Guess what Monkey’s favorite book is these day? Go ahead, guess. I’ll wait.
That’s a good guess. No.
Monkey’s favorite new book is a toy catalog she discovered at Nonna and Pap-pap’s house this past weekend. She pores over that thing the way I hope she’ll concentrate on her math homework in high school. She can tell what is for 4-year-olds. She points out to Bun toys that are for 2-year-olds, and tells her (Bun) that she can have them.
I am dealing with the sudden onset of crass materialism by assuring Monkey that she can have one or two of these toys — for her birthday or Christmas.
Yesterday morning we couldn’t find the catalog for the ride to day school. It was quite a crisis.
It still hasn’t turned up, but Monkey has been sufficiently distracted by the upcoming sleepover at her cousins’ house tonight (while DearDR and I attend the Green Day concert).
*****
Yesterday morning, Monkey complained that her big toe hurt. Taking a look at her foot, I noticed very red, raw spots on her big, middle, and pinky toes.
“Monkey!” I exclaimed, “Your shoes are too small!” I felt like the mother of the year, let me tell you.
I put her in a pair of flip-flops for the day. (Bella had to run down later with another pair of shoes because the flip-flops did not have an ankle strap. I guess sandals at the day school have to have an ankle strap. I clearly am not paying enough attention.)
And at lunch, I ran out to buy her size 12 shoes.
TJ Maxx was an utter fail on the little people shoe front. I saw about four pairs, most of them flip-flops (no ankle straps).
KMart was better, with an extensive selection — of shoes with Hannah Montana, High School Musical, and Camp Rock characters on them.
I have no issues with any of those vehicles per se. Only, my kid is 4 (and a half) and she hasn’t seen any of those shows or movies yet. We’re still on PBSKids and Noggin in my house. Although Monkey did recently declare her love for Hannah Montana. I think she’s picking it up from day school.
In any case, I did track down a pair of pretty sandals ($4) and sneakers with no characters on them (more than $4, but not too bad). It seems that size 12 and up are for girls who see the aforementioned shows, and size 10 and under are still for princesses, Dora, and Pooh. Size 11 shoes are scarce regardless of what may be on them. Character-free shoes are easier to find in smaller sizes. (Although I did see some wee shoes with Hannah Montana on them.)
Monkey promptly gushed over the sneakers — “They are beautiful! I love them!” — and declared the sandals to be her favorit-est shoes ever.
The upside of having a drama queen: unbridled enthusiasm for new shoes and sleepovers.
I’ll take it.
Forgot to do this yesterday. Countdown to Spa Day: Three days.
Red Pen Mama 