Once Again I’m Behind on All the Trends

First, I was on WNYT’s  Newschannel 13 Live at Noon yesterday, and you can watch it here. You might have to scroll down a bit to “Fun Fall Activities.” I haven’t watched it, but I do remember that I spoke very, very quickly. I think if I watched I’d just focus on what I didn’t like–easier to trust other people who say it went okay. For those of you looking for fun this weekend, it’s a preview of coming attractions.

Anyway. . .

A few weeks ago the girls took a walk around the neighborhood and arrived home sporting adorable rubber-band bracelets that one of M’s friends had given her. The next day, one of J’s friends gifted her with another homemade rubber-band bracelet. I couldn’t help wondering whether there’s some sort of Cool Moms Meeting in which the with-it grown-ups are apprised of the very latest trends so that their children will be supplied with these items and become the envy of their peers.

Fast forward a bit, and J and I were discussing items that she’d like for her goody bag, since her birthday’s coming up. The party itself is going to be a low-key affair–only three girls invited–but putting together the goody bags is always a favorite part. So of course we both thought of a little supply of rubber bands for bracelets. Because I am not a Cool Mom who knows that this sort of crafting requires Special Equipment like a plastic loom-like apparatus and crochet hook. I went shopping at Michael’s, as suggested by a knowledgeable 8-year-old, and I finally understood the myth behind the Cool Mom: it’s actually a massive display of Rainbow Looms as you walk into the store. I’d just wanted the little rubber bands. I went to two different stores before conceding defeat, schlepping back to Michael’s, and forking over the almost twenty bucks for one of these contraptions, with the revised plan that each girl could get a homemade bracelet in her goody bag.

J was on board: she went right to work:

Speaking of trendy items, another goody bag feature will  be some eos Lip Balms. Yes, these were hot among the then-5th graders last spring, but I’m bargaining that it takes a while for the trends to trickle down to third grade.

 

The trouble now is that the goody bags are looking interesting enough that M feels like she needs to “help” J by advising her on the color distribution, etc., of the various items. She’s got a stake in this since, at our house, sisters always score a goody bag, too. Still, M is bossy, bossy, bossy. I just told her to back off and was rewarded by a pointedly angry exit from the house so that she could take a walk up and down the driveway, then some death stares, and finally an antisocial stalk up to bed early. I know that I should feel punished, but mostly I’m just glad to clock out for the night.