Disboutiquers Part 7 Kids Disney Boutique / Customs Clothes psst..we sew

[EnchantedPrincess]

Here are some pictures of the girls a yr ago at disney world. The animal kingdom outfit my friend made.

Great outfits! I also love the JoJo outfit...so colorful!

HI everyone!!! Its been a LOOOOOOOONG time. Life has been so crazy. I still have yet to sew anything for Georgia in a long time. Lets see on the update.

Kevin is still gone, so that means I am working two jobs and taking care of the Little Georgia Peach. Its summer, so its been tough with the YMCA bill, but at least the ex in laws are helping with that. She goes there every three weeks so the bill isn't so high. if she was there the WHOLE summer it would have been $1600! Thankfully, they get how hard it is since Kevin isn't really helping $$ at all.

No Disney trip this year.... but working on it.

I am looking at everyones new outfits and they are sooo great! Totally makes me want to dust off the machine and get to town (when I have time of course! )

I hope everyone is doing well. I have missed you all!

Good to see you again!

Thanks! I am sure I will be fine once school starts, and we get into the routine, but I cried when Corey started High School too!My baby boy will be a JUNIOR this year!!!!

My dd is starting Kindergarten in a few weeks as well...it is such a bittersweet moment. I am excited for her, yet sad at the same time... she is really looking forward to it, and has been saying that she is ready for Kindergarten!

Cute robes!!

Love that bubbleduck dress!! I bought the bubbles fabric, but didn't get the duck fabric.

Good luck...I am praying that your dd gets her wish granted.

Love the zebra minnie mouse shirt, and the hat!

Your girls are so cute!

I love those Mickey Mouse buttons!! Might have to get me some of those.

Well first, let me say that I missed some great work today...I'm just catching up after my last day of vacation . I loved all the hats and outfits...OH and the beach cover up...forgot who made it...sorry! So my drama with Ash continues. My mom and I took her to Water Country today (local water park). I made sure to give her Benedryl, kept her sunglasses on all day AND lathered her up with plenty of sunscreen. Well about an hour into our day, she is playing on this pirate ship and all of a sudden I hear a scream. You moms know what I mean...pool has 200 kids in it and you know it's yours. I run over to her and all I can see at first is what look like a blue dot on her forehead....and I got closer I realize that it's a gigantic bump. So I run her to first aid and they called the EMTs. The blue dot kept getting bigger and bigger and then burst...SO gross...and so hard to hide my "grossed out" look as to not frighten Ash (I guess the blue dot was some kind of blood blister). Luckily nothing was broken and she didn't need stitches but she now has a GIGANTIC lump/cut on her forehead and I full anticipate at least one black eye. Just what the poor kid needed...more pain in her head! My poor baby! AND now she is on vaca with my mom til Friday so I can't even take care of her myself.

Poor baby!! I hope her head feels better soon.


Lovedumbo..love the mickey mouse bowling shirt!

 

[EnchantedPrincess]

My dd turns 5 yesterday! Hard to believe that my little baby girl is now 5 years old!! She asked for a cupcake dress, and picked out this fabric...here is the dress that I made her:

The back of the dress...I really wanted to use three different fabric, but couldn't find any that I like...so I stuck with the light pink/white polka dot fabric for the three back ruffles...

Her birthday cake is a blizzard cake from Dairy Queen since she is allergic to wheat...

DD and her favorite birthday present...her very first AG doll - a just like you doll which she named after herself, Kirsten....her poor Sleeping Beauty Doll that she got at WDW has been neglected and possibly replaced!

 

[lovesdumbo]

I want to tell everyone about a really sweet thing that Megan did for Tessa. She knew that Tessa was nervous about starting kindergarten, so she made Tessa a little book called "Kindergarten Rocks". She drew little pictures of the different things you get to do in kindergarten. It was SOOO cute! Thank you so much for helping her with it, Steph! Tessa loved it!! I've read it to her at least 20 times already!

How sweet!!!!

That shirt turned out fabulous! I also really like the girls' outfits. Love how you used the different dots on the blocked a-line.



Those are cute and so comfy. Megan has a couple RTW dresses like that and she always begs to wear them to bed. So, Saturday evening I pulled one out and used it as a pattern to make her a nightie. I couldn't believe how fast it came together. She put it right on and wore it to bed.

Thanks! I LOVED how super fast those aline with bias tape were and they look super cute on too.

My dd is starting Kindergarten in a few weeks as well...it is such a bittersweet moment. I am excited for her, yet sad at the same time... she is really looking forward to it, and has been saying that she is ready for Kindergarten!


Lovedumbo..love the mickey mouse bowling shirt!

Thanks!

My youngest starts Kindergarten next month too. I know she's ready but it will be tough watching her get on the bus that first morning. Thankfully her brother will be on the same bus with her this year.

 

[lovesdumbo]

My dd turns 5 yesterday! Hard to believe that my little baby girl is now 5 years old!! She asked for a cupcake dress, and picked out this fabric...here is the dress that I made her:

The back of the dress...I really wanted to use three different fabric, but couldn't find any that I like...so I stuck with the light pink/white polka dot fabric for the three back ruffles...

Her birthday cake is a blizzard cake from Dairy Queen since she is allergic to wheat...

DD and her favorite birthday present...her very first AG doll - a just like you doll which she named after herself, Kirsten....her poor Sleeping Beauty Doll that she got at WDW has been neglected and possibly replaced!

So beautiful and cute dress too!

 

[Clutterbug]

Do any of you know any websites that offer free instructions on how to make things like tops? I found a bunch of shirts and shorts instructions but other than a pillowcase top I can't find a thing. Thanks!

Oh- and this website has easy instructions for making a circle skirt and pantaloons. It is for adults but you can tweak it so it works for kids. This is how I figured out how to make shorts. I figured in case anyone was a beginner like me they might like the very explicit instructions!

http://www.madamexcostumes.com/newpages/ttcostumes.html

Have you checked out Teresa's bookmarks? There is a link in her signature and also one in the first post ( I think?).

There are also tons of great tutorials on www.craftster.org

My dd turns 5 yesterday! Hard to believe that my little baby girl is now 5 years old!! She asked for a cupcake dress, and picked out this fabric...here is the dress that I made her:

to your DD. Love her new dress!

 

[t-beri]

Happy Birthday Kirsten!!!

Her AG doll is adorable and I think Kirsten is a perfectly great name for her doll I had a doll that I named Toni, after my mom but we called her Baby Toni She was definitley run through the mill. The last time I saw her she was in pretty bad shape.

...t.

 

[Tinka_Belle]

How do you all feel about putting kids names on customs?

I would love to do it, but my DH feels that weirdos will use that to kidnap our kids.

What do you think?

I don't put my DD's name on her clothes for this reason. I also don't call her by her real name when we are in public. This wayshe can tell if someone calls her by her fake name they are not someone we know. I know I'm paranoid. Losing my child is my worst fear. I have panic attacks over this.

My dd turns 5 yesterday! Hard to believe that my little baby girl is now 5 years old!! She asked for a cupcake dress, and picked out this fabric...here is the dress that I made her:

The back of the dress...I really wanted to use three different fabric, but couldn't find any that I like...so I stuck with the light pink/white polka dot fabric for the three back ruffles...

Her birthday cake is a blizzard cake from Dairy Queen since she is allergic to wheat...

DD and her favorite birthday present...her very first AG doll - a just like you doll which she named after herself, Kirsten....her poor Sleeping Beauty Doll that she got at WDW has been neglected and possibly replaced!

to your pretty princess. That is a beautiful dress you made her.

The cookie insert in those cakes contains wheat. They should have put an allergy sticker on the box that it came in.

 

[CampbellScot]

Thank you about her name. Yes, Gaelic names are a little tough to pronounce/spell. I heard her name when I lived in Ireland and thought "well that one isn't too bad!!!" But of course, everyone is assuming that she's saying Ashley. But she's quick to correct them!!
TE=HeatherSue;26712855]FEBRUARY DIS

Where in Ireland did you live? My family is primarily from Galway...but I have some cousins who did the unthinkable and moved to DUBLIN! It's a wonderful country isn't it?

I have to laugh about your Coach obsession. My SIL LOVES Coach bags and I tease her mercilessly about her $400 bag + $200 wallet. She says she buys them because they will last a long time. I counter with "my $15 purse from Target is going on 2 years old now. Are you telling me you're not going to buy another purse for the next 40 years?" I wish she'd just admit that it's an obsession! I love her!

Now HeatherSue...I think that perhaps you should TRY a Coach bag...so you can understand the depth of love that forms... It's a very emotional experience...

it is.

stop laughing.

and eye rolling.

you'd LOVE IT!

How do you all feel about putting kids names on customs?

I would love to do it, but my DH feels that weirdos will use that to kidnap our kids.

What do you think?

that's a tough one...there are some creeps out there. We've all seen the stories of the child wearing a name shirt and a stranger comes up and says "Hi Samantha! Your mom wanted me to take you back to your hotel..." and the child goes willingly b/c it doesn't occur to them that their name is on display!I suppose you just can't be too careful. Little necklaces and such are fine I think, but big bold NAMES across the shirts just doesn't appear to be the wisest choice in this day and age. even at Disney.

My girlfriend teases me about my purse and wallet too! I figured if George can have all of these fancy computers and electronics I can have a fancy pure at least!

Are you a November bday? Teresa is she Jan? My sil I think is diamond and she is Jan. I am a sapphire and I love it!

EXACTLY!!!!

Diamond is April! My birthstone is blue topaz/turquoise...a semi precious gem at best...my mom is an Emerald (may) and my little sister is a Ruby(july)! I was always jealous of the Ruby! My older sister is a Garnet, which is January.

My mom had a "mother's ring" made with all of our birthstones...and the diamond from her engagement ring...which I thought was pretty smart to do after my parents got divorced!

 

[MouseTriper]

Just wanted to update everyone on the Make a wish for my daughter!

We met with our wish granters tonight! In fact we Just walked in the door!

Zoe was so shy lol, but it was adorable! They came with toys for the kids (A cinderella crown, a princess puzzle, Markers, crayons coloring books ect) Zoe's first wish was to go on a disney cruise for a week and swim with dolphins and learn to snorkle! She also added a night in CInderellas castle but I doubt they could do that. lol, It is nice to dream about tho!

They needed a second wish in case the first one could not be granted. She wished for a trip to Hawaii where she wanted to do the same things but also Visit Pearl Harbor and the black sand beach.

Here is a picture of her with her Wish Granters:

We have to wait to see which wish is approved (If any) They said it could take up to 4 weeks but they think it should be a little sonner then that.

Thanks again for letting me share! We are so excited!

Candice

Oh how exciting for Zoe and the rest of you!!! I will be praying that she is granted her wonderful wish!!!!!

 

[t-beri]

I don't put my DD's name on her clothes for this reason. I also don't call her by her real name when we are in public. This wayshe can tell if someone calls her by her fake name they are not someone we know. I know I'm paranoid. Losing my child is my worst fear. I have panic attacks over this.

And your DD responds to a "fake" name??? I can barely get Lily to acknowledge me when I call her by her real name

I am not so paranoid about these things. We talk about "stranger danger" a lot w/ Mac, lily is still too young. We talk about tactics a predator might use such as threatening to hurt me. I always tell him that I am an adult and will take care of me, that his responsibility is to GET AWAY. We have these conversations a lot so I guess I am a little paranoid, but not enough so that I use code names or have a secret password in case friends need to get him. We live around so many family and CLOSE friends(we don't have many) that I HIGHLY doubt that there will ever be a time when I am forced to send someone w/ a secret word to his bus stop or school to pick him up that he has NEVER met or doesn't know.

I have refrained from putting their names on things in the past b/c I don't want them to be stolen BUT I've been thinking recently about this. To me for Mac it's no big deal. He is 10 and I know he knows not to be tricked. I wouldn't hesitate to add his name to something. Lily however is an escape artist and LOVES everybody and will jump into your arms without blinking.. So it worries me a little to think that I may lose her in a store and someone will go, "oh, Lily, do you like this Cinderella doll?" and whisk her away. I also have never given them "id" bracelets or tattoos and the like b/c I thought the info could be used by a predatory as easily as a CM

I do hate being cynically minded or overly cautious.

Boy I was not really any help here. Sorry.


Does anyone have any tricks for applying an html code to the signatures???

...t.

 

[Disney Brat]

Hey everyone!! I have been loving all of your creations, you guys are sure an inspiration!! Well I Have finally finished my project, and a couple more! I am so proud of myself for learning to sew, not a big thing for you guys, but I am still proud of my simple accomplishments!!
Here is my first creation

Here is a Winnie the Pooh shirt(no she is not holding the cat, she decided to jump up when I was taking the pic..lol)

And back

Minnie dress with matching doll dress

And back

Skirt (I had made that for Abby to wear to her cousins bday party on Sunday, well they had a musician playing a guitar and singing, and some of the people were dancing around, got hot and decided to take the cover off of the easy set pool (about knee deep on an adult) and dance around in it, well they put Abby in it too and the skirt got all creased and muddy and yucky, I was scared because I hadn’t had time to stitch the elastic together and tuck it into the waist band so I thought it was going to break, but it didn’t!)

Twirling...lol

Thanks for looking!!

 

[t-beri]

Hey everyone!! I have been loving all of your creations, you guys are sure an inspiration!! Well I Have finally finished my project, and a couple more! I am so proud of myself for learning to sew, not a big thing for you guys, but I am still proud of my simple accomplishments!!
Here is my first creation

Here is a Winnie the Pooh shirt(no she is not holding the cat, she decided to jump up when I was taking the pic..lol)

And back

Minnie dress with matching doll dress

And back

Twirling...lol

YAY!!! NO BIG DEAL????? It is a HUGE deal!!! That is fantastic. Don't sell yourself short. You taught yourself to sew, that's NOT easy and not everyone can do it. Those simple accomplishments were a GREAT start. Everyone has to start somewhere and I can tell you there are quite a few sewers on here that started out just like you and you can see how far they've come in 6 months or a year. I had never sewn clothing, just bags and pillows and I tend to give up on things easily when I have to try at them but I keep plugging along...even if I have to use my seam ripper more than I'd like to

KUDOS
from one Tifani to another (Tiffany)

 

[minnie2]

I see you already got a lot of replies. But, I measured an unhappy Sawyer, so I'm going to share the measurement. His waist is 17", but he's 30th percentile for weight and 75th percentile for height. So, he's not a "standard size" 2 year old.


All 3 of Teresa's kids are SO different in size! Corey was average sized, Arminda didn't even make it on the charts (she was SO tiny), and Lydia is a giant (90th percentile for height, or so)!

I had my cousin measure her again and she is 17' so I am glad I waited to stitch it up

That d

I miss Megan! She is so stinkin' cute!!! I love the hat, and the shirt!!

I want to tell everyone about a really sweet thing that Megan did for Tessa. She knew that Tessa was nervous about starting kindergarten, so she made Tessa a little book called "Kindergarten Rocks". She drew little pictures of the different things you get to do in kindergarten. It was SOOO cute! Thank you so much for helping her with it, Steph! Tessa loved it!! I've read it to her at least 20 times already!

Tessa wants to join the club. But, she has so many cowlicks, I'm afraid it would stick up all over the place!
Yes, I was born November 24. I sometimes substitute the December birthstont because I hate mine! Teresa was born in April.

NO! I don't usually get to sleep until 7:30! That was the latest I've slept in since Sawyer was born! He's usually up around 6:00 or 6:30.

How sweet of miss Megan!

Talk about Cowlicks Kyle is so bad if his hair grows too long half of his hair stands up straight so that is why I have to Buzz him!

My dd turns 5 yesterday! Hard to believe that my little baby girl is now 5 years old!! She asked for a cupcake dress, and picked out this fabric...here is the dress that I made her:

The back of the dress...I really wanted to use three different fabric, but couldn't find any that I like...so I stuck with the light pink/white polka dot fabric for the three back ruffles...

Her birthday cake is a blizzard cake from Dairy Queen since she is allergic to wheat...

DD and her favorite birthday present...her very first AG doll - a just like you doll which she named after herself, Kirsten....her poor Sleeping Beauty Doll that she got at WDW has been neglected and possibly replaced!

Happy bday to Kristen!

DQ'a blizzard cakes are gluten free?!?!? Did they make it with out certain things for you because I was always told blizzards are a non no for Nik at least from my research.
Poor Nik always asks for a blizzard but we always tell her no because I am nervous that the DQ people won't clean the blizzard machine well enough after they made something that wasn't safe.

Please let me know what they did special so maybe Nikki can have one of those for her bday!

Does she have Celiac or a true wheat allergy? We always say Nik's celiac is a wheat allergy even though it isn't but most people get allergies they don't always get Celaic.

I don't put my DD's name on her clothes for this reason. I also don't call her by her real name when we are in public. This wayshe can tell if someone calls her by her fake name they are not someone we know. I know I'm paranoid. Losing my child is my worst fear. I have panic attacks over this.


to your pretty princess. That is a beautiful dress you made her.

The cookie insert in those cakes contains wheat. They should have put an allergy sticker on the box that it came in.

That is what I thought unless I am thinking of Carvel? I sure hope we are wrong I am actually getting excited for my dd about maybe having a cake from there.

Where in Ireland did you live? My family is primarily from Galway...but I have some cousins who did the unthinkable and moved to DUBLIN! It's a wonderful country isn't it?



Now HeatherSue...I think that perhaps you should TRY a Coach bag...so you can understand the depth of love that forms... It's a very emotional experience...

it is.

stop laughing.

and eye rolling.

you'd LOVE IT!

EXACTLY!!!!

Diamond is April! My birthstone is blue topaz/turquoise...a semi precious gem at best...my mom is an Emerald (may) and my little sister is a Ruby(july)! I was always jealous of the Ruby! My older sister is a Garnet, which is January.

My mom had a "mother's ring" made with all of our birthstones...and the diamond from her engagement ring...which I thought was pretty smart to do after my parents got divorced!

I am so with you on the coach bag! They are addicting! So how many do you have? I think I am on my 6th.

Hey everyone!! I have been loving all of your creations, you guys are sure an inspiration!! Well I Have finally finished my project, and a couple more! I am so proud of myself for learning to sew, not a big thing for you guys, but I am still proud of my simple accomplishments!!
Here is my first creation

Here is a Winnie the Pooh shirt(no she is not holding the cat, she decided to jump up when I was taking the pic..lol)

And back

Minnie dress with matching doll dress

And back

Skirt (I had made that for Abby to wear to her cousins bday party on Sunday, well they had a musician playing a guitar and singing, and some of the people were dancing around, got hot and decided to take the cover off of the easy set pool (about knee deep on an adult) and dance around in it, well they put Abby in it too and the skirt got all creased and muddy and yucky, I was scared because I hadn’t had time to stitch the elastic together and tuck it into the waist band so I thought it was going to break, but it didn’t!)

Twirling...lol

Thanks for looking!!

You should be VERY proud you did a great job!!!!!

 

[minnie2]

Here is my latest stuff.
A purse I made my mom along with a sunglass case. I am not happy with how it came out but oh well. My ,machine kept jamming I think because the fabric and the interfacing were too think.

The matching skirts I made for Nikki and my niece. I put it on her AG doll and had her hold the extra fabric in the back, Problem is now she wants one for her Nicki doll!

she matches so well huh I am going to make them both white peasent tops to go with them.

My favorite part the twirl factor!

I had such a hard time with Nik's skirt ugh I kept screwing up on it. I sewed the ruffle ad the yellow peice on the wrong way but there were too many layers of stitching so I just cut it off and sewed it on the other way!

 

[PrincessKell]

Hey everyone!! I have been loving all of your creations, you guys are sure an inspiration!! Well I Have finally finished my project, and a couple more! I am so proud of myself for learning to sew, not a big thing for you guys, but I am still proud of my simple accomplishments!!
Here is my first creation

Here is a Winnie the Pooh shirt(no she is not holding the cat, she decided to jump up when I was taking the pic..lol)

And back

Minnie dress with matching doll dress

And back

Skirt (I had made that for Abby to wear to her cousins bday party on Sunday, well they had a musician playing a guitar and singing, and some of the people were dancing around, got hot and decided to take the cover off of the easy set pool (about knee deep on an adult) and dance around in it, well they put Abby in it too and the skirt got all creased and muddy and yucky, I was scared because I hadn’t had time to stitch the elastic together and tuck it into the waist band so I thought it was going to break, but it didn’t!)

Twirling...lol

Thanks for looking!!

Soooooooo cute. looks like you are doing a great job!

 

[MiniGirl]

How do you all feel about putting kids names on customs?

I would love to do it, but my DH feels that weirdos will use that to kidnap our kids.

What do you think?

Well, "they" say that we shouldn't have our kids wear anything that identifies them -- clothing, backpacks, etc -- because of that very reason. You know... "Billy, your mom is busy doing something and asked me to come get you." You know, stuff like that. Of course, the odds of that happening are low, but we can lower them even more by leaving off that identifying info.

Plus, if you are thinking resell, you really limit your market when you put a name on it.

That dress is FABULOUS!!! How dare you not post it for us!

Well, I was going to... It is just that someone got to it before me. LOL!!! It has been crazy around here as usual.

 

[PrincessKell]

So I just got word from my mom that she is going to help me pay for Georgia's 7th birthday.....at DISNEYLAND!! I am soo darn excited. We are just going to say we are going to visit Grandma for the weekend and not tell her until we get down there. hehehe

So I guess I better dust that machine off asap and get to work on her outfits! on top of school clothes. ha!

 

[Tinka_Belle]

DQ'a blizzard cakes are gluten free?!?!? Did they make it with out certain things for you because I was always told blizzards are a non no for Nik at least from my research.
Poor Nik always asks for a blizzard but we always tell her no because I am nervous that the DQ people won't clean the blizzard machine well enough after they made something that wasn't safe.
That is what I thought unless I am thinking of Carvel? I sure hope we are wrong I am actually getting excited for my dd about maybe having a cake from there.

http://www.dairyqueen.com/upload/AllergenBrochureTreats.pdf Here is a link to the allergen information from DQ. If the DQ near you is like the one that I worked at than they should be able to substitute things for you. We have done plenty of cakes without the cookie insert in them. As for them cleaning the blizzard machine in between uses....they don't. They clean it when the whole machine is messy.

Those are some really pretty skirts.

So I just got word from my mom that she is going to help me pay for Georgia's 7th birthday.....at DISNEYLAND!! I am soo darn excited. We are just going to say we are going to visit Grandma for the weekend and not tell her until we get down there. hehehe

So I guess I better dust that machine off asap and get to work on her outfits! on top of school clothes. ha!

That is real exciting!!!!

 

[LisaZoe]

BIG GIVE UPDATE for Project Nicoledisneyfan: We have people signed up to do everything now except the passports. If this is something you'd like to do, please come on over to the DisBoutique board to sign up: http://disboutiquers.proboards106.c...tinformation&action=display&thread=311&page=2

Also, if you've signed up for this or another Big Give and you haven't already updated the status once your items were shipped and/or received, please take a moment to do that. It really helps the project coordinator keep track of what can be crossed off the lists as done.

Thanks!!!!

 

[kjbrown]

I personally don't do it because my fear is if a stranger (the bad kind) calls out my kids name because they have seen it on a shirt or something my kid might think they know them and they are safe to go to them/with them etc.
that being said my dd8 has a name necklace BUT if a stranger is that close to read it they need to step back anyway! JMO

I have seen some REALLY adorable customs with names on it and it always makes me think about doing it but I never do...

I don't have an issue with it for the simple reason that if someone is around us for more than 2 minutes, they probably already will know DS's name! I'm always saying "Ethan, come here!" or "Ethan, look at that!" etc...

I don't have a problem with it. My kids are always with me and I've taught Tessa about strangers (the Stranger Danger video by John Walsh is GREAT). If someone wants to kidnap your child, they will usually hear you use your child's name anyway.



Yes, I was born November 24. I sometimes substitute the December birthstont because I hate mine! Teresa was born in April.

Well I think all the "weirdo" has to do is stand near us 30 seconds and hear us say the kids names. But my DH feels the same way so I don't do it AND I want to be able to pass the outfits onto someone else.

I don't put my DD's name on her clothes for this reason. I also don't call her by her real name when we are in public. This wayshe can tell if someone calls her by her fake name they are not someone we know. I know I'm paranoid. Losing my child is my worst fear. I have panic attacks over this.

that's a tough one...there are some creeps out there. We've all seen the stories of the child wearing a name shirt and a stranger comes up and says "Hi Samantha! Your mom wanted me to take you back to your hotel..." and the child goes willingly b/c it doesn't occur to them that their name is on display!I suppose you just can't be too careful. Little necklaces and such are fine I think, but big bold NAMES across the shirts just doesn't appear to be the wisest choice in this day and age. even at Disney.

And your DD responds to a "fake" name??? I can barely get Lily to acknowledge me when I call her by her real name

I am not so paranoid about these things. We talk about "stranger danger" a lot w/ Mac, lily is still too young. We talk about tactics a predator might use such as threatening to hurt me. I always tell him that I am an adult and will take care of me, that his responsibility is to GET AWAY. We have these conversations a lot so I guess I am a little paranoid, but not enough so that I use code names or have a secret password in case friends need to get him. We live around so many family and CLOSE friends(we don't have many) that I HIGHLY doubt that there will ever be a time when I am forced to send someone w/ a secret word to his bus stop or school to pick him up that he has NEVER met or doesn't know.

I have refrained from putting their names on things in the past b/c I don't want them to be stolen BUT I've been thinking recently about this. To me for Mac it's no big deal. He is 10 and I know he knows not to be tricked. I wouldn't hesitate to add his name to something. Lily however is an escape artist and LOVES everybody and will jump into your arms without blinking.. So it worries me a little to think that I may lose her in a store and someone will go, "oh, Lily, do you like this Cinderella doll?" and whisk her away. I also have never given them "id" bracelets or tattoos and the like b/c I thought the info could be used by a predatory as easily as a CM

I do hate being cynically minded or overly cautious.

Boy I was not really any help here. Sorry.

Well, "they" say that we shouldn't have our kids wear anything that identifies them -- clothing, backpacks, etc -- because of that very reason. You know... "Billy, your mom is busy doing something and asked me to come get you." You know, stuff like that. Of course, the odds of that happening are low, but we can lower them even more by leaving off that identifying info.

Plus, if you are thinking resell, you really limit your market when you put a name on it.

Thanks for all of your input! I had to laugh at some of the responses about all a "bad guy" has to do is hang around for five minutes. It wouldn't even be that long!!! I have the REALLY bad habit of calling my son by his first and last name when he isn't listening to me, which is always!

It's so hard. How to talk to them without scaring them. How do you teach them to be open, honest and trusting, but not with everyone? It stinks that we even have to think about such stuff. And what's even harder is that I have to mark everything the kids wear to daycare, but then I don't want to mark it conspicuously. Argh. We do give our stuff away when we're done with it, so that is a good point.

And Heather Sue, just had to say that my birthday is November 13 and MY birthstone (according to me) is BLUE topaz. Not that pee yellow one.

Oh yeah, and I missed someone's quote where they used "Samantha" as the example. You just had to do that, right? That is DD's name.