overheard

i am starting to think that i could write a whole blog based on things that happen at my gym. every day i leave there with things to write about, though i often forget them by the end of the day. i'm not sure if it's my gym specifically or just gyms in general. either way, it makes for interesting blog fodder. \

this morning in the locker room, i overheard 2 women discussing one of their daughters. the young girl in question needs a dress for a bah/bat mitzvah. the conversation was fascinating. some bits i agreed with, some not. first, the woman said "it says 'cocktail'. what is an 11 yr old supposed to wear that's 'cocktail''? agreed. 11yrs old. cocktail. those words don't go together. i realize bah mitzvahs are coming of age parties, but i always thought they included (correct me if i'm wrong. i don't know much about jewish culture) music, dancing, gifts and food. cocktails? interesting. for 11yr olds? wrong. just wrong.

then she says "it's so hard to buy for her cause she's built like me. with a stomach, hips, you know. she's a big girl". agreed. what do you buy an 11yr old girl who is built like her mom? they don't quite fit in the kids category anymore, but they certainly don't fit the lady category either. but then i thought, wait, don't all stores (from k-mart to mexx) sell "tween" lines, designed specifically for this age group? i'm pretty sure they do.

this is followed by the friend saying "oh ya. and it's not like you can tell her it doesn't look good on her". disagree. why not use opportunities like this to teach your child how to dress to best suit their build (and age). you don't have to say "that looks hideous" but more of a "it's nice, but i think i like this one better" or something along those lines. can't be that hard. i do it with my friends/husband all the time. and they do it to me. it works. and i/they look better for it.

and then the kicker (drumroll please). the mom says "i finally decided to buy her a tight, sequinned, halter, v-neck dress that has padding in the boobies (her words, not mine)". disagree! disagree! i'm no expert here but i'm pretty sure that this is not what you should buy an 11 yr old. for any reason. ever. especially one who is "built like her mom".

11! cripes. you know what i wore when i was 11? loose, boxy, babydoll dresses (hmmm, no that was 13 i think). regardless, i can tell you for certain that i didn't wear a tight-sequinned-v-neck-halter-that-emphasized-my-"assets" (not that i had any at that age) because neither of my parents would have let me out of the house (my dad still won't...)

i left pretty quick after that last bit. i couldn't bring myself to keep listening (though deep down, i was fascinated) but mostly i had to get to work. when i left i thought to myself "actually, i do have a dress quite similar to that. maybe i shouldn't judge".

then i remembered that i'm 31. not 11.
xo