Hi. It's me. The woman who, according to Mint.com's fabulous pie chart, spends an average of 25% of her monthly salary within your red bullseyed doors.
Today, in an effort to "stock up and save" for summer, I made my way to the toddler girls section. There, with bright colors and fun prints was a selection of shorts and tank tops guaranteed to make Elizabeth's almost-four-year-old summer a rainbow of fun.
I sorted through them, looking for a pair in 4T. I pulled them out and discovered a pair of shorts so short, they rival a Hooter's waitress uniform.
I thought I must have accidentally grabbed a pair in a size 18 month or perhaps a diaper cover.
Nope. They were shorts. For a four-year-old.
I put them away and started searching the racks hoping to find something a wee bit longer.
No luck.
I finally stopped a clerk and asked if they were planning on stocking longer shorts. Perhaps something that comes within six inches of the knees of a little girl whose height is measured in inches rather than feet. She helpfully suggested I sew additional fabric on each leg as her daughter does for her granddaughter because this is how people are buying them now.
I'm not a militant prude. I wore more than one pair of short shorts on my glitter coated legs in my early 20's. I loved the way my legs looked in them - long and sexy and tanned. I loved the way guys looked at me when I wore them. But here's the thing. I was in my 20's. I was a grown woman, not a little girl.
Little girls should be able to wear comfy knit shorts that don't ride up their butts. They should be able to run and play in summer bright colors without being able to see their underwear if they bend over. They should be wearing shorts that look like shorts rather than swim suit bottoms.
Hell. The swim shorts in the girls section were longer.
This shouldn't be an issue. I went over to the boys' section and found a wide selection of shorts and not a single pair of booty huggers in sight. I can't imagine parents would tolerate less than two inch inseams in a pair of boys' shorts.
My daughter is a girly girl who loves glitter and big bows. She wears tiaras and has almost as many purses as I do. She loves shoes and costume jewelry and, to my consternation, can coordinate an outfit far better than I can. She doesn't want to wear boys' cargo shorts though I try to tell her they'd look fantastic with a pink tank top. The one time I forced the issue, she cried.
She wants the aqua shorts that match the silver glitter bicycle tank top. She wants the pink shorts that match the floral tank top. And I can't get her what she wants because when I see her running around in teeny tiny short shorts, constantly pulling at them, I feel like a mom fail.
In reality, it's you that has failed.
Yes. People buy them. Because they're the only shorts they can find for $5. Do you realize how expensive it is to buy a new wardrobe every summer? But just because they buy them short doesn't mean they wouldn't buy them long.
When I posted this picture of a pair of 4T boys' shorts and a pair of 4T girls' shorts, it filled with comments from mothers expressing the same frustration I'm feeling right now.
It's my job as a mother to dress my daughter in a way that is appropriate and comfortable. And I'll be doing that. Just not with your shorts.
7 comments:
Yup. My 5 year old twins' size SIX shorts are pretty short. As far as length, we're having better luck with dresses and skirts and skorts, for the one that will wear them.
Yup. had the same issue. I'm a Target addict but this year we did Children's place skorts. ...btw, they're on clearance now...so about the same price as Target.
Just one small reason I'm glad I have a boy. But, yes, it is ridiculous that shorts for such young girls are so short. I see them on the playground, digging their shorts out of their butts and I wish the retail stores would take stock in what mothers think.
I agree! Hanna Andersson has a great summer line this year. They are definitely on the pricey side, but they are modest and make great hand-me-downs.
I do not envy you. I see little girls looking so trashy every day. I am so thankful that my child is a boy. Somehow, our society has convinced us that little girls should look sexy. It is crazy.
This is why I am so happy I get plenty of hand-me-downs and that Leila likes sundresses way more than shorts.
I feel your pain. I shop at thrift stores. The clothes are barely worn and since they are "outdated" I can avoid today's hoochie toddler fashions. Oy.
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