Maturity

My task for the day: rummage around in the storage space in the basement and try to find the box of size 2/3 girl clothing. Then bring that box upstairs and sort and wash the clothes in the box. While the clothes are washing, purge all things too small from Lillian's closet. Once the previously boxed clothes are clean, hang them in Lillian's closet.

Doesn't sound too bad, huh? Believe it or not, it's an all day process.

My Lillian has grown recently, and her little clothes are too short. Bless her heart. She looks like a little street urchin.

I always hate it when my kids outgrow their clothing. It means that (1) they're getting older (AND BIGGER!) and (2) I have to say goodbye to their clothes that I've grown to love. Weird. I know.

When Camryn was around 2-ish, I started buying all of her clothes at Gymboree. We had gotten a little comfortable financially, so I felt like I could start paying premium prices for my daughter's clothes. Plus, everything in Gymboree was so darned cute!

I admit, though, that one of my secret reasons for buying pricey clothing for my daughter was because it made me feel important. She looked great, all dressed up in her fancy duds with matching hats, hairbows, socks, purses, etc. My daughter's wardrobe made me think people considered us rich enough to afford such things. It made me feel superior.

What an idiot I was. People don't care what my kids wear.

Well, people care, but usually they're the people you don't want to be friends with anyhow.

I've grown up a LOT since then. We now have our financial house in order (thanks to Dave Ramsey). We're more financially comfortable than we ever have been, but you wouldn't know it to look at us. We don't wear labels anymore. I only look at the price tag, not the designer tag. I'm really super proud of that achievement.

I'm not saying that such clothes are evil. I'm just saying I could care less about what the kids' tags say. All I care is that their clothes are clean and that they match. If they looked like someone cared enough to make them look presentable, then I've done my job.

But back to Lillian's closet.

Today, while pulling those clothes out of the storage box, I was reminded of that time when I bought way too many clothes for my daughter. The outfits are adorable, and I can't wait to see Lillian wearing them (and thank goodness they'll see more wear!), but all of those clothes make me sad.....Sad that I was ever so wrapped up in what others think of me. What a dork.

Live and learn. Live and learn.