I have a secret that I want to share when it comes to dressing your kids for the holidays…are you ready?
Your kids hate itchy, tight, annoying clothes.
Wow that was a groundbreaker wasn’t it 😂?! But I have had to teach myself that over the years of super cute, overpriced, matching outfits for my three. Why do our kids give us so much trouble? Because we are trying to shove them in an outfit that they are not comfortable in- and when they get older- they don’t even want to match. But I have learned some tricks from my growing kids that I will share today. My kids are older now so I will talk to their ages- but some of it honestly can be taken to all ages. Also- this is just what works for me- I tend to lean towards to my kids dressing trendy- if that is not you, cool! I think how you dress your kids is absolutely adorable too- so let’s just learn from each other, k?
About matching – once your kids hit a certain age, matching is damn hard. I have a couple teenagers and then a 9 year old- that is some big gaps. I have learned that you kiiiiiinda have to sneak the matching in when you can. In other words, I know they match, but they don’t realize it. So that means all of their outfits coordinate and match- but everyone has different pieces that are specific to them. They have their own personalities that I like to showcase anyway. I honestly also like it if they are not too matchy, but that is my taste. Always always always find one piece of clothing first. Don’t go into it trying to find everyone’s at once. For example: I will try to find Bree’s main piece or maybe Claire’s first and then base everything around that one piece. You will get overwhelmed if you try to do it all at once.
Comfort is key. I know this seems like a no brainer- but we miss this so often. And understandably so! Kids clothes are SO adorable and damnit they are wearing what we say. The best advice I can give you, especially for Thanksgiving, is to find super comfy outfits for your kids. They will be in better moods and that will make EVERYONE’S day better. We go from house to house, eat a ton, and our kids are constantly messed with by family members, usually in hot houses. They have to perform, speak, and have to be respectful to people they might not even know that well- would you want to be pulling on tights or an itchy sweater? I have learned (the hard way) that Thanksgiving is not a time for girls in tights and shoes that are not comfy or boys in sweaters (unless they love them!) and tons of layers that have to keep on. If you have no issues with this stuff- MORE POWER TO YOU! Me- yeah no. Been there done that, have the forced pictures to prove it 😂.
So let’s walk through each of my kids as an example and how I plan…
- Claire – days away from 15 freaking years old (someone hold me)
- Ok this is the hardest one – even more than the boy HA! Here is the deal with teenagers – you have to let them have a say and don’t even try to force it. I am not saying to let them wear a crop top and make Nina pass out – but if they don’t have the same taste as you and want to wear a huge sweater and leggings, ITS OK. Let them wear the distressed jeans, but a nicer sweater. Let them wear the dark lips – but maybe not the eyeliner. COMPROMISE. With Claire, I tell her these are her color options, and we go from there. Old Navy and Target are my saving graces with her – every single time we can find something. If you have problem getting yours to dress up to your standards – tell them they can wear the sweatshirt, but they have to fix their hair cute and wear some makeup (I apologize to all of you mamas in the trenches of babies and toddlers and this scares the hell out of you – don’t even think about it right now!). Plan the whole outfit and make them try it on. Nothing ruins a holiday morning than a teenage daughter screaming that she hates her outfit…trust RB.
- Owen – 12 years old
- Ok with Owen I keep it super simple: comfy, clean, and deceivingly festive. SO MANY DAMN YEARS I wasted trying to make him layer up the button downs and sweaters. Now, they weren’t entirely wasted – he looked SO HANDSOME and my pictures are amazing, but I know that my blue eyed hunk was MISERABLE. So now, I usually just buy him new clothes for holidays so I know they are not stained, have holes, or too worn. Owen is a simple boy and wears the same things every day in different variations. Right now that is joggers, a hoodie (Under Armor or Nike), and tennis shoes. So this year for Thanksgiving – I am getting him a new pair of joggers and I already got him a burgundy Under Armor pullover. He will match us and be super comfortable. If he is up for it, I will see if he will wear jeans and boots – but that is not going to hurt my feelings if he is not as thrilled with that. I think joggers are so cute on boys of all ages and are male version of our leggings HA! I have to say that Owen will wear whatever I tell him and barely complains, but I can tell a BIG difference when I just LET IT BE.
- Bree – 9 years old
- Bree is my little fashionista and LOVES to dress up, but even she has her preferences. She requests every year to NOT wear tights or “dress shoes”. She just hates tights, like really hates them. Beyond that – she is game! So every year I usually get her top or dress first – and then go from there. My token perfect outfit for her is a long top or maybe a dress, with leggings and boots. I layer on the accessories that makes her feel like a big girl, and we are GOLD. She wants to dress like her big sister and I have to find that happy medium so Claire does not walk downstairs and realize that Bree is matching too close. Bree is also only 9, so I try to keep her little, but y’all know how it is.
- Babies!
- I learned that it is important to wear cozy, warm, and easy to change outfits! That may seem like a no brainer, but you won’t realize that until you have to change a diaper. With Claire, I would plan the perfect outfit…aaaaaand then she would have a blowout and here we are at Thanksgiving with her in the damn backup outfit that is pajamas HA! Not too many layers and make sure you have socks. Nothing pisses off your grandmother more than bare baby feet HA!
A couple more tips that I have learned that may help you too…
- It’s ok if your kids don’t eat all the things. Honestly – all the Thanksgiving foods may be dreamy to us, but look like CRAZINESS to our kids. It’s ok if they eat nothing but rolls and cool whip. Don’t let your family pressure you – tell Nana to back off and let them eat pie. Not worrying about that and letting them enjoy themselves at the kid table – will be a HUGE relief for you.
- If you have multiple Thanksgiving dinners in one day – try your hardest to let your kids go home to chill or nap – at the very least in the car. They are going to hang out with a lot of people that want them to perform and be adorable – give them some time like you know you need it too 🙂
Ok! I have NO idea what my crew is exactly wearing this year – well Owen is set, but I don’t know about the girls just yet – I have been perusing online and saving cute options for us :)…check out the links below (all from Old Navy because I know we all have those and their deals are the BEST!) as well as a couple pics from Thanksgiving past of my babies :).
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