Before you have kids and people tell you things like, “Kids are expensive,” you nod your head and pretend you know what they’re talking about.
But you have no clue until you actually have one.
Sure, you anticipate the big expenses — medical care; daycare costs; diapers as babies, Pull-ups as toddlers, then an unlimited supply of underwear during potty training.
And then there are the things you don’t see coming, such as an entire new wardrobe every six months.
Lately, I’ve been noticing that E’s dresses, shorts and skirts have been getting shorter and shorter. Since she’s such a skinny mini, they all still fit properly around the waist, but they’re just getting a little too short for our comfort. Frankly, they’re downright inappropriately short, and some of her dresses are even 5s. So we keep washing the same three pairs of bicycle shorts for her to wear under her dresses and skirts because Heaven forbid a day goes by without her wearing a dress or skirt.
Last week, it was time to see if this growth spurt was just our imaginations and we sent her to the door frame for her biannual measuring.
Nope, I wasn’t just imagining it. Check out that six-month growth spurt, from her 4th birthday to her half-birthday.
That’s 1.5 inches of wardrobe expansion. Guess I need to do some back-to-school shopping after all. Damn. At least it’s not the 3-inch spurt she experienced from 2 to 2 1/2. That one made me thing we had a Renesmee on our hands.
I think it’s time we both got some new clothes. See that shirt E is wearing? My dad and stepmom just picked it up for her in Salem, Massachusetts, during a road trip. The front says, “Are you a Good Witch …” and here’s the back:
Not only does E. love it because of her obsessive love of “Wizard of Oz,” but as soon as she opened it, she yelled, “Mommy, we’re twins!”
Yup, I have the same exact t-shirt.
When we called my dad to thank him, he was amazed I still had the shirt (although, I’m not sure why. He’s a hoarder like me). So we started calculating and as best as we can guess, I’ve had that shirt since about 1994. Sadly, it’s not the oldest shirt I still regularly wear. My favorite bedtime shirt is a worn, faded and practically see-through shirt that I adore with my high school football team’s name and mascot on it. And I got it when I was in 8th grade … in 1991.
Do you realize that means my shirt could walk into a bar and buy a drink? That might explain how banged up it looks. Is it secretly going on benders when I’m asleep?
Sadly, I don’t think I could get any pants or shorts that old up over my mid-thigh.
Yup, it’s time to purge E’s closet before she turns into a clothes hoarder like me.
What’s the oldest piece of clothing you still wear?
Sili says
I am just like that! Recently I did start getting rid of clothes though. Because my closet was always full but I didn’t have anything to wear. I have my 8th grade graduation shirt which my mom wore and then my brother, for some reason. He cut the sleeves off. What I want to know is, how does that shirt still have everyone’s names on the back? What are those letters made of, sheesh!
And I’m glad I’m not the only one having to buy clothes for my girl. The frog princess will be 3 in November and she’s already 3 feet tall. I don’t understand why they don’t have half sizes for this age. I’m with you! Let’s get new wardrobes. My list is on Pinterest…lol
Diane @ DixieJulep says
Who knew that kids’ clothes would be as hard to find a good fit in as grown-up clothes? My son is tall and skinny too, so it’s hard to choose between pants that are too short versus pants that fall right off his booty when he goes to play. I’m not sure how the girls’ sizing is there, but in toddler boys’ sizes, I’ve found Old Navy’s clothes tend to work best on my tall, skinny guy.
I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one who has T-shirts old enough to vote! I have a couple I wear (for sleeping only) that date to the early ’90s, as well. One is from “Writer’s Camp” in 6th grade…clearly, I was a cool kid even then! 😉
Susi says
I’m always amazed at how much the kids grow during one of their spurts. My boy just shot up 3 inches this past year and is now almost as tall as I am. By next year he’ll have caught up. I’m kinda glad the kids wear uniforms in school. I always buy them a little bigger and usually that’s good enough to last the whole school year.
MelissaMangs says
I love that I know exactly what your oldest shirt looks like!