"way too fancy for preschool"

Maybe "Too Fancy" is just right?

Maybe planning for one's return to preschool requires Something Shimmery or Twirly? Perhaps Something Super-Hero-Like or Purple Striped?

Oh, yes, I am talking about a 4-year-old - yet - perhaps teachers go through the same indecision?

Some schools are starting up already in mid-August. Friends on Facebook and Twitter made comments about their children, their summer being over, the surprise that it was August already.

And then there was "K" - a soon-to-be 4-year-old who had a wardrobe dilemma yesterday while planning for her own return to her preschool.  

Here is the story straight from K's mom, Gretchen:  

                             Twas the night before school started and all

                    through the house,

      all I can hear much more loudly than a mouse,

"I don't have anything to wear to school tomorrow!"

Gretchen:  "What about the "new school clothes" I just bought you?"

Says the almost 4 year old with a sigh ... "Those are way too fancy for preschool."

The story that Gretchen shared made me smile and then laugh out loud with a knowing & understanding teacher-of-young-children-laugh.

The story made me think of other children I have met over the years that have a sense of "style" at an early age, who really coordinate and have opinions about their clothing or how they present themselves:

Natasha's Hair: I remember Natasha who liked to do her own hair each morning. Her father would arrive at school with Natasha and in she walked - sometimes 7 barrettes and 3 pony tails in surprising directions dancing atop her head. 

Natasha would skip happily into class and her father couldn't have been happier, either. He was one of the most supportive parents I have ever met. He knew that Natasha doing her own hair was a gift on many levels. He allowed Natasha to BE Natasha - bold, confident and self directed. Ironically, Natasha's different hair styles each day really did make her personality shine exactly as it should. She would not have looked fully like Natasha with just one barrette pulling her hair back. Natasha loved school.

Ryan's Capes: My 4-year-old friend Ryan loved capes. Arrived in one everyday - sometimes kind of like Superman, or another super-hero, sometimes just a beach towel attached to his shirt. He was comfortable and happy with the flowing item trailing behind him. He didn't always play super-hero. He didn't always fly around. He just loved capes. Ryan's parents allowed him to wear what he needed and wanted to wear.

I also had capes in the classroom that my mother had made  for the students - silk capes, with gorgeous patterns, lined on the inside, and hooded with fur on the edge (I know, right, my mother is amazing!). So, sometimes, Ryan would even add an extra cape to his existing one. Who can capture a double-caped super-hero four-year-old? Not a chance. Ryan loved school.

Kia's Colors: Kia would arrive at school in more colors than I could imagine. She would have layers of clothes in order that she would have more colors. Long-sleeve blue striped shirt, short sleeve red flowered shirt over that, with perhaps a cowgirl vest. She'd have polka dot leggings and a multi-colored skirt. Kia would still wear socks - perhaps yellow - and shoes that she decorated with pen. And perhaps orange laces. Perhaps.

How can you not admire someone who knows what they want to wear - "Hhmm, where is my ______ because I need it over my  _________ then I will add my  ________ and, oh, maybe I need a Hat!" Fantastic. Kia loved school.

I admire when children have an opinion about Themselves, 

about Who I Am, about How I Want to Present Myself,  about How I Feel When I Step Out into The World.

Maybe it is "too fancy" ? Yet maybe it is just right?

Surely YOU know a child that has that certain flair, that certain something that makes their personality come to life even at a very young age? 

Perhaps YOU are that child? Perhaps you still have that flair to be fancy, or have great hair, wear that great accessory or glow in great color...?

Please share in the comments below a favorite "must wear" item for yourself, your child or a student you can fondly recall.  

Thanks to Gretchen, "K" and purple skirts - not too fancy... just right.