But Stella, don’t you want to wear these dark jeans? These are great pants!
I am in the kids’ bedroom, negotiating for what feels like the millionth time what my 3 year old will wear that day. If I’m on the ball, I try to pick out her outfit and bring it to her in another room while she’s distracted watching TV. If I don’t get that done, we end up going rounds about what to wear (no, you can’t wear your swimsuit top in the middle of winter).
*****
[immediately a scowl appears on Stella’s face]
Stella: NO, Mama. I want to wear THESE (horribly ugly fleece lounger polka dot pajama) pants. They’re my FAVORITE.
Me: But look at these jeans! They’re so nice and have a BUTTON you can fasten all by yourself!
[I think I have her for a second with the BUTTONS(!), but no such luck…]
Stella: No, Mama. That’s okay. I love THESE pants. They’re my favorite and I want to wear them. They’re my comfy pants.
Me: [in one last desperate attempt to avoid those ugly pants] But they don’t match your shirt!
[she immediately appraises the purple Frozen themed shirt she has on and looks at the pants in her hand]
Stella: Yes they do, Mama. Look – there is blue on my shirt (Elsa’s dress) and blue on the pants (one of the polka dots]. There is pink on the shirt (Anna’s cape) and pink on the pants (one of the polka dots). […and on and on it goes. you get the idea – there are a ton of colored polka dots on those damn pants]
Me: [big sigh] Okay Stella, fine, you can wear your comfy pants.
Stella: THANK YOU, Mama! I LOVE these comfy pants. They’re my favorite!
[She then proceeds to grab a multi-colored skirt with hearts on it out of her drawer to wear over the polka dot pants – I just shake my head and walk away, because really, who cares? #pickyourbattles]
*****
In the two hours that followed this scene, she added my high heels to the outfit while playing inside, and when it was time to go to the park, she added her paisley snow boots, plaid jacket, and striped hat/gloves to the hearts skirt and polka dot pants. She is nothing if not a fashionista. 🙂
