- she doesn't know what she wants
- she knows what she wants, but the clothes are inappropriate
- she doesn't like shopping with either of her parents
- she doesn't know what she wants (yes, it is worthy of being listed twice)
Her mother (the EW) and I share some of the blame. The EW is a casual dresser. The EW like jeans and t-shirts or jeans and golf shirts. I like to think that I have a good sense of style for my work attire, but my casual clothes range from the absurd to the adequate. I gave the EW money for her to take Little One shopping. I am fairly certain it was a fiasco, with few if any garments purchased and a lot of frustration all the way around.
I will now have to head to the halls of retail commerce with Little One to pick out clothes. My plan, though, is to have my Little One go shopping with a female co-worker and her daughter. This plan is also fraught with peril. Although my co-worker and her daughter dress very well and always look smart, they also tend to shop at boutiques and not typical retail shops. It will be an expensive proposition.
Tonight, though, I get to do the FUN part of school shopping. Tonight Little One and I are off to purchase pencils, binders, paper, markers and similar stuff. I am a bit of supply snob, truth be told. I don't like using cheap pens. I don't like writing on cheap paper. My daughter, thankfully, is less choosy about these items and we can follow her supply list to the letter. I am sure I will add to my collection of Moleskin journals and also find some more nice pens that I just can't live without.
Speaking of pens, I have a fondness for fountain pens. I have some really cheap ones and some rather nice ones. I have dip pens, pens with manual fill reservoirs and cartridge pens. I also like roller ball pens, and have these at various levels of aesthetic, too. I have been fooled at times, and purchased a nice looking pen online, only to learn when it is delivered that it wrote poorly, or felt too flimsy in my hand, or the barrel was too heavy, or the cap mechanism was of poor design. I have no patience with ballpoint pens. I don't think that they write smoothly and the quality of ink is often suspect.
Wish me luck with the Little One.
