Six Year Old Shopping Spree

I can give credit where credit is due and I will tell you my mother has kept me well dressed with only a few exceptions. I could have lived with slightly less Laura Ashley floral prints, no Mother Daughter matching bathing suits and way less obsessive matching capabilities but I was in fashion.

My daughter? She lives in hand me downs and I have zero shame. When they are little everyone wants to dress them. If you know lots of moms with boys, they love buying for girls. If you know ANYONE who likes to shop, they will dress your child. Therefore, you have very little to deal with in actuality.

Luna got all the cute outfits and I've rarely had to buy anything. As mentioned before I was lucky enough to receive countless hand me downs from a friend with three girls so I'm set until Luna moves out. My mother also buys her way too much stuff, so she wants for nothing.

But we don't really take her shopping. I don't buy her shirts for every occasion. I don't buy "outfits." She still receives these as gifts so I need not go out of my way or out of my budget. Kids will also never pick what you like. They naturally go opposite.

Tonight, however, is a special and first occasion for us to really splurge. It's Daddy Daughter Date Night hosted by our town's recreational activity center. The past two times she has gone I've been able to dig out a dress she liked but we went through her closet and nothing was "Princessy" enough. I heard "Go to Kohls! Hit Target." I was in more of a Wal-Mart state of mind as I didn't want to spend $50 on something she'd never wear again.

So after a crazy evening getting home, off to Wal-Mart we went. There is some Nickelodeon phenomenon type thing of a JoJo person these days? We don't have cable. I've never watched. Apparently she has big bows that are fashiony. There are cups and accessories with her name plastered all over and I just found out yesterday she has fashions.

Now I found a cheap cute sequin skirt but Luna wanted the JoJo dress with little unicorn and weird icons on them and glittery stuff in the tulle and of course the matching bow.
It was so funny too because I said "Let's go pick out a dress and how would you like to maybe get a new bow?" "And shoes," Luna said. "Shoes mom."

So she got the dress and a bow because we couldn't find any crowns or tiaras. I wasn't going to buy her one anyway. And we hit the shoe section. I'm thinking okay, dress shoes and sandals she could wear to church or for home dress up. Something practical. What does she go for? White patent leather Easter-type close-toed heels with a white bow on the strap.
I'm pretty sure I got the exact same ones when I was 9. She's got 3 years on me at this point.

"Okay," I shrugged. This was it. Let's go pay. She was so excited.

We got home and was like "I need to hang up my dress! I can't wait to show daddy my bow! Can I wear my shoes!? I want to try them without the rope on them!"

I removed tags and cut the shoes loose and she put them on immediately. Without hesitation. She clomped and stomped. She let me video tape them and take pictures. She wore them with her school clothes to eat dinner.

When I told her it was time to put on pajamas, the shoes came off, the pajamas went on, the shoes went BACK on. This morning she had to show daddy and she couldn't wait to wear them to the date night. 

I realized that we did so well on the whole exchange. She listened. She was reasonable. We didn't fight. There was no struggle, which was the opposite with my mom so I figure I'm doing pretty well! It was a successful evening. Tonight is the big night so I will definitely have many pictures. I like seeing her excited though. She lives with us in a frugal world of practicality. She deserves a little "Treat Yo Self!"

JoJo Dress: $16 
Jojo Bow: $5
First pair of heels: $14
Great shopping experience with mommy even though she left without a crown: Priceless!