Dressing

On Sunday morning, I discovered a problem. My Kid is seven. This is not the problem. The problem is she wants me to make the final decisions about what she wears each day. She lets me find panties, socks, pants, and shirt. Oh, she makes choices, usually about her shirts, but the rest? On me.

I created this problem. I could not even be irritated on Sunday when she wandered up to me and said, "I need to get dressed. You need to get my clothes."

I wanted to be irritated. But I squelched down that feeling, because she is not the problem.

I am.

I don't remember when I started dressing myself. I think back, and I don't recall making clothing decisions when I was in Grades One or Two (we moved before my Grade Three year). I do know that in Grade Five, I had fights with my mother about what I wanted to wear, so I definitely was choosing my own clothes then. Then the question becomes, when did I start overseeing my own underwear? Bras and panties and such? I remember the despised pantyhose - which I refuse to wear as an adult - that I was forced to wear to any and all functions, church or otherwise.

But when did these choices and decisions become solely mine? Am I wrong to help out as much as I do? I think back to this summer when the Kid tried to not wear panties to daycare. Ummmmmm, no. I don't seem to know what the line is, what the magical age is. I do know I dread the day when she starts buying her own bras and panties, because I fear I will freak out. I will have one rule : NO THONGS.

Sorry, that is not a good decision for anyone who is not old enough to vote.