When Declan Dressed Me For A Week

About a month ago I read a blog post about a woman who let her three year old son dress her for a week (The link to that story is here if you're interested). It was so fun to read about her experience and see the pictures of what outfits her son picked. She said it was therapeutic for her and her son to switch rolls. I thought how brave she was to give her son the permission to pick out clothes that she may not ordinarily have chosen for herself. Then I thought...I want to do this with Declan. So, I did. And it was awesome.

Day 1:

I had told Declan the day before what I wanted to do, and that we would start the next day. We didn't say another word about it, and I kind of forgot, until he comes bounding in my room the next morning saying, "Mama! I get to pick out your clothes today!!" and I responded with an equally jovial "Yes you do".

The first thing he picked was the dress, saying "This is nice. I hope it's nice to you." I told him that the dress needed something like a shirt underneath it since it is low cut and not appropriate to wear by itself. 

After I put the shirt and dress on I told him that my legs might get cold today since it wasn't going to be a warm day and he said "Let's do tights" and picked out my olive green pair.

I then asked him to look through my shoes and he chose my high heel black booties because, "They look cozy inside".

Day 2:

I noticed before he picked anything he was feeling several articles of clothing with his fingers. It was really cute. He then picked two shirts for me...not sure why, and my grey leggings because, "They were the one's on top, so I just grabbed them". 

The shoes he chose were my coral Toms wedges, "I thought you would like them Mama", he proclaimed. 

He also picked out emerald green post earrings for me saying "They are so pretty". 

As I observed my outfit, I thought that it was a good thing I was only going to the Dollar Store and Big Lots that day, and that I would have to wear a long sweater over the outfit to cover my bum (I never wear leggings without something long over them). This nice old lady at the Dollar Store complimented my shoes saying they looked like Carmen Miranda shoes and I told her that my son picked them out for me. She said that he did a really good job.

Day 3:

This was by far the most interesting outfit he put together. He very carefully chose my purple peasant shirt and black sweater at the same time and as he rubbed the material of the sweater on his cheek he said "It's so soft".

He wanted to pick earrings next and chose my ivory and turquoise ones that I actually happen to love and I thought, this is shaping up to be a pretty decent outfit.

After the earrings were put on, he started to leave the room and I said, "Wait a minute! Something is missing from my outfit". He stops, looks at me and says, "Oh! Pants!".

He proceeded to rifle through my pajama bottoms and comfy pants (even though I reminded him of my jeans hanging in the closet) and picked my leopard print pajama bottoms. 

He then chose my Columbia hiking shoes because apparently I've never seen them before... (Huh?).

Thankfully we had no plans to go anywhere that day because this would have been very tough for me to wear in public.

Day 4:

The first thing he chose this day was my tan and white stripped shirt "With flowers and rocks on it"... (???) and then he chose my blue yoga pants "Because they will be comfy and they match".

The earrings he picked were actually a perfect match with the shirt, they are circular with a hole in the middle and almost look like the inside of a sea shell.

The shoes he selected were a little too small for me, so I asked him to chose another pair and he decided on my leopard print flats.

The funny thing about this day was that he picked everything except pants again, like the day before. I reminded him that I needed pants, and even showed him the ones hanging in my closet but he was insistent that I wear the blue yoga pants. 

I added the hat to run errands because I didn't want to do my hair.

Day 5:

So this particular day happened to be a Saturday. Saturdays are awesome because Sean gets the kids up and lets me sleep in a bit. We usually don't plan anything for the mornings and just enjoy family time at home. I thought "Ok D, today would be a great day to pick something really comfy for me to wear". I mean, he had been on a roll with the comfy outfits so far...why would he change now? 

The olive green shirt he picked is actually really comfy so he got it right on that one, but the white pants...not so much. They are like a jean material and a little small for me around the waist. 

His choice of earrings were long dangly orange ones and for shoes, my black wedge sandals. Sean said I actually looked really good.

Maybe D's getting better at this.

Day 6:

On this morning I told Declan that it was pretty chilly outside so I may need to wear something that keeps me warm. He picked a grey with white stripped hooded sweater. I said "Ok, now what pants?"

He grabbed my blue tights, held them up triumphantly and said "These pants!!" I told him that those weren't pants, they were tights and tights were usually worn with dresses. So he ended up picking one of my favorite dresses and it actually matches blue tights.

Thankfully he decided to put the sweater back.

For earrings it was my square silver posts with the (very small) diamonds, and for shoes, my gold ballet flats.

Overall, a very decent outfit. Although the tights got really uncomfortable by the end of the day.

Day 7:

I think this is my favorite outfit Declan chose for me. It was comfy but also cute and I actually got a compliment on it at an event I went to later that evening.

The shirt is long sleeve (super soft) blue and turquoise chevron pattern, a black three quarter sleeve sweater, black nylon workout pants, black peep toe flats that actually have a tiny heel, and light pink with dark green beaded earrings.

If you were to ask me what I learned the most from this experience I would say that, people really don't care what you're wearing. We get so caught up sometimes in what we look like or how we dress or what shirt will match what pants that will match what shoes, etc, and that can become an unhealthy focus for our life.

Now don't get me wrong, I think it's great to look your best and take pride in how you present yourself. But overall, people aren't paying THAT much attention to our clothing. At least, not the people who matter. And that is such a freeing realization. 

Another thing that was really freeing about this experiment was not having to think about what I was wearing that day. I didn't have to pick an outfit out in the morning and I didn't have to give it a second (or third, or fourth) thought throughout the day. I just wore the clothes given to me and that was that. 

The night before we started, I had made a promise to myself that I would not react to Declan's choices in any way other than positive (even facial expressions), and that I would wear the outfit the entire day. Some days that was more challenging that others, but overall, it was so good. I think I agree with the the statement that is was therapeutic for both of us.