Super Hero Fetish
Okay... so maybe it's my fault, or maybe it's just a phase, but I just spent a frustrating 30 minutes arguing about pajamas because there were no more super hero pajamas left clean, and Eli would not wear anything else to bed. He's got a whole drawer full of pajamas, but because there's no superman, batman or Incredibles in there, he's just not interested. Finally, we settled on turning his skeleton pajamas inside out so he'd look like Darth Vader.
I got a little frustrated with the whole ordeal, and maybe was a little hard with him, but when you've got 15 pairs of clean pajamas laid out around you, and none of them satisfy your cranky son who's a half-hour past his bedtime, it can be a little rough on the nerves. What I do realize is, it's time to buy the boy some more pajamas. I mean shit, you're only a kid once, and if you can't have a whole drawer full of superhero pajamas at 4, when can you? I want to get him everything -- batman, superman, green lantern, whatever. I always wanted underoos as a kid, but my parents couldn't afford them, and I've never quite recovered.
Well, if his old man can have a drawer-full of Hulk and Spider-Man jammies, it's only fair...
Okay, I know I'm the only one who ever makes a negative comment on your blog, but I hope that it is taken for what it is: an observation, not a judgement. Seriously, not trying to be a dick. I respect that you put your shit out there for the world to see. But, you're saying that your son has 18 pairs of pajamas and him whining about only wanting to wear 3 of them has made you realize that you need to buy him more pajamas? I have a complete lack of experience with parenting, granted, but that seems strange to me. Is there something I'm missing? A rationale that I have overlooked? Because to me, that seems dangerously, and I say this with every respect I can muster, close to spoiling. Just had to mention it. Hope I don't offend too much.
Don't worry, you never offend, Ian. I take your comments as your own personal and honest opinions. However, in this case you might have missed the nuance of the story. I'm not saying I need to go buy him more pajamas because he's whining about not having his superhero outfits. What I'm saying is, what's childhood if it's not about getting to wear what you like whenever you like it. And hell, if Eli wants to wear superhero pajamas every night of the week, that's perfectly fine with me. He's four -- it's hard to spoil a four year old. Most of his clothes are hand-me-downs, so I can afford to buy an extra superman or batman jammie set here and there. I'm not about to replace his entire wardrobe on a whim, however. Parenting is a fine balance between wanting to spoil the hell out of your kid and keeping yourself from doing it because you know it's not the best of things to do. Besides, kids are capricious and by the next day he had completely forgotten the impulse.
Okay, cool, thanks for the reply. Very eye-opening indeed. Thank you.
In reading my post again, perhaps it was I who wasn't being articulate. I guess the comment kinda fills in the gaps.
where did you find all the super hero pajamas? My 3 year old son lives in his superman jammies. He has been asking for the green lantern and flash. Help