first-grade fashionista
Living with Beth is starting to feel like living with a very small but passionately opinionated girlfriend. One who is very fond of the phrase "soooo cute."
Let's take yesterday as an example. As I was getting dressed in the morning, I picked out a skirt, shirt, and sweater that I had never worn together before. I put it on, looked in the mirror, as wasn't sure if I liked how it looked.
Even though I should know better than to ask Eric's opinion on my appearance, I asked him if he thought the cardigan looked okay with the shirt.
"Hmm. Well, it kind of looks like it should be buttoned down one more button, not at the top like you've got it," he told me.
"But this sweater doesn't have buttons in the middle," I told him. "It just has these two at the top."
"Oh. Well, then don't worry about it. You look fine," he said, and then left for work.
With that very non-reassuring "fine" echoing in my ears, I kept the sweater on anyway and headed for the bathroom to start drying my hair. Halfway there I ran into Beth, who immediately started gushing. "Oh, mommy! I love your outfit! You've never worn those clothes together before, have you? It looks sooo cute!"
I smiled and thanked her, unreasonably buoyed up by the fashion opinion of a 6-year-old.
And then there was this morning, when she came into the bathroom to lean her head in as close to mine as possible while I put on my makeup, inquiring into every step of the process.
"What's that?" she asked.
"Eyeshadow," I said, opening up the multi-colored compact.
"Ooh! Mommy, do blue, do blue!" she said, pointing at the light blue, slightly glittery shade that came with the others, the one that I rarely wear.
"Umm, not today. I think I'll wear this one today," I said, going for a subtle grayish brown.
She sighed, clearly disappointed in my choice. "Well, my teacher wears blue, and it looks sooo cute," she said.
And then came the most exciting part of the routine for her.
"Ooh, mommy! Are you going to do your moss-cara now?" she said, leaning in even closer.
"Yep," I replied, trying not to blink.
"Oh, I just love moss-cara. It is my favorite of all make-ups," she said. (Keep in mind that this child does not wear make-up, never has worn make-up, and won't be wearing make-up until some unspecified age in the teenage years.) "It makes your eyelashes so dark and sooo cute."
Lest you think that I'm raising an empty-headed Valley Girl here, let me assure you that this child also loves to whack things with swords (real or imaginary), read books, climb trees, and dig in the dirt. She plays soccer every weekend, considers many little boys her friends, and enjoys watching superhero cartoons with her daddy.
And if, in addition to all these things, she also likes to look pretty, I'm okay with that. Especially as long as she keeps on believing that I look "sooo cute" too.
5 comments:
Oh Jen, this sounds so much like Kelly growing up. She has always had opinions on what I wear and it's especially helpful now that I am an "old woman" and how not to dress like one. (no pictures on the clothes, please) I wish she were closer. I need her so.
"empty-headed Valley Girl"
hilarious!!!
I was at an elementary school today and I had one girl tell me that I was pretty and another tell me that she liked my eyes. And even though these opinions were from girls that were under the age of 10, they still managed to make my day. :)
I loved getting compliments from my preschoolers. They always loved my accessories and the smell of my lotion. Somehow hearing that "you smell pretty" just lifts your spirits. And you are sooo cute by the way!
Sounds like you have a tomboy/priss-pot hybrid just like mine!
My little fashionista has actually inspired me to wear more dresses, skirts and jewelry. It may be lame, but I want her to think I'm pretty!
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