Day 3
Fashion
With two self proclaimed fashionistas- my world is an endless fashion show. Multiple outfit changes, laundry baskets over flowing, proclamations of the appropriate pairings or for that matter inappropriate pairings of clothing items. Great detail and concern over the right texture and fit. With two little girls dressing in the morning is not easy but that's nothing compared to the death defying trick of taking them clothes shopping.
So in day 3 of our prep we will brave the wilds and attempt to explore school fashion.
I'll start by saying I don't know that uniforms make it any easier. We did uniforms the past two years and there was still the battles of " It doesn't feel right," or, " I don't like my stockings." And so on. On the positives side, it was a self-limiting battle of the wills since there was no other option but to wear the uniform. This year we enter new territory and with the new school comes the nearly endless potential for morning meltdowns, disasters, and woes, concerning the most appropriate outfit for the day. I'm so excited!!!!
So! How to prep for battle? I'm truly not sure....Maybe, we start with getting the battle supplies. Where is your favorite place to shop for kids clothes? Brand? Style?
Do I try to compare it to 'when I was a kid'? Nah, I totally don't get fashion today. OMG! I seriously just typed that.... I may actually be fully embracing motherhood....It only took 7 years and 3 kids.
Honestly, I love letting the girls follow their hearts and souls and use their fashion to express themselves. It's really fun to watch them grow and develop a sense of 'who I am'.
I've got one punk rocker-artist who truly asked if she could wear all black and dye her hair pink this year. And one that wants to dress like a princess with every ribbon and frill done to perfection. They are one another's yin and yang for sure! What do they have in common? The stubbornness of a mule! They are strong self-willed little girls who know what they want and how to get it. And for that I am grateful-- for one day it will serve them well. But for today---dressing them for school...Ugh! Drama!
The rock star- artist is so passionate about what she's involved in that she doesn't notice the grotesic mess she is making. So I need to replace her rock-star style on a regular basis. Having two sets of clothes (school and after school) does't work -- most of the mess happens at school. The other....She was born with a napkin in her hand and hates for anything to be out of place.
So where to find (slightly) cheaper clothes that look nice, that feel nice, that fit all the criteria check lists.......And GO. ....leave a message below and let us know where your go to fashion shop is. Some of my favs. are Nordstrom Rack, Old Navy, and Carters.
Now that we have the fashion items- How to make the morning routine easier?
Pick out everything the night before. Set it out (we put everything on the kitchen island). Everything from unders and socks to hair ties and jackets. It's one stop shopping. The rule is they can pick whatever they want (within the dress code rules for your home and school) but they have to stick with it. This method seems to work well most days, though I have been know to place a naked kid in the car and dress them upon arrival.
I'd also suggest having them dress just prior to leaving as breakfast can sometimes be overwhelming in the wee hours of the morning and getting the food from the utensil to the mouth is like dodging mosquito bites around here....it just can't happen. A stain on the clothes before the day starts would throw my princess fashionista into a tail spin of fashion crisis. Again, more drama. Save yourself and just make dressing the last thing you do.
Check out our Naptown Yoga and Fitness Facebook page for a super special fashion ideas from my monkeys!
tip: Check out your local school dress code (there are usually one or two things that you'd never guess would be band on the list). Have fun and enjoy the adventure!