AKA Parenting 101: Pick Your Battles
Joseph had us in a bit of a conundrum today. He wasn’t drinking his juice (snack or lunch.) Poe quizzed him, and he has been getting made fun of at school. For drinking baby juice. The juice I’ve been getting (100% juice on sale) has Clifford the Dog on them – he’s drinking “baby juice.”
And I thought, how stupid.
And then… I remembered. The neon purple Reebocks when everyone was wearing white. The cheap denim when everyone was wearing Guess. The Christmas ornament sweaters when everyone was wearing hoodies. We weren’t that poor – my mother just couldn’t abide by purchase price equaling brand name. And I’ve got a good head on my shoulders in terms of what’s important now, and I’m sure that’s a part of it.
But I sure do remember.
Poe went out today and bought more “manly” juice. 8 year olds need sophistication. When this turns into $150 Air Jordans, we’ll revisit the values discussion – but for now? It’s OK to fit in.
I remember my hot pink pair of GWG jeans from good will when NO ONE was wearing that kind of thing. I was a fashion pariah.
schmutzies last blog post..50×365 #355: Anika
Yes, we can cave to juice peer pressure.
Believe it or not, when I started attending classes about kids with Autism, and reading books on the subject, it was suggested many times that because some of these kids have no fashion sense, you should make sure that they wear the clothes everyone else is wearing..otherwise they will be set up for ridicule. Of course I am in no way running out to buy $150 shoes for myself, let alone a 5 or 6 yr old kid!! They do have a point, though. I remember wearing a McDonald’s type outfit to school when I was a child. It was SO embarrassing!