Is it a girl thing?
You’ll have to excuse me for making such assumptions… but after having two boys, I’m new to the world of girls. Are all girls into shoes? Do all girls have an opinion on what they want to wear? And is this something I’m going to have to live with for the next 18 years?! My boys have never asked to wear something in particular — they’ve always just been happy to get their clothes put on them… and then they’re out the door and back to playing without giving it a second thought. My daughter, on the other hand, is not even one yet and she already has an opinion!
As I mentioned last week, I bought my daughter a pair of Pom D’api sandals — her first ‘real’ pair of shoes. And she is completely obsessed with them. Like temper-tantrum-when-you-take-them-off sort of obsessed. And I intentionally didn’t make any sort of fuss about the shoes at all… because for one, I don’t want to make her aware of ‘new’ clothes, and for two, I don’t want her to care about these sorts of things. But she does, apparently.
It’s interesting the stereotypes we have for boys and girls, and I’m sure a lot of things are untrue… but I really feel like there are certain traits that are inherently gender-specific. (Like an inherent love of shoes!) I remember someone once told me that girls are trickier than boys on an emotional level — where boys are pretty straight-forward, girls are a bit more ‘deep’. Not sure what to think about this (yet!)… but I am seeing noticeable differences between boys and girls, and I think that after getting used to boys, I might be in deep, deep trouble…
Any thoughts?
-Courtney
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just you wait my friend……the fashion demands only get more intense with time. I have all but given up the fight – my girls can wear what they want as long as it is weather appropriate. If that means leggings and long sleeves under a bathing suit…so be it.
I have given up too – even though I choose most of the clothes , she insists on the ‘co-ordination’ of the outfits which is usually not what I had in mind. I am working on my fussiness though. I have to remind myself it’s not important. I had a good 4 years ‘choosing’ though – sounds like yours is starting early Courtney! (wow…very early!)
I wish you best of luck! ( -:
By the way, I agree in not making them ‘aware’ of new clothes, st all ages, especially if it’s not something they need and in buying it I am just indulging ‘my’ desire for it….unless it’s a birthday present or for a special occasion. I just put them straight into the wardrobe. (often I tell them it came from their cousins second hand). I don’t want them noticing things that they don’t need or developing a desire for it.
First comment here for me as a regular reader of your super-blog… But I couldn’t be silent here, it is so true. I have one girl after 2 boys and I can tell the huge difference too!!! Mine is 5 years old and already has strong feelings when it comes to get dressed. We live in Indonesia so it’s summer all year round, which is good because I wouldn’t have to face the desire for shorts in the middle of winter!!! I guess we, mothers of a girl after 2 boys, might be a (little) responsible for this passion though….:-)))
I must have one strange boy then, because if he wants to wear his red shirt or his red trousers he will, even to the extent of removing the offending non-red item so he can wear what he wants. He’s 3 by the way.
Alison your boy isn’t strange, my 3.5 year old is extremely fussy and if there is a t-shirt or shorts or even jeans that he doesn’t want to wear, the fuss he makes isn’t worth the bother. There a re bigger battles I need to fight with him.
Engracia
as a mom of three girls i fully appreciate the strong opinions in getting dressed. i also 100% agree on not making them aware like you say of when i get them anything new. i have learned to run with the strong opinions, buying less but of the things i love and better quality so if there is that one pair of shoes she loves to wear, they get worn into the ground. when my very opinionated 5-year-old came down for her picture day in this outfit that she loved, i thought, “class photos always come out so staged, why not let capture this combination she is so proud of!” and what i love most about dressing kids, there is no pressure like women something feel of being seen in the same outfit over and over. when i bought my 7-year-old a knit vest from jacadi that she begged for and i loved but was more than i wanted to spend, i get such satisfaction when she wears it literally 3 days a week. so they are opinionated but it is also really fun to see their self expression and tastes emerge.
p.s. just wait for the dress phase, usually around 2-years old they ONLY want to wear a dress.
I dont annonce new clothes either but at nearly three she knows anyhow. Today when she was putting on new white leggings she was estatic “how pretty they were, did I buy them for her and gave them lots of kisses!” She also gets herself changed several times a day and refuses point blank to put some things on. It’s a minefield!
Definitely agree!! My little girl does just the same – even sometimes now trying to tell me which tops to wear – its scary! Check out the blog i wrote about it for a bit of sympathy
http://www.babybarn.je/blog/pick-your-battles-
ufff…girls really have their opinion on anything very early, if you ask me…and they certainly are aware of new trends and \who wears what\ (teacher has the same pair of shoes as mama, woman in the train same boots…or best friend wears sneakers with little sparkly things…\ and in the stores \do I look pretty with those shoes?).
BUT
my one year old son likes shoes too.
I don’t know if it’s in our genes (me being Italian) and how far it will go with having to choose his outfits, as for now \shoes\ is one of his favorite words – so, let’s see what happens in the next year or so.
I hope he’s easier than his big sister….
My little girl has had her favorite pair of shoes from about 19 months. Now I can get her to wear a couple of different pairs, but she still expresses a preference!
In addition, if we are in a shop with ladies’ shoes, she wants me to take off hers so she can try on other shoes. I’m not a shoe fanatic and I don’t have many pairs, so don’t know how this happened! But I find it hilarious.
this is so funny. my son could care less about most of his clothes, although he does get excited about his wellies and crocs. my neice who is also two just celebrated her birthday and everytime she got an outfit she liked at her bday party she insisted on taking off her current outfit and trying on the new one.