Fighting over fashion

I will never forget what it was like when my girls were little babies. So sweet, so innocent, and without opinion on anything that was above their basic needs. I also remember thinking I couldn’t wait until they got into bigger sizes. I knew they would have so many more options that mirror the styles I loved. What you don’t factor in until you get to that point is that with age comes knowledge, and with knowledge comes push back. I love that both of my girls get excited about fashion.  I also value that they think for themselves and are forming their own, and very different identities. So here in lies the struggle that most parents face. How do you avoid the never-ending fights over what they are going to wear? How do you encourage them to be happy and comfortable but also teach them the importance of putting value in how you present yourself? While I also do face a debate from time to time with a mini version of myself, I have found a few ways to smooth over most of this issue. A lot of it centers on the commitment to staying organized and working ahead.  It has been proven that kids thrive on schedules, and if you know me, I do too. We use Sunday evenings to prepare ourselves for the entire week. I make sure that all of the laundry is completed and put away before we start. This way we have all of our options available for us to choose from. It also just feels good to not have that weighing on my shoulders when starting off a new week. Next I spend time with both girls picking out their outfits. I always had the intentions of doing this but never fully committed to it until this year. It just seemed pointless at the time. What is the difference if we spend the time now or just a few minutes each morning? Well for most of us, there is a big difference. When we do it on Sundays we are not tired or rushed, which in turn means we are not stressing ourselves out over it.  My girls actually look forward to getting their time with me to plan out the week. This also means there is no arguing in the mornings because they are excited to wear the clothes they helped pick out. I am also a firm believer that the habits they create today could stick with them as adults. If this is something that had up’d their quality of life now, and they are already used to doing it, they are more likely to keep it up for years to come.

 Something that helps this process is a way to keep each day organized and separate from the rest of their clothes. If you look at what I have pictured this has worked great for us. I actually found this in the dollar spot at Target and just added the labels. You could always use shelving or a set of small drawers if it fits your space better. I also make sure to add EVERYTHING they would need for the outfit; underwear, socks, and any accessories. Anything you can have prepared for ahead of time saves you valuable time in the morning, and again eliminates stress.  We also pre pack bags on Sundays for all of their activities for the week. Most of the time we are rushing after school to eat, get changed and go to practice. Having these bags handy has really made a big impact on our days.  So if you are struggling like I was to enjoy fashion with your kids but also not wanting to drain yourself over it, give this system a try. If you have any other tips please share them below I would love to hear some fresh ideas!