Today was quite possibly the first time I ever truly felt the need to ask a mother why she has not yet killed her children. A much abused young woman of about thirty-five or so came in trailing four, yes four, little girls under the age of ten. She was preparing for her second wedding and needed dresses for all the girls, preferably no more expensive than a hundred dollars. They were allowed to choose any color, length or style that they wished. This doesn't sound like it should be a problem, yes?
What the following two hours taught me is that too much choice is indeed a bad thing and that children should not be allowed to watch television.
"This shade of green is just not my color mommy."
"Yeah, I like that dress but I need to see all the options available to me before I make a decision."
"My ankles are showing! I hate my ankles! I hate this dress!"
"Mommy, it's only $30 more than you wanted to spend, that's nothing!"
"Why can't I have a strapless dress? Mommy is wearing a strapless dress!"
This last gem was from by far the most difficult girl in the group. She INSISTED on looking at the party dresses meant for people older than 9 and taller than four feet. She wanted to make sure that a 2 wouldn't fit her because she didn't want a "little kid" dress. Well surprise, she picked out a black strapless cocktail dress with a tulle skirt studded with black sequins. Not very appropriate for the farm side wedding that had been described to me. Or for a 9 year old.
The dress was huge on her but she said her grandma could fix it and then pitched a fit in the middle of the store when her mother (rightfully) told her absolutely not. I do not have high hopes for this child's future fashion choices.
And of course, the oldest, most mature girl found a dress quickly, as did the youngest girl who was just pleased to be getting a dress at all. The middle two tried on at least 12 dresses each and just did. not. understand. that after this flurry of dress-trying-on that I had no more options available in their sizes (the mother wanted to buy off the rack, no ordering).
"WHY CAN'T WE JUST LOOK MOMMYYYYYYYY!!!! I JUST WANT TO LOOK ONE MORE TIME AT THE OTHER DRESSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
I was so impressed that not once did this woman either yell back at the children or beat them indiscriminately that I could not even begrudge her being a weak parent. I'm just going to go ahead and blame the father/grandparents/other family members who spoil kids.
In other news, I am enjoying color coordinating and sharing ideas for DIY projects with my clients. I'm thinking that perhaps wedding planning may be a possible career path to look into, as it would satisfy both my need to be creative and my need to be surrounded by pretty things.
Life in the salon continues to be stressful, but rewarding in the vast variety of experience I'm getting. If nothing else I have at least learned how to hold lengthy conversations with people I know nothing about. Surely, I will find a use for this.
What the following two hours taught me is that too much choice is indeed a bad thing and that children should not be allowed to watch television.
"This shade of green is just not my color mommy."
"Yeah, I like that dress but I need to see all the options available to me before I make a decision."
"My ankles are showing! I hate my ankles! I hate this dress!"
"Mommy, it's only $30 more than you wanted to spend, that's nothing!"
"Why can't I have a strapless dress? Mommy is wearing a strapless dress!"
This last gem was from by far the most difficult girl in the group. She INSISTED on looking at the party dresses meant for people older than 9 and taller than four feet. She wanted to make sure that a 2 wouldn't fit her because she didn't want a "little kid" dress. Well surprise, she picked out a black strapless cocktail dress with a tulle skirt studded with black sequins. Not very appropriate for the farm side wedding that had been described to me. Or for a 9 year old.
The dress was huge on her but she said her grandma could fix it and then pitched a fit in the middle of the store when her mother (rightfully) told her absolutely not. I do not have high hopes for this child's future fashion choices.
And of course, the oldest, most mature girl found a dress quickly, as did the youngest girl who was just pleased to be getting a dress at all. The middle two tried on at least 12 dresses each and just did. not. understand. that after this flurry of dress-trying-on that I had no more options available in their sizes (the mother wanted to buy off the rack, no ordering).
"WHY CAN'T WE JUST LOOK MOMMYYYYYYYY!!!! I JUST WANT TO LOOK ONE MORE TIME AT THE OTHER DRESSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
I was so impressed that not once did this woman either yell back at the children or beat them indiscriminately that I could not even begrudge her being a weak parent. I'm just going to go ahead and blame the father/grandparents/other family members who spoil kids.
In other news, I am enjoying color coordinating and sharing ideas for DIY projects with my clients. I'm thinking that perhaps wedding planning may be a possible career path to look into, as it would satisfy both my need to be creative and my need to be surrounded by pretty things.
Life in the salon continues to be stressful, but rewarding in the vast variety of experience I'm getting. If nothing else I have at least learned how to hold lengthy conversations with people I know nothing about. Surely, I will find a use for this.
Everything starts to blend together after awhile; angry moms, angrier bridesmaids, small children screaming unreasonably. And the brides who are a whole set of challenges in and of themselves, although I do have to wonder if this insanity begins young.
For a treat I have a gorgeous dress to share with all of you. Click here http://pinterest.com/pin/1138341/ to see Christian Dior's take on "something blue".
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