Really??? What do you think?

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

The "Drive By Mommy" post got me thinking of something that recently happened to me...

My twins are almost 3 and are VERY I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-A-N-T! When we go places, like Wal-Mart, the Commisary, or the PX, I let them wear what they want.

My DS does a great job...shorts, shirt, shoes...good to go.

My DD however...eh hem.............accessorizes. Tu-Tus, pink (fake) Uggs with shorts..winter hats in the summer(Central TX) you name it.

And ya know what? I let them out like that! They are doing something for themselves and you can see on her face when people compliment her, just how proud of herslf she is.

But sometimes there are ALWAYS people who have to ruin it. I have the biggest problem on post, people stare and make faces.(I mean, lets face it...it takes all kinds at Wal-Mart) But one supposed officer's wife gave me a good scolding for letting my kids out like that. Saying things like, "Honey I know you're young, but you and your children are representng your husband and the U.S. Army and right now your kids look like raggi-muffins(? whatever THAT is)" So she went on and on and even asked for my DH name, rank and unit...I politely refused... I in NO WAY have to give that info to a wife... I left in tears.

Let me just say that even if my kids ARE in the UGLIEST outfits, their clothes are ALWAYS clean, as are they. Their hair is always brushed and they are DEFINATELY presentable. So the issue really was just the clothes. Fortunately this didn't effect my DD in ANY way, but it really got to me...

What do you guys think? Do you guys let you kids dress themselve's for unimportant errands?

 

[Mermaid02]

The "Drive By Mommy" post got me thinking of something that recently happened to me...

My twins are almost 3 and are VERY I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-A-N-T! When we go places, like Wal-Mart, the Commisary, or the PX, I let them wear what they want.

My DS does a great job...shorts, shirt, shoes...good to go.

My DD however...eh hem.............accessorizes. Tu-Tus, pink (fake) Uggs with shorts..winter hats in the summer(Central TX) you name it.

And ya know what? I let them out like that! They are doing something for themselves and you can see on her face when people compliment her, just how proud of herslf she is.

But sometimes there are ALWAYS people who have to ruin it. I have the biggest problem on post, people stare and make faces.(I mean, lets face it...it takes all kinds at Wal-Mart) But one supposed officer's wife gave me a good scolding for letting my kids out like that. Saying things like, "Honey I know you're young, but you and your children are representng your husband and the U.S. Army and right now your kids look like raggi-muffins(? whatever THAT is)" So she went on and on and even asked for my DH name, rank and unit...I politely refused... I in NO WAY have to give that info to a wife... I left in tears.

Let me just say that even if my kids ARE in the UGLIEST outfits, their clothes are ALWAYS clean, as are they. Their hair is always brushed and they are DEFINATELY presentable. So the issue really was just the clothes. Fortunately this didn't effect my DD in ANY way, but it really got to me...

What do you guys think? Do you guys let you kids dress themselve's for unimportant errands?

Sure as long as it's not shorts in cold weather and enough clothes to cause heatstroke in the hot weather. As long as they are clean, teeth brushed and hair combed... what difference does it make?

 

[NMAmy]

Oh, please. In the big scheme of things, what little kids are wearing doesn't matter in the least as long as they're covered. Personally, I always smile when I see a little one wearing a costume or a funny outfit to the store. It makes me remember when dd used to wear her Pink Power Ranger costume to the grocery store. Because you never know when you might need to do some fancy kung fu fighting.

Ignore that woman and keep on letting your little ones have fun with their clothes.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Oh absolutely! My DD had the prettiest pair of red sparkly shoes around the age of 3 - think Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. She wore them with everything! In her mind, they matched no matter what she wore.
She now has a pair of fake Uggs in a lovely shade of teal. Again, they appear to match everything. And she's 10!!

I'm with you that the clothes need to be clean and the hair brushed. Everything else, who cares!!

ETA - I just read the part about someone saying something to you! How dare she???? Glad you didn't give out that information. What would the commanding officer say if she complained to him (not sure if that's the right terminology). Who does she think she is??? As long as your kids are not out in shorts in a 2 foot snow storm or wearing thermals on 100 degree days, who cares!

 

[wilma-bride]

My kids choose their own clothes but I do have the final say over what they wear. For instance, DS can wear jogging bottoms (not sure what you call them in the states) but not outside the house. If we are going out, he nedds to wear jeans or trousers.

I hope I have taught my kids what is appropriate to wear on what occasions and to which places.

Eldest DD is almost 17 and, just this morning, came down the stairs dressed for school in something I would never wear in this weather - hot pants over tights (pantyhose) with a t-shirt and cardigan. Not somethng I would choose as it's too darn cold but she looked presentable enough so I let it go.

I'm not saying your kids shouldn't choose their own outfits but I do think you have to have a hand in teaching them what is appropriate to wear.

As for an officer's wife reprimanding you, I don't think that's appropriate and no way would I have given my DH's number, rank and name either

 

[Mermaid02]

My kids choose their own clothes but I do have the final say over what they wear. For instance, DS can wear jogging bottoms (not sure what you call them in the states) but not outside the house. If we are going out, he nedds to wear jeans or trousers.

I hope I have taught my kids what is appropriate to wear on what occasions and to which places.

Eldest DD is almost 17 and, just this morning, came down the stairs dressed for school in something I would never wear in this weather - hot pants over tights (pantyhose) with a t-shirt and cardigan. Not somethng I would choose as it's too darn cold but she looked presentable enough so I let it go.

I'm not saying your kids shouldn't choose their own outfits but I do think you have to have a hand in teaching them what is appropriate to wear.

As for an officer's wife reprimanding you, I don't think that's appropriate and no way would I have given my DH's number, rank and name either

Hot pants must be different here....... they are NEVER presentable...

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Hot pants must be different here....... they are NEVER presentable...

LOL...apparently that's the look now...shorts and leggings...the 80's are back...again...for like 6 months! LOL...

 

[golfgal]

What do I think, I think being a parent is teaching your child to learn to be a responsible adult. Making decisions about what to wear is a good start, however, you want to teach them to make the RIGHT decisions too. There are also certain norms in society that are considered acceptable-dressing properly is one of them. When your child starts school and wants to wear a tu-tu to school, she will get teased. Most 5 year olds are no in no way mature enough to deal with that, period.

Our kids were always allowed to wear what they wanted, AT HOME. DD liked to wear her tinkerbell costume, a lot. It was not appropriate to wear that to the store so the compromise was she could wear it at home but if we were going out, she needed to put on this outfit or that outfit. She still had a choice of what she would wear, it was just appropriate. We never really had any issues doing things this way.

You have to let your kids learn to be independent, to a point and age appropriately but you also have to teach them what is appropriate.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

My kids choose their own clothes but I do have the final say over what they wear. For instance, DS can wear jogging bottoms (not sure what you call them in the states) but not outside the house. If we are going out, he nedds to wear jeans or trousers.

I hope I have taught my kids what is appropriate to wear on what occasions and to which places.

Eldest DD is almost 17 and, just this morning, came down the stairs dressed for school in something I would never wear in this weather - hot pants over tights (pantyhose) with a t-shirt and cardigan. Not somethng I would choose as it's too darn cold but she looked presentable enough so I let it go.

I'm not saying your kids shouldn't choose their own outfits but I do think you have to have a hand in teaching them what is appropriate to wear.

As for an officer's wife reprimanding you, I don't think that's appropriate and no way would I have given my DH's number, rank and name either

I would never let them dress this way to like...church...or somewhere where they need to look "presentable"(for lack of a better word, I think she's always presentable).

I have a few rules about the clothe, like they can't go out in PJs...Sorry I hate that. For some reason is doesn't bother me if they are teenagers or older, but little kids at the store in PJs bugs the crud out of me. (In the car like in the drive thru...okay)

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

What do I think, I think being a parent it teaching your child to learn to be a responsible adult. Making decisions about what to wear is a good start, however, you want to teach them to make the RIGHT decisions too. There are also certain norms in society that are considered acceptable-dressing properly is one of them. When your child starts school and wants to wear a tu-tu to school, she will get teased. Most 5 year olds are no in no way mature enough to deal with that, period.

Our kids were always allowed to wear what they wanted, AT HOME. DD liked to wear her tinkerbell costume, a lot. It was not appropriate to wear that to the store so the compromise was she could wear it at home but if we were going out, she needed to put on this outfit or that outfit. She still had a choice of what she would wear, it was just appropriate. We never really had any issues doing things this way.

You have to let your kids learn to be independent, to a point and age appropriately but you also have to teach them what is appropriate.

I've started to get them some of the Geranimals clothes...that all supposedly match eachother, but the clothes themseves are no so much the issue...LOL...it's the shoes and accessories...

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Sure as long as it's not shorts in cold weather and enough clothes to cause heatstroke in the hot weather. As long as they are clean, teeth brushed and hair combed... what difference does it make?

Exactly. Who cares? Now, it is your job to make sure she is dressed for the weather.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I think it's great that your kids are dressing themselves at that age. Who cares what they wear to the PX? It is absolutely NO reflection on your DH's military service. (Thank you for that, BTW.) I would have probably left a bad reflection after I was done with the woman.

When you are letting your kids dress themselves, even in silliness, you are setting them up for independence. They will figure out soon enough what makes them look silly when they go out. And since you are not letting them wear this to inappropriate places, who cares? I see grown women walking around Walmart in their "Cow jumping over the moon" PJs!

 

[SAHDad]

As long as the kids are (1) dressed so that they are not too hot, nor too cold, (2) are in clean clothes, and (3) don't have any "naughty bits" hanging out, I don't care too much with my kids, at least as far as daily, casual outings go. (Obviously, church, fancier occasions, school, etc have some restrictions.)

(Oh, and OP - a ragamuffin means a child in torn or tattered clothing, a waif, street urchin or the like. She was saying that your kids looked like ones from the casting call of Fagin's boys in Oliver Twist - which sounds completely untrue.)

 

[wilma-bride]

Hot pants must be different here....... they are NEVER presentable...

When I say hot pants, I mean shorts (they cover her bottom but not any of her legs). Not sure if that is the same as you mean by hot pants

 

[Kies99]

First off, good for you for letting them be independent. I figure as long as it's covering what it needs to then who cares if it matches. They are kids.

Second, is there any type of regulation about dependents and how they dress on post? If not, then that officer's wife was WAY out of line saying anything to you. You should report her behavior!

 

[Allison]

My son spent a summer wearing shorts, a huge cowboy hat and Power Ranger snow boots.

There were no lasting effects and I certainly didn't care what anyone else thought about it.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

First off, good for you for letting them be independent. I figure as long as it's covering what it needs to then who cares if it matches. They are kids.

Second, is there any type of regulation about dependents and how they dress on post? If not, then that officer's wife was WAY out of line saying anything to you. You should report her behavior!

No...there ae no regulations on a service man/women's family besides, I would say, "normal" society rules.

 

[golfgal]

I've started to get them some of the Geranimals clothes...that all supposedly match eachother, but the clothes themseves are no so much the issue...LOL...it's the shoes and accessories...

I loved Geranimals when I was a kid. My DH still needs them but they don't make them in his size

No...there ae no regulations on a service man/women's family besides, I would say, "normal" society rules.

I have no experience living on a military base but I can't imagine that how your family presents themselves doesn't have in impact on your career, even if it is not anything formal. I would never have brought the kids to DH's office in grubby clothing or Power Ranger Costumes. It just isn't appropriate. Maybe living on base is different but I would be concerned if we did not present ourselves in socially accepted norms that it might have an impact on his career. I know FULL WELL some people at DH's old company did not get promotions because it would have meant their spouse had to socialize with customers and it would NOT have been good.

 

[Mermaid02]

LOL...apparently that's the look now...shorts and leggings...the 80's are back...again...for like 6 months! LOL...

Yeah, but "hot pants" are so short that butt cheek peeks out....

 

[wilma-bride]

Yeah, but "hot pants" are so short that butt cheek peeks out....

I did post an explanation back at the end of page 1 - her butt cheeks are well and truly covered