The Vest

I hate The Vest.  There are few things in life I really dislike to the point of using the "H" word, but the vest is one of them.

First off, I should explain The Vest.  Like many Washingtonians, my Grandma has a fleece vest.  I don't even know how many years she's worn the vest.  It's like it's always been.  My Grandma...The Vest.

Being from Washington, fleece is the fashion wear of choice.  It's warm.  It seems to wick the rain.  It's easy to find.  It hides unwanted pounds.  The benefits are countless.

I'll admit, before moving to California I had a red, boxy, unflattering fleece pull-over that was like a security blanket.  No matter what size I was, the fleece covered it.  I could be 40 pounds heavier, wear the fleece and no one knew the difference. The fleece was cozy, and warm, but it was also unflattering, worn and tired. Despite some reservations, I moved it out and surprisingly haven't missed it.

I realize people have favorite clothes they continue to wear despite how they look. I'm sure the What Not To Wear folks would have a heyday in my closet!  There are those favorites that are just so cozy, you can't help but wear at night or when it's cold outside.  I have a pair of awful, yet cozy, black, fleece hammer pant sweats. They are completely unflattering, but on a chilly day, I'll wear them to the gym along with my REI blue mountain socks. I know the combo is a fashion faux pas, but they're comfortable and cozy and nothing else seems to matter.

Like my red fleece pull-over or black hammer pant sweats, my Grandma has a tan, tired, old, worn-out, dingy, boxy, unflattering, did I mention ugly, fleece vest.  She loves this piece of clothing.  She loves that it has "inside" pockets. Inside pockets are the backs of outside pockets that have to have a place to go.  She stashes her phone in her "inside pocket" when she walks with her senior friends.  She wears little angel pins on the collar in memory of family members who have passed away. Along with the vest, she wears a white, long-sleeve, ribbed turtleneck.  She actually owns three identical white turtleneck sweaters.  The white sweaters, along with the fleece vest, a pair of light blue jeans and white Easy Spirits equals "The Uniform."

This photo was taken years ago.  The uniform with a blue ribbed turtleneck.

She's worn this uniform for years and she LOVES it!

Last Christmas when she visited, I took her shopping looking for a replacement vest. We searched high and low from Macy's to Eddie Bauer to JCPenney and beyond, but there was no vest to be found that was roomy enough and met the "inside pocket" criteria.

We did find her a couple new ribbed turtleneck sweaters to offer her some different color options.  I doubt she's ever worn them.  My guess is they are folded beautifully in her drawer along with the MANY other beautifully folded, new sweaters we've tried to introduce into her wardrobe.

Prior to her visit, I called her to let her know I planned to take her to see Andrea Boccelli and Dr. Phil.  We had to discuss wardrobe requirements and ideas. According to the Dr. Phil show guidelines, audience guests were asked not to wear white as it doesn't show up well on camera.  In addition, the fleece vest isn't Andrea Boccelli material, so she needed to bring some more options.

With my mom's help, she packed some very cute dressy clothes.  Thank you mom!  I was secretly hoping "The Vest" wouldn't make the trip down to SoCal, but that was a lot to ask for.

I spoke with my mom the morning of my Grandma's flight.  My mom told me, "She'll be there in her uniform.  She's so excited!"

The Vest was coming back for it's third Christmas in SoCal.

Bummer!

When we picked my Grandma up she was wearing her light blue jeans, white Easy Spirits, white turtleneck and gray coat.

We went out to lunch, stopped by the Goodwill (her favorite place), and then headed home.

She unpacked and settled in.

She then came to me and asked where she had put her vest.

I hadn't seen the vest at this point, and hadn't even missed it.

She searched multiple times through the car and her suitcase, but did not find the beloved vest.

She thought she definitely left the vest hanging in the restroom of the airport.

I called.  No vest.

I didn't want to celebrate the vest's demise, but I strongly feel everything happens for a reason. Just like the time our son spit his pacifier down a flushing toilet and it was bye-bye binky; it was time to break the bond with the vest.  It was meant to be!  The vest was gone.

Sadly, she was torn up about the vest.  A couple times while sitting in the rocker thinking she'd say, "I sure miss my vest."

Poor Grandma, she did love that vest.

When she left I went on a shopping hunt.

I found a PERFECT, new, black, Columbia fleece vest WITH inside pockets.  I took a photo of it; emailed it to my mom.  We had thought we found the PERFECT replacement that my Grandma would love!

I packaged it up and shipped it out.  She would be so surprised!  I was excited!

THEN, I got the call.

My heart sank.

The Seattle airport had found her vest.

RATS!

I guess the super-cute, black fleece vest I got her will sadly join the bowels of her drawers folded neatly alongside the other perfectly folded new clothing we've all bought her over the years.

The Vest is back.

Do you have a favorite piece of clothing like my Grandma's vest that you know you shouldn't wear, but it just feels too good?

Maybe 2012 is a good year to spruce up the wardrobe and move out those pieces that have served their time.  Let them rest.  Find something cute and flattering and say good-bye to tired and worn.

Do Homeschooler's Get New School Clothes?

Growing up we were guaranteed new clothes at least three times a year.  Christmas, birthday and just before school started.  I loved school clothes the most.  All summer I'd plan what to wear the first day.  First day was a huge deal!  It could make or break the year (at least in my mind).  I had one recurring nightmare that I showed up at school wearing one of my mom's nightgowns.  She had purple nightgown with flowers that I really thought was stylish.  In my dream, I'd show up at school thinking I had it all together and then realize I was wearing my mom's nightgown.  In the nightgown's defense, it was the latest 70's wear that looked more like the maxi-dress of today.  Perhaps, I secretly wished I could wear that cute nightie as a dress.  Now the 70's nightgown is a fashion statement and I'm free to sport the maxi-dress.  The nightmare is now reality.

Anyway, back to homeschooler's and school clothes.  Do our little students get to experience the August spending spree?

No Need To Impress

At our school, we have no need to impress fellow students.  If the kids want to wear something nice, Great!  If they want to wear a costume, Great!  If they want to wear strips with plaid, Great!  All I require is that they wear clean clothes.  Often times, they don't match, but I think they are trying out their personal style without the fear of ridicule.  What a great way to express individuality without worrying about what a classmate may say.  In my opinion, we have the coolest 8th grader, 5th grader and 3rd grader enrolled.  Whatever they wear, is what's in.  On most days it's just a pair of shorts and a t-shirt.  We really aren't up on the latest styles (What handbags are in style now?  Should I buy a pair of True Religion jeans?), but we're definitely not "wearing doilies on our heads" as one pastor describes homeschoolers.  He might know a lot about Calvinism, but not so much about homeschoolers.  Maybe one day we'll be able to introduce him to the homeschoolers of today!  Check out these homeschool moms- not a doily or a smock in sight!

Buy As Needed

During the summer, the daily attire consists of shorts, t-shirts, and flip flops.  The school attire is about the same.  I've found the kids do have growth spurts during the summer so inevitably they need new shoes come fall.  In the past, I've bought their shoes, but as they get older and the shoes are increasing in cost they're now contributing.  Our middle son saved his birthday gift cards and money to buy his latest pair of shoes.  I was really proud of him and the kids are guaranteed to wear what they've spent their hard earned money on.

These are Reebok Zigs.  I keep calling them Zips, but they are Zigs.

Watching our son save and then purchase his own shoes reminded me of my brother who saved, saved and saved for a pair of Air Jordans.  Remember those?  He saved for such a long time.  Those were the rage of the 80's.  I think he was pretty proud of his purchase too!

Some of you may be asking "Why would I make our kids purchase (or contribute to the purchase of) their shoes and/or clothing?  I've been doing this parenting gig for thirteen years now and our kids are just like most people, if they don't invest in it, they don't appreciate it.  I've bought so many clothes and shoes that end up never being worn.  I see the items on the floor or in the drawer never to be seen again until they end up in my office waiting to be resold on ebay.  Enough of that business.  They help out and they actually feel good about it!  It gives them a sense of pride and accomplishment to know they earned it.  Good life lesson!

Books over Clothing

I just completed our purchase of school books for the year.  Well, I almost completed it.  When the box arrived, I realized I forgot to buy a couple books for our daughter.  Looks like another order is in my near future.  Ordering school books is no small expenditure.  There are homeschool families who don't use curriculum and rely on the library, but we're a curriculum family.  I guess that's what happens when mom is a teacher and a bit abstract-random.  The guidelines keep me focused.

This is our VERY heavy box of School Joy!  Feels like Christmas.

Since we have to buy ALL our books and/or curriculum, I'm grateful I don't have to spend a great deal of money on school clothes.  The school books set us back enough!

Sports

In addition to purchasing school books, fall brings fall sports.  From season to season the kids grow out of soccer shoes, need shin guards, new shorts, etc.  It's nice when a younger family member can reuse shorts being passed down, but that doesn't always happen.  So every fall we're looking at purchasing new soccer shoes, shin guards, socks, shorts and this year one of the kids is trying a little football.  I'm not sure what is needed for this sport, but I'm sure shoes are a necessity.

Back to School Anticipation

With all that said, there's still a Huge part of me that hopes our kids can experience the First Day Of School excitement.  I'd lay awake the night before school started unable to sleep in anticipation.  My new clothes were laid out.  The new lunch box was purchased.  The new binder was filled with paper.  I had plans for how I'd style my hair.  The late night calls checking with friends to see what they were wearing.  I love those memories!

I hope each new school year brings excitement and anticipation of great things for our kids.  We're going to talk about school clothes.  I wonder if they even care.  We'll see what they have to say.