He is going to wear a shirt and tie
By dorannmwin
@dorannmwin (36392)
United States
December 12, 2012 10:40pm CST
Paul's kindergarten class is going to be going on their Christmas field trip this Friday. They are going to be going to the ballet to see The Nutcracker. He's really excited about it, not because of the fact that it is the ballet, but instead because of the fact that their teacher told them that they could wear their nicest clothes. Well, we aren't a very formal family, so while Paul does have a lot of polo shirts and dress pants (school uniform), he hasn't had a suit and tie since he was a baby. Well, I gave in because he was making a big deal about it and got him a four piece suit today at Wal-Mart for $19.97.
Have you ever had a child that was adamant about dressing up for a special occasion? If they didn't have anything to wear, were you willing to get them something that fit what they wanted?
Oh, I will say that the clothes won't go to waste because I'll have him wear the suit for our Christmas celebrations and I will also be able to use the pants and dress shirt for school clothes after the holidays.
4 people like this
14 responses
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
13 Dec 12
I messed up big time last week as I got the dates for the Carol Service at School wrong. It was for last Sunday not this one as I had thought. so I went into a big panic when I picked them up from school on Friday as we do not have many clothing shops where we live. However, I rushed into a very cheap shop and struck gold as I got my GS a shirt and a pair of long dress pants. The sachool provides the red bow ties for the boys. But absolutely nothing for my GD.
Then I thought of her big sister and we called her and yes, she had a dress that sheonly wore once five years ago. The dress had to be white. It fitted perfectly so now we had to buy white shoes and socks. I found out that my GS had dress shoes already.
So Saturday, we went to every shoe shop and yes, we found a pair that was only a little big for her and I stuffed the toes with some cotton wool and then we had to get her hair done. She had to wear her haitr in a particular style on top of her head as she was dancing too.
By this time I was worn out. But we did it and they looked and felt good as they love dressing up. It makes them feel grown up and important and yes, she danced beautifully and her father and I were so proud of them both.
2 people like this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
14 Dec 12
You definitely aren't the only one that has messed up before, I've been guilty of doing that many times in my life.
However, you were somehow able to make it all work and that is the thing that I think is the most important. You definitely get an A+ grandparent award.
@lsjapdoit (651)
• Indonesia
14 Dec 12
When everything that we have done for our kids results in a happy ending, the good feeling inside really makes our heart warm. It is all worthwhile :)
@bjc66bjc (6730)
• United States
14 Dec 12
Hi dorann, good move for your son..I am sure he will look
sharp and I hope he enjoys his trip...I remember school trip
for the children they use to really look forward to dressing
up feeling like a big boy...
Hope he has fun,, and by the way that was a great deal on
that suit purchase...
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
14 Dec 12
I do have to say that it was definitely less expensive than I thought that it was going to be. And you are right, he looks very sharp in his new suit. I'll have to share a picture after I've taken the children's Christmas pictures.
1 person likes this
@lsjapdoit (651)
• Indonesia
14 Dec 12
You have just described so well about my boyhood experience bjc66bjc :))
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
14 Dec 12
He is so very excited about wearing it despite the fact that tomorrow is also a dress down day for the school if the children turned in their money for United Way of the Bluegrass Christmas drive. He is more excited about wearing his suit to school than he would be about wearing jeans to school (which they can only do once or twice a month).
@lsjapdoit (651)
• Indonesia
14 Dec 12
That is the way to go. Kids love caring mommies, and daddies too for that matter :)
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
13 Dec 12
I don't have children yet, but when I do I would expect them to dress up for certain things. There will certainly be enough opportunities for them to do so; we have quite a few holidays, and I expect that they will also be involved in various activities.
It is great that your son has taken the initiative to insist upon dressing well for this occasion. It sounds like he is the sort who should go far, because he takes the initiative to not only meet expectations but to exceed them. 
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
14 Dec 12
I believe that both of my children are going to be able to go far in life. You know Paul is just in kindergarten, but he is doing very well at both learning to read and write in English and also picking up his second language of Spanish as well.
My daughter is in 4th grade and she has been formally identified as gifted and talented so she gets those services every week and she is also getting straight A's in the classroom.
I think that they will both be able to achieve anything that they want to in their lives.
@lsjapdoit (651)
• Indonesia
14 Dec 12
Yes it is good to have our children involved in various activities. They can learn a lot that way and make lots of friends too.
@Daisy_22 (1229)
• Philippines
14 Dec 12
I don't have yet a child.I'm still single yet I love to do such things with the daughter of my brother. I love to put some make up on her face and choose the dress she will going to wear everyday especially in momentous special occasions.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
14 Dec 12
That is very nice that you do special things like that with your niece. I also have three wonderful nieces in addition to my own two children and I also like to do special things with them from time to time.
@lsjapdoit (651)
• Indonesia
14 Dec 12
That is very nice of you Daisy_22. In fact what you do is a good practice to become a good and caring mother :)
1 person likes this
@lsjapdoit (651)
• Indonesia
14 Dec 12
Yes my kids do that too. My wife would then take them to the supermarket and let them choose the clothes that they like. When they come home, they would show the clothes to me with a big smile on their faces. The smiles make my wife and me feel good inside :))
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
14 Dec 12
Oh, both of my children love to pick out their own clothes and I don't have any kind of an issue at all with it. The really funny thing about both of them is that they really do like to pick out their clothes from the thrift stores. I guess in addition to giving them the opportunity to pick out their own clothes, I'm also teaching them to be responsible consumers.
@lsjapdoit (651)
• Indonesia
14 Dec 12
I wish you well riyauro. May you have a healthy and good baby. Say hi to your spouse :)
@lsjapdoit (651)
• Indonesia
14 Dec 12
Yes we can celebrate Christmas just as merrily with casual as well as formal clothes. It is a matter of individual choice.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
14 Dec 12
I will typically have the kids wear a nicer outfit for the Christmas celebrations, but not so much a formal outfit. However, he is going to look really nice and his sister just got a nice dress last week at the thrift store that she is really looking forward to wearing for Christmas.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
14 Dec 12
I agree with you that boys do look very handsome in a shirt and tie. I had Paul try his on last night and he definitely looked like a little man all dressed up. The funny thing is that he things that the tie is supposed to be on the outside of the vest, which we all know it is not.
@lsjapdoit (651)
• Indonesia
14 Dec 12
You are absolutely right cher913. That is exactly what my wife tells me when I dress up in a shirt and black tie :))
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
19 Dec 12
None of my kids have been adamant about dressing up, ever. For certain occasions, I say they are going to, and the girls go along with it, and Cary protests.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
20 Dec 12
It is kind of the opposite with our family. Kathryn is one of those people that would rather punk herself out and Paul is the one that wants to be dressed to the t's.
@RitterSport (2451)
• Lippstadt, Germany
27 Apr 13
ohhhh dear dorann I think its quite unusual that boys want to wear something like that. Hope he enjoyed wearing it and also did wear it for Christmas as you had planned.
Reminds me of my kiddie days I hated to be dressed up and I hated skirts and dresses and hate them to this very day. LOL, so I was the absolute opposite of Paul. It was not easy for me to comply to the unspoken rules of society when it came to getting married and wearing a bridal dress.
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
13 Dec 12
You did "good." It's wonderful he wanted to dress up and feel special. But you'd better let him go to a lot more special occasions where he can wear this pretty soon or he'll grow out of this suit before you know it. Maybe your school should start a 'suit bank" for those suits children haven't worn much that are still in really good shape. Maybe some parents can't afford to do what you did and would welcome the chance to borrow from the suit bank for an occasion such as this. Suit don't normally wear out like jeans do.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
14 Dec 12
I'm sure that I could donate it to the school after he has outgrown it because our school does have a family resource center that will help the families out with clothing and such as there are many families at my children's school that are much less fortunate than our family is (and you know that our family is continuously struggling).
@lsjapdoit (651)
• Indonesia
14 Dec 12
That is a very good idea bagarad. I don't know of schools that have suit banks though. If they have, lots of parents can make good use of them for sure.
@ladyhemingway (965)
• Philippines
13 Dec 12
Hi dorannmwin, I do not have a child yet but I must say that what you did was so sweet. For sure, your son will remember how you have provided for him until he grew up and can already provide for his own needs. Life is not easy, I know that. But I always have respect for those parents who despite the limit in budget, still manage to provide for their children.
And you are right, that $19.97 suit wouldn't go to waste because it can be used again for other occasion. I hope all mothers are as thoughtful as you 
1 person likes this
@lsjapdoit (651)
• Indonesia
14 Dec 12
It is also a good idea to take his picture with his new clothes. That will make a sweet memory in the future :)
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
14 Dec 12
I will definitely be taking pictures of him in the suit and tie because I did tell him that he would wear it for Christmas as well since I got it for him.
I do always try to provide the best for my children despite the fact that we are on a limited budget in our lives. I mean I buy them a lot of clothes at the thrift store, but believe it or not, the kids love to go to the thrift store with me too.
@riyauro (6421)
• India
14 Dec 12
Hi I have not had kids as yet but i am glad to hear about your kid. I would get him a suit if needed because clothes really don't go waste like that and if it is about my son I would definitely get one new one for him. I see that you are a very good mom. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day ahead.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
14 Dec 12
All I can say is that I try. You know, I also do feel like there are some times that I also make mistakes as a mother. However, overall, I have to say I must be doing something right because both of my children are well behaved and very respectful of others.
@lsjapdoit (651)
• Indonesia
14 Dec 12
What you would do is exactly what any good and caring father would do riyauro. It seems that you will make a good one :)
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
14 Dec 12
Well, it is more what he wanted as opposed to what he needs, but I know that it will go to good use.
