I’m getting out of my comfort zone and buying Hanna a bathing suit without her pre-authorized, written approval.
When I buy things like t-shirts, jeans, reflective sweater-vests and jelly shoes I usually get a resounding, “Take it all back” before she even tries on any of the items so something more intimate like swimwear should go over well.
I saw a suit that screamed QUALITY and since I was trolling the aisles at Winners it also screamed WILL BE GONE IF YOU LEAVE THIS RACK.
The thing I loved about it is that it’s called a Paddle Suit. Who wouldn’t want their swim wear to come with a cool title?
My kids compete in Life Saving in the summer which is a combination of swimming, paddling, running and for the parents a combination of driving, sitting and snacking—A win-win for any family.
A Paddle Suit? I’ve never heard of such a thing. She’s going to LOVE it! Why? Because it was cheap, it was purchased without her consent and she’ll be the only kid her age sporting one.
Wait, is it twelve year old girls who like things that are; expensive, chosen by them and all of their friends have it? Back to the parenting handbook.
I’m trying to figure out the best way to approach her with the paddle suit. I should probably start by dropping the cool title and just be totally breezy. Make her come to me and field questions as though I have no skin in the game. If I do something senseless like set it on her bed I can already hear the footsteps into her room, the pause as she tries to figure out what it is and then the “NO WAY MOM!” being shouted down the hall. Though, it will probably be something more like, “Hashtag Hard Pass!”
If I tuck it away in the cupboard I’ll forget it’s there and/or lose the receipt.
Oh, I could be wearing it when she gets home and just be washing dishes or hiding behind a tall plant and see if she runs over and says, “I must have this!!!!” “Is that reflective tape on the sleeves? Score!”
I think this time I’m going to have to get a third party (once removed) to tell her how cool Paddle Suits are. That shouldn’t be hard to find someone but I’ve been on hold with Winners Swim Suit division for hours and no one seems to know what a Paddle Suit is. Even more wonderful than I thought, it’s one of a kind! And does Winners even have a swim-suit division? The guy who answered just said, “Hey this is Larry, leave a message.”
If I leave the suit somewhere she’s apt to stumble upon it. That might be a better approach. Have her pick it up, examine it and then ask “Who’s this for?” Then I can do one of two things—fight or flight. I can tell her I bought it for another parent who requested one for her daughter, “but I didn’t think you’d want one” (ooooh, I’m liking this already) or I could just grab it from her and run.
Leave her wanting more.
