A Saturday in search of a dress

It's a beautiful Saturday in Maine in September, what better way to spend it?  The Maine Mall in search of the perfect homecoming dress! It's not surprising that my second blog post is about shopping.  It's my teenage daughter's favorite past time and I am usually involved. Of course a trip to the mall would not have been complete without friends to join in the fun so we brought along three of her dear friends.  These lovely ladies are so nice and polite. They are all sophomores, have known each other since elementary school and they enjoy each others company. I knew it was going to be a fun day.  Here they are ready to get started!

Macy's was the first stop.  Four teenagers with at least five dresses a piece in four different fitting rooms - what a mess! I noticed a Macy's employee peek into the fitting area to inspect, I saw the look of relief on her face when she saw there was an adult present.  Other than the rack outside the fitting area filled with rejected dresses, you wouldn't have known they were there, so no worries Macy's lady!  This is a picture of them waiting on my child to finish up - it was time to move on!

Cache.  True confession - I had never set foot in this store before Saturday.  No real reason. It's a very nice store and it did indeed have beautiful dresses as we were told but they were mostly for adult women and a bit pricey for a homecoming dance.  What they did have was a clearance rack.   Daughter picks up a very formal dress and says "I want to try this on for Chizzle Whizzle" (Chizzle Whizzle is a long standing tradition at their high school - the week ends with their big formal it's in March - I'll blog about it then with more information) She tried on, she loved it, I loved it, friends loved it and just like that we walked out of Cache with a Chizzle Whizzle dress for $39! SCORE! (For the record this never happens to me!)

One thing about teenage girls I've noticed is once they've tried on gazillion dresses and haven't found one, they just want to just shop for what they know, or shop for gifts for their boyfriends or just take a break in the stationary store and talk about aforementioned boyfriends.  I have to admit, I was ready for the break as well....but still no homecoming dress, not one.  They don't look worried.

On our way out of the mall, daughter decides to go back to Macy's and give one more dress a try.  It was a success (I will save the reveal for the homecoming blog).  So one out of four girls found a dress.  I was really hoping all the girls would have a beautiful dresses to take home to their moms.  Something tells me that each one will show up at that dance looking like princess.  Happy faces all around as some favorite things were purchased and time spent together was enjoyed by evidence in the photo below.  I just want to note, that each girl thanked me at least twice and were so appreciative of the trip to the mall.  I love politeness in young people.

After we made the hour-long journey home, the girls all had plans to attend a party that evening with more of their 2016 classmates (I truly wish I had their energy) I was so happy to have been a part of the giggles, the music and the fun but I was exhausted! So after all the drop offs, I went home lit some candles, turned on the tv, poured a glass of red and picked up my knitting.  Very thankful for the day.

Elizabeth B

First Day of School (and my very first blog post)

It’s a beautiful morning; summer still has a strong presence and like every year school starting always feels too soon. Today is the first day of my youngest daughter’s sophomore year in high school. Today begins nine months of early risings, music coming from her bedroom far too early, school drop offs and then off to work (again far too early). Unlike all summer, no more lying luxuriously in my bed until I feel like getting up. I would knit a little while watching the news and sipping my coffee before heading to work at the usual time. That will have to wait for school vacations and a smattering of workshop and snow days.

As my youngest approaches her half way mark through high school, I reflect on all the past years I've been preparing for the first days of school. It occurs to me that year by year I've had to do less and less. I’m not complaining in the least (well maybe a wee bit- as I still wish they were little girls). It started 18 years ago with my oldest daughter getting on the bus with her day care buddies (I cried, she did not) to having two in school walking my youngest to her kindergarten class followed by a tearful good bye (my tears not hers). Maybe those tears were me knowing that this day would come? This occurrence to me that with each passing year my daughters would need me less and less not just on the first day of school but for many things. I know they still need me plenty, just differently. No more cutting the crust off their sandwiches, no more doing their hair for them or helping them pick out their outfits or making sure they have their homework. They are both independent, lovely young women, I am so pleased. But I can’t help but feel a little sad.

Now my role is far less on school days; I’m really just the driver. It’s usually the same every day a quiet 5-10 minute drive to the high school a little chit chat once in a while, an exchange of I love you then she’s out the door and I’ll drive off. This year is a little different and poignant knowing that next year she will most likely drive herself to school on the first day and every day after that and I won't need to be the driver. I will try to treasure this first day of school and the days after; the early rising, the bleary-eyed quiet chit chat but I know me and I know I will silently wish she was still in a 5-point restraint system in the back seat.

Finally blogging,

Elizabeth B.