We feel it is important to foster independence in our children and sometimes it makes for very interesting experiences (imagine cooking with them...). It involves a lot of patience sometimes and also involves attempting to not care what others think. This comes primarily when it comes to dressing themselves. Sundays are the one day we get to choose for them, but even then, they get a choice between different Sunday outfits. From before Matthew was even 2, he was dressing himself and they are both very particular about what they wear. It is usually exactly what I would rather they didn't wear. However, we think independence is important. This results in many days where they wake up and put on pajamas for their daily apparel. So when I go to the store, I know that everyone there thinks I just didn't get them dressed that morning. However, it was their choice for the day and I honored that. I guess that the stares from others are just a reminder that I am trying to do my best at mothering my children.
Fortunately, the pictures below (a size 6 Christmas sweater and an inside out denim hat) are not representative of anything worn outside the house up to this point, but it is representative of Matthew's taste in clothing occasionally!
Note: A book that I LOVE about teaching your children to be independent is called The Parenting Breakthrough by Merrilee Browne Boyack. You should check it out...
1 comment:
Haha! I love the inside-out hat. Good for you for letting him choose.
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