Say Cheese

Posted on February 2, 2013 by melissa.scholes.young

Yesterday was Piper’s class picture. You know the one where the whole kindergarten smooshes together and smiles so that 10 years later you can look back and wonder what happened to the kid who ate paste. We forgot it was picture day. You’re supposed to dress up for picture day. You’re supposed to look presentable.

We’ve had a series of weather delays and early releases and general schedule rescheduling that’s left us in a permanent state of flux. I’m pretty sure Piper’s teeth were brushed. I doubt her hair was. She was wearing at least seven pieces of rainbow jewelry. Maybe two tutus. I remind her daily to wear underwear. Clean underwear. My standards are that high.

“Mom! We forgot picture day!” Piper told me on our walk home.

I shrugged. What could I do now? “Sorry, honey.”

“Thank goodness I look THIS good every day!” Piper said, twirling in her paste eating loveliness and smiling. I checked for underwear. Whew.

On the Catwalk

Posted on August 4, 2012 by melissa.scholes.young

We’re visiting the grandparents this week. As I mentioned yesterday, Piper did her own packing.

After a long day’s drive, we arrived to a home cooked meal and a cozy cottage. The cousins were reunited. There were screams of delight and joyful hugs.

Then Piper climbed up on a kitchen stool next to Nana, looked her up and down, and declared, “Nana, you aren’t very fashionable.”

Nana busted out laughing. Then she explained that as a scientist who travels the world teaching about conservation she hadn’t really gotten around to fashion.

Piper listened intently. Then she said, “And Papa married you anyway?”

This from a girl who alternates her tutu daily.

More is Always More

Posted on August 3, 2012 by melissa.scholes.young

I sent Piper packing last night. Really. We’re traveling again, and she has strong opinions.

“Pack your favorite stuff, and I’ll be in to help you,” I directed. I’ve learned the hard way with Piper. She has to do it herself first.

After a few minutes, I came in her room to assess her progress. Tutus and more tutus. Wands. Sparkly headbands. Not a pair of underwear in sight. Bikinis. Lip gloss. More lip gloss.

Piper doesn’t pack outfits. She packs costumes.

Free Will or Something Like That

Posted on June 11, 2012 by melissa.scholes.young

This is one of the library books I read over and over these days.

Piper loves it because, like the little girl in the story, she thinks kindergarten might be a little scary, too. The story girl decides to keep a diary about her feelings as she embarks on her new adventure. First, she plans her outfit.

Piper loves this idea because it involves her favorite things: choosing her own clothes, tutus, and rainbow anything. “I think she looks beautiful,” Piper says during our 316th read.

This is what the little girl’s mom actually makes her wear:

See how sad the little girl is? Her mom even made her wear socks. Someone should call protective services. Piper finds this a great injustice. “She’s already scared of school and then her mommy makes her wear something scary, too? Socks are so itchy.” Piper gets this little girl. She wants to fight for her right to dress herself.

The story ends well. No surprise there, huh? The little girl loves kindergarten. She never wants to leave. She forgives her mom for publicly humiliating her by making her look presentable on the first day of school. Piper won’t budge on the issue, though.

“You’d let me wear the first outfit, wouldn’t you?” Piper asks.

I nod, reluctantly. It’s true. This isn’t my first rodeo. I pick my battles. Besides, rainbows and tutus make Piper feel powerful. But I understand the other mommy. I’ve gotten more than a few looks for letting Piper be a Piper.

“You’re a good mommy,” Piper declares, which probably just earned her a pass to wear Mardi Gras beads and a tiara tomorrow, too. With ruby red slippers. Piper believes you can’t over accessorize. Whatever it takes to feel like you can conquer kindergarten and the world.