood that is bound to come, I guess. I refused and she some how managed to get through the day and now declares that she likes her jeans and has worn them everyday since. Heavy, heavy sigh.
Anyway, what should I do with the things she will not wear? One suggestion was to make her buy the clothes with her own money and return on her own what she doesn’t want. She is only 5- would that be a good idea? She tends to be very visual and I know we will have to work with her about “wanting” everything and blowing her money on all things pink. So would putting her on a clothing budget at this age be a good idea? Also, I often go alone to the great Mart here in town and pick things out of season from the sales rack at great discounts- she’d have to be with me on those occasions to help pick and pay for those items. Although, one could argue that even if bought very cheap, if she will not wear it then it’s of no value. There is a beautiful pink polka dot dress hanging in the closet that is just such an example.
What other suggestions do you have? Give her two choices daily of what she can wear instead of letting her pick? I’m open to suggestions.
I am getting tired of the whining and upset about what she is going to wear. I’m also getting sick of seeing her in her favorite outfit.
Even if she is pretty cute.
since not having any kids of my own and therefore not experienced in that area, I’m not sure what is the best way to approach this…but i’m curious to hear from the “experts” out there and to their thoughts. Wouldn’t parenting books/magazines or websites have suggestions?
Comment by Liesel — September 16, 2008 @ 2:54 pm
My trick to get them to wear clothes other than the “favorites” is to hold them out of the laundry process. I wash them, fold them, and then secretly stash them for a couple weeks. It encourages them to try different outfits and I have to say some of the things they have tried during those times have become favorites when they were first rejected. After a couple of weeks I slide the “favorite” back into their laundry to be put away and they are ecstatic to find it again.
I also refuse to shop for my girls without them there. Thus the reason I do most of the shopping online- it is easier for me to have patience with them browsing….. each…and….every…item while I am sitting in the comfort of my home drinking some ice water wishing it were something harder.
So there’s my little tid bit on shopping for girls. Good luck! 🙂
Comment by Lindsey — September 16, 2008 @ 9:48 pm
Those are good ideas, Lindsey!
Do your girls get upset when their favorite isn’t there and, even though there are lots of other things,say “there is nothing to wear”? Pixie does that and whines terribly. Part of the “problem” too is that she was wearing so many skirts and dresses that she didn’t have very many pants so when she decided to wear pants…. there were two pairs and if they were dirty then she was out of luck.
I’ve taken the two pairs of pants she was wearing and that are too short out of the clothes pile so at least they will be out of sight and, I hope, out of mind.
Comment by JustMe — September 17, 2008 @ 10:37 am
They do a thorough search for the favorite outfit and then when they realize it isn’t around they find something else. They huff about it for a day and then move on to something else to complain about for tomorrow.
We also tried having two outfits for them to pick from but that didn’t work so well for one of them. Liv is organized and has her clothes laid out for the whole week starting on Sunday. She has one of those organizers that says each day of the weeks name. She lays them all in their designated spot and there isn’t an issue with her. Grace is the one that will wear the same two outfits repeatedly. And if they get small or uncomfortable it means nothing to her. Ugh! Tell me if you find some miracle way to handle it. I am hiding the clothes for now since it is working, lol.
Comment by Lindsey — September 17, 2008 @ 2:06 pm
LOL! Liv has more organizational skills in her little finger than I have in my whole body! Now Grace will be the one that keeps things real around there- always throwing a wringer in to stir things up!
I think re-wearing things and having favorites is a common affliction of children that age. Two of mine don’t like to change their clothes because they don’t like…. change. Pixie just has her own ideas of how the world should be run and they don’t always agree with reality.
Comment by JustMe — September 18, 2008 @ 8:30 pm