It used to be so easy to shop for my kids. I’d see something cute, buy it, and they’d wear it. Hassle free.
Toward the end of elementary school, that simple process became much more complicated. I’d see something cute, buy it, bring it home and they’d say things like,
“Uh. Who’s that for? That’s not for me, is it?”
“Aw, Mom. That’s so sweet. I would’ve loved that, like, three years ago. Maybe you can send it to [my cousin]!”
“Uh, mom, nobody wears polos anymore.”
“That. is. so. gay.” (Not that there’s anything wrong with that…)
“[insert name of popular clothing store here] Do you know what kids think that stands for? Sorry, Mom. I can’t wear that.”
Or even, simply “Uh, no.”
Shopping for kids’ clothes became a chore. Or something for which I had to reserve a block of time to be sure to have the kids with me. As busy as we are, that last option was less and less realistic.
So, last weekend, I took one of my kids to a birthday party at one of those Laser Tag places. Where we live, they’re about half an hour away and near some great outlets, so after I drop them off, I like to stay in the vicinity and shop. At the first store, I found a funky shirt and some shoes that I thought my daughter might like, but knew that if she hated them, there was no way I’d drive back out there just to return them. So I called her and tried to describe them to her, starting with the shirt.
Me: “Okay, well, it’s a long sleeved shirt. Black on the back and the sleeves, white in the front with a funky design.”
DD: “What kind of design?”
Me: “It’s a sketch of a lady. She looks sort of sophisticated but in a cartoony kind of way.”
DD: “Mm hmm…”
Me: “And there’s this circle guy next to her. He looks kind of like a tire, or kind of like a big Cheerio. He has stick feet and arms and he looks as if he’s sort of waving his little arms.”
DD: “Wha??”
Me: “You just have to see it. The characters look a little bit like the cartoons that you draw, so I thought you might like it.”
DD: “Why don’t you send me a picture?”
Pause. Is she being sarcastic?
DD: “No, really, Mom. Take a picture with your phone and email it to me.”
Brilliant idea!! Why hadn’t I thought of that!?
So I e-mailed pictures of the shirt and the shoes, kept shopping and within minutes, she saw the photos and said, “Mom, that shirt’s great! That’s not at all how I pictured it when you were just describing it. I love it! Yes, get it! And the shoes are great, too!”
I walked out of there with a huge grin on my face, knowing there was a happy little tween at home eagerly awaiting her new clothes.
It’s a whole new way of shopping! Oh, I love technology.
Written by SoapB
14 comments ↓
Okay, that is freeking brilliant!
Your daughter’s a genius!
Leeann
Leeann’s last blog post..A Month and a Half into the “B” Word
Very clever! It makes perfect sense, though I probably wouldn’t have come up with it on my own.
Have a great weekend!
Chuck’s last blog post..You can’t get to heaven with a hot air balloon
That is awesome!! Seriously.. though I doubt my mom would have been so kind to me..LOL
Saves you on trips back to the store for returns!!
Hope you have a great weekend!
Kim’s last blog post..Lotus: HoF’oSho - Paying It Forward
Wow! Looks like I need to invest in a camera phone.
Momo Fali’s last blog post..I May Take Up Prize Fighting
Nice. I swear I need to start just taking pictures of my boys in the clothes they already own. Maybe that way when I am putting laundry away and I get confused as to who something belongs to (Happens about every 3rd piece of laundry) I can check the pictures!
PG’s last blog post..Project 365 // Day 42
Just a general comment that I LOVE how you embrace technology, SBM. Whether it is the Kindle, your cellphone camera, your IPhone or even taking on the challenge of building your own website, you are so cutting edge.
I have been DYING to find the Kindle for even a few pennies less than the million dollars it costs now. When I do, I will snag it.
Have fun out there!
dan leone’s last blog post..Food Network Crushes
I love that! My boys are very un-picky so I know I’m lucky, but I think I would totally do the photo thing if I had kids who were more “discriminating”!!
Melisa’s last blog post..She’s Always Been Pretty Smart Smart
I was going to suggest the camera phone thing. I do the SAME thing (taking the pictures and sending them).
When I was in H.S. my mom would just find something she thought was the ugliest thing and usually I’d like it. Of course I was a sort of outskirts thrift store dressing. I actually still wear some things I owned in H.S. lol!
Sister Sassy’s last blog post..My boyfriend is cuter than Honey Bunch’s!
OMG… photos! I never thought of that! I could have saved myself so much in meds and psychiatry bills (just playing)… cute shirt. (I did stop shopping for my daughter without her being with me, when she was around 12. Now, generic gift cards… she’s happy, I’m sane, works well for us.)
Tara R.’s last blog post..?Conquiesco? - I Conquer
I’m embarrassed to admit this is how I bought a piece of art two years ago, when Hubby wasn’t with me on an art scouting trip to San Francisco. To this day, it’s still his favorite piece in the house.
BTW, if that shirt is any indication, you can shop for me any time.
Deb (Missives From Suburbia)’s last blog post..I Have to Ask, Who Does This?
Mine aren’t at that age yet! So not looking forward to it either
OMG, I never would have thought of that myself! Absolutely brilliant! Now I have to use that with my husband. Oh and get a camera phone…
MamaWise’s last blog post..Dear Kelloggs: Pop Tart Division
One word: Amazon.com.
Blog Hoppin’,
Balancing Hops
April’s last blog post..Flashback Friday - Fighting Fire with Fire
My mom used to get so pissed off at me about what clothes I liked. She had a knack of picking out everything I didn’t like. I always appreciated what she was trying to do…I have a lot to learn with 2 little girls! I’m sure they are going to drive me crazy.
Tyler @ Building Camelot’s last blog post..Pregnancy Week 21: I Can Feel The Baby Move
Leave a Comment