Four times each year I make the dreaded trek. I risk the ugly effect. I load up the girls and I take them to...the mall.
I don't like the mall. I always regret what I've purchased there, when I've purchased there, and it's always too far to drive for a return. The mall is a creepy place. It's crowded with scary tatooed people with frighteningly profane mouths. And the Spencer's store is still around casting darkness like an ooze out it's front door--I can't believe it's still around after 30 years.
Spencers is not paying me to say that.
Anyway...
The Penny's portrait studio is in the mall, so every year around birthday time, the birthday girl gets her portrait made and I buy the $8 package and it works well for us. See, we're homeschoolers and we don't have a "picture day." Remember picture days? And retake day? Ugh. A bad picture could ruin a whole school year. No? Maybe it was just me then.
And that's another post for another day.
Anyway...
Roughly a month later, we go back to retrieve the package and get the next girl's picture made. And so on.
Today, we picked up Cuddlebug's portraits. And so we're done for the year.
Right here, we would usually make a dash for the exit between housewares and the salon, but I got a hankerin' to buy myself some perfume. I haven't had a bottle of my favorite for years and years, and so at the risk of setting a bad example and seeming a bit frivolous in front of my girls, we headed to the Dillard's cosmetic counter.
And that's where the weirdness happened.
After I made my purchase, the very nice lady behind the counter--who I guess is someone's grandma but refuses to let herself get old--looked at my 8 year old Dumpling with her 6 year old sister and asked, "Haven't you got any perfume for yourself yet?"
I looked at her, smiled, and encouraged her to hand them each a sample if she had some to spare. She smiled even bigger, covertly reached underneath the counter and came up with two little, dark booklets with the prized glass tube of smelly stuff inside. In that moment, I was so excited for the girls. It took me right back--I mean, what little girl doesn't get a thrill from owning their very own "grown up" accessory, whether it be an old and unused check register, a tube of chapstick, or a little glass bottle of perfume?
My moment was dashed to pieces though when the nice lady behind the counter handed the girls the booklets and asked them if they, "knew who that was on the cover?" Then she pointed him out. But the cover was dark and mysterious looking, and hard to make out (which was good because later I would look more closely and discover a man and woman hugging sensually). She asked again and gave a clue, "He's a singer."
I looked over and saw his name. It was Usher.
Usher?!
Now, I can't say I know any of his music, but I know of the genre. Let's just call it adult themed.
And I laughed a big laugh because she was serious, and because Cuddlebug was in polka-dots and Dumpling was in her best mismatched homeschool outfit! And because they're 8 and 6.
8 and 6!
To ask, much less expect, these little girls to know Usher was weird and ridiculous, and I could only think to answer by restating their ages--did I mention they are 8 and 6?--and explaining they were still into Mickey Mouse and the Kratt Brothers' zoology show and had no idea who Usher was!
But she was so nice. She wasn't trying to be provocative or challenging. She was just relating from inside her own life where apparently the little children, if there are any, know about Usher and who knows what else?
And as I pondered the possibility, I realized that...well...it makes sense. My girls know our artists. They know Bud and Travis and Nat King Cole; Alison Kraus, Bach and Andrea Bocelli. Truly, the choices we make for our own lifestyle inevitably become the choices for our children as well.
So let's be wise. Let's encourage one another to...choose. Thoughtfully.
13 comments:
As you know, I teach public elementary school. It's shocking what the 8 and 6 year old there know. Who they know about. And what they say. Stories like yours contrasted with what I see, day in, day out, make a huge push for us to go the homeschool route too.
I love all of your new pictures!
I'm not so much a fan of the mall either. THe older Ben gets, the more uncomfortable it gets for me.
And yay for little girls who don't know who Usher is :-) Not *really* the same at all, but we had to tell Ben who "bugs Bunny" was because his picture was on the store brand pull-ups. I told my husband, this is just the beginning....
Mmm...your latest posts are so full of grace and mercy. And wisdom. I barely know who Usher is, let alone my daughter. I think I would have felt the way you did. Lol.
You know, there is a Penny's at The Rim now. No mall to go to! Target has the same studio, and there are lots of them. We usually alternate stores, for my 6 birthday pictures every year
Eight bucks, seriously? Is that with a coupon? I've got to go there--didn't get any portraits made last year at all. :(
I know what you mean about the mall. I hate the mall - it seems that almost everything we pass in the mall is diametrically apposed to the way that we are raising our kids. I only do the mall thing occassionally also!
I loved your post about choices!!!!! Excellent. This one - as well. I hate it when my 10 year old is asked if she has a boyfriend yet. Same feeling as you had. Oh, and by the way - I have never heard of the artist - 'Usher' - a small point for which I am glad of.
Thank for the post - as always- excellent
~Martie
I guess I can happily say, "Who's Usher?" I hate the mall, but just because it's full of stuff that I don't need and can't afford. I haven't found the other reasons that you have - I rarely go there, either. Our new Penney's has moved from the mall and taken over the old Shopco store when they went out of business.
What is Spencer's?
My kids know who he is of course. I asked them after reading your post(you know, public school and all that!). I knew who he was because he's been on the scene for at LEAST a decade, more actually. Back then I still listened to R&B (rhythm and blues, for those who have no idea what R&B is). And you're right. His music is, um, "suggestive" to say the least. I wish my kids were as ignorant about who he is as yours are.
I hate the mall, too. I can get there in 20 minutes and I still only go once a year, during summer clearance time. The clothing deals are outrageous then. With a house full of girls sometimes you have to take one for the team!
I also have done Target for pictures too and they do a $10 deal or something. Usually around Mother/Father's Day.
But I sure do agree with you about the mall!
I might venture there once a year, and only if I have to!
Hope the rest of your summer goes well!
yes! i get the same feelings in the checkout line at the grocery store- with my 8 year old reading the Cosmo magazine cover...i turn them around before she can see them. also- i try to not have the children go into the video store with me...terrible graphic images on the covers of the movie cases...i agree wholeheartedly about our choices are for us and our children. we have chosen to not have cable TV- which has certainly put my children at a "disadvantage" when they are with their friends who do have cable and know all about Disney teen shows, etc...same with the music choices and movie choices. great post! thank you. i always enjoy reading your blog.
Amen and Amen!
I've never even heard of Usher and I'm pretty close to half a century old. :-)
I love the fact that my kids don't know who's who...
and I love not knowing myself!
Life is just so much better that way!
I'm not sure if that woman forgot how old she is or how young they are. Usher? Good grief. I wonder if she's familiar with Josh Groban. LOL
I HATE the mall. When I think about it, I realize I hardly ever took my own daughters to the mall when they were these ages. Way too much temptation and yes, you can't go there without buying something you don't need or even really want.
And then there's that whole cosmetic counter thing. :-)
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