"You're doing it again," my daughter Natalie said.
"What?" I asked.
"Staring. It's creepy. I'm getting older. Not dying," Natalie reminded me.
Oh. Oops. Yeah.
I can't help it though. She's going into MIDDLE SCHOOL. She's my last baby. But, I mean, let's be honest, I sort of freaked out when my son went to Middle School too.
We were going back to school clothes shopping. Back when she was tiny, I could go out and buy whatever I wanted and she'd wear it. Now? Now.
"Seriously, Mom? No," Natalie said, wrinkling her nose.
It can be tricky shopping with an opinionated tween girl. But there are ways to cope.
1. Don't be offended if they don't like what you pick. They are getting older. They have their own styles. What they liked last year isn't necessarily what they'll like this year.
2. Bring emergency chocolate if things get super tense.
"Oh cool, I like this shirt," Natalie said at one point.
I checked the price. "Yeah. No."
Then I got the stink eye. But sorry. If it's over $30, it's not happening. I don't even pay over $30 for my clothes.
3. Enjoy yourself. I mean, yeah, tween girls can be moody. But they can be fun too. Usually when they're in the changing room and you don't have to hear them. Ha. I'm kidding. But no. I usually enjoy my time with my daughter until Linda Blair's demon randomly flies into her.
4. Don't let her walk all over you. Seriously. If something is too expensive, say something. If you hate the style, don't buy it. Yes, they might have their own style, but fish net anything is disturbing. Check their attitude.
5. Savor the sweet moments. When I did buy items for my daughter, she thanked me. "I love you. Thank you for buying me the clothes." I got many hugs.
It's tough to know that my daughter is growing up. But I savor and look forward to the moments we do have together. She might be getting older, but she'll always be my little girl.
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OH my word can I relate. I just went shopping with my 12-year old and I try very hard to remain calm. LOL! But then the sweet little girl we know and love makes an appearance with the thank you and it's all okay. We will survive it and maybe even enjoy this phase!
ReplyDeleteI have boys right now to buy clothes for and they can be just as tough. I think girls clothes are way more fun like that watermelon dress that I am seeing.
ReplyDeleteI’m just a kid myself so can’t really relate... I am wondering if my parents are like this too tho :)
ReplyDeleteI always wore a uniform to school so the back to school shop was very dull compared to this haha! I would love to have gone shopping for awesome clothes.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine how hard it must be to shop with a teenage girls, especially when the clothes that she likes are out of the budget. I don't have children but I see moms with girls in the stores every time I go shopping and sometimes it's a struggle.
ReplyDeleteHaha, I have 2 tween girls and I usually walk away and ask them to pick what they want and bring it to me for inspection. It's easier on my mental that way, lots of clothes get sent back to the racks though.
ReplyDeleteNow this brings back memories. We have dress standards in our home when the kids were growing up. Those standards were went over before going to the stores. We always had fun.
ReplyDeleteBack to school shopping is fun. I just get to shop for uniform shirts!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! Now that my daughter is older she goes shopping on her own now. But the boys we typically set a budget and come to some type of agreement with the clothes that they purchase.
ReplyDeleteOMG your daughter is so pretty. Loved the blog post. I can totally remember my own 'back to school shopping' with my mom. This blog post just brought back those memories
ReplyDeleteI totally understand this dilemma, i have a younger sister, and i have to buy her stuff, and it totally gets out of budget.
ReplyDeleteLove your tips especially the chocolate. lol! I think it's not easy but the smile on their faces give us happiness as well.
ReplyDeleteI have a boys in my house but they still have their own style. Sometimes I hit a homerun when I buy them something and sometimes I don't. I definitely try not to take it personally. I can't believe my babies are getting older also. I am pretty sure my child will say the same thing as yours will about the whole staring at them thing. I stare at them all the time hoping that they don't grow any larger.
ReplyDeleteI loved the negotiation at my house. We went with $300. Sure, she could get the $100 jeans but then probably only 4 tops. It was fun to see her make those decisions.
ReplyDeleteLOL bring emergency chocolate if things get super tense! My mom should have did that when we used to go back to school shopping.
ReplyDeleteI have a teen, same age and same name :) We are going through all these struggles too, especially with clothing and shoes. It's tough! I agree about bringing a snack - they definitely get moody and a little sugar never hurt! The budgeting is a new thing too. I told my daughter she could have good shoes, but she didn't want me spending $60. Yet look at all the other shoe prices! It's hard for them to believe how much stuff is when it comes to making choices.
ReplyDeleteHow about surviving the summer. Back to school is the easy part! :)
ReplyDeleteMy mom always got mad whenever we don't choose what she likes for us. We often debate about it and we fight about our choices. Our dad tends to side with us so we'll have more freedom in school shopping.
ReplyDeleteI sure remember when I was this age and wanted to pick all my clothes and well, apparently, I have opinions on everything as well. Lol. I love your tips, it's good to just enjoy your time with your tween and be firm when the price is too high.
ReplyDeleteI so know how you feel. My girls are almost all grown. I have a 23, 20 and 16 year old. I am so saddened by how quickly they grew up. I almost miss the days over fighting with them over clothes.
ReplyDeleteChocolates can really make things easier. :) Children grow up so fast these days. One time they're too tiny, the next they are already shopping for their own clothes. Thanks for sharing your experience.
ReplyDeleteShopping with a teenage girl can be difficult. But you seem to know what you're doing and hanging on there :)
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with you. My kid is still young so he can wear anything I'll pick but I know when he gets older it's gonna be like this.
ReplyDeleteI have a daughter but she's still in preschool. At an early age, she practices her freedom of choice. She decides on what she wants to wear. And, I am a bit surprised about that. But of course, I am the one to approve if the price is right. LOL
ReplyDeleteMy older daughters are 11 and 12 and boy was it fun taking them back-to-school shopping! You have some great tips! - Jeanine
ReplyDeleteI keep having back to school clothing campaigns for work, so it's like I'm being forced to buy my kids clothes. And I know I should be happy.. and of course I'm filled with gratitude.. but for the most part, I need your list! We're going to Justice on Monday and there will be chocolate..
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is 9 so she is either a tween or right on the border of being one. I'm noticing a different attitude from her...not bad per say just different.
ReplyDeleteSo much fun! Back to School always makes me wonder: what if I had a girl?
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you two had fun :). I completely understand your comment about the "devil" flying into her - my tween can be a handful! But there are still those beautiful moments that you have to savor.
ReplyDeleteOh how I remember the days of back to school shopping with tweens and teens! Although at the time it seemed super stressful, now I look back at these fun memories with love. :-)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely enjoying each moment and probably sticking to the budget too! Shopping with her would be very memorable and count this moments too.
ReplyDeleteWow...going back to school shopping will be really fun! When I was teenage my mom have usually said shopping with me is damn difficult.
ReplyDeletethese are all wonderful tips, I rememmber how much of a pain I was during this time. my mom would really dread it because I was so picky with everything.
ReplyDeleteAww she's definitely grown, I remember shopping with my mum and she didn't like it as much lol
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness her face in the first pic is absolutely perfect. Looks like you've got everything under control.
ReplyDeleteMy mom always said she loved shopping with me because even if I didn't like something, then I was super polite about it. I can only hope that for my daughter. I love your emergency chocolate idea! Genius!
ReplyDeleteHaha! Emergency chocolate is ALWAYS a good idea. Bad news is, boys are just as bad.
ReplyDeleteI remember these days with my daughter. Luckily, I didn't have to buy her a ton of clothes because ended up getting a ton of hand me downs from my sisters. It was always sad when she didn't like the things that I thought were cute.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't so lucky with my boys. I've always taught them to look at the clearance rack first because their mom is frugal. I'm like you unless it is a special occasion, I'm not spending a ton of money on their clothes.
These are great tips for sure! I totally need to go to the stores with the kids to pick up stuff. I will follow some of your tips!
ReplyDeleteI put my foot down a lot when it comes to what I buy. I am pretty open though and let them choose their own styles. These are great tips!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a good time shopping, and these are some great tips. I always enjoyed going shopping with my daughter, even when she was a tween. I would have liked it more if I had known to have emergency chocolate!
ReplyDeleteMy niece is only 6 and she won't wear everything you pick out. She's quite the little diva which can make back to school shopping interesting. Can't wait to see what happens when she is middle school age.
ReplyDeleteI have two tween girls at the moment and I'm not looking forward to back to school shopping with them. My wife usually does it and I think this year she can again lol!
ReplyDeleteI loved reading your post. My girls are around the age where they are now picking out their own style as well. It can be tough, but you got to let them decide what they want to wear. I agree with you on everything you've said here too.
ReplyDeleteShopping with a teenager must be a nightmare lol!!! I sometimes go shopping with a friend of mine who has a teenage girl!!! Nightmare lol but fun.
ReplyDeleteMy mom took one for the team and took my daughter back to school shopping. She wears a uniform so at least we don't have to do the whole clothes thing.
ReplyDeleteThey grow up so fast! I'm not a mom, but I remember when I went through that stage as a kid. Great tips! I think that its always important to take their opinion into consideration.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, Shopping with a tween son was not much better. He hates shopping as it is. I gave him a gift card to shop with so he was conscious of the prices
ReplyDeleteCan I say, Karma is real hahaha, I can still remember when I was in that stage, I used to give my mom a headache with all these back to school stuff.
ReplyDeletehaha. it's true that they have their own choice now. agree about the fish net, it's creepy!
ReplyDeleteIt is true. I haven't started the school shopping I can see all these, even though they are not teenager but drama is almost similar.
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