Tuesday, May 06, 2003

"Shopping With Children"

We have been checking off items from our list of things that need doing before our drive north and the wedding weekend. Progress is being made, but I think I need to make the jump to 'light speed.' House cleaning is decidedly the most neglected item on the list, but it is not the only remaining chore that needs accomplishing.

One little stop we made today was supposed to be about finding Alison a shower gift. Somehow it became a mission to find a blouse for myself...a silly notion that I could dress pretty at the rehearsal dinner or the shower...

My children are good children, but like me they are not fit for malls and department stores. They could smell my fear and anxiety, and they seemed to be testing the limits of my determination to leave the store with anything for myself.

With William and Alex quietly wrestling outside the ladies fitting room and Max by my side, I entered the mirrored cubicle with a dozen hopeful candidates. The first blouse, colorful and sheer, looked promising. It had the youthful, stylish look I was hoping to adopt.

I asked the nearest person for an opinion, "What do you think Max?"

"That's disgusting." He assured me with sufficient disdain.

This supports my belief that opinions are often useless. Everyone has one, and if you ask enough people you will always hear opposing points of view. And if you ask an opinion of a bored four year old boy, the answer is unlikely to be encouraging. After many disgusting garments, I finally hit success, sort of. I'd stopped asking his opinion as he had started volunteering his thoughts and as I adjusted the sleeves of a very hip little blouse with beads and flounces, he said brightly, "That is the most beautiful shirt I ever saw, even with that haircut of yours."

No comments: