I'm so not trying to be snarky or anything, but I guess it makes me sad that it seems like such a large percentage of mommas here are so preoccupied or consumed by their children's appearance and equate matching bows and socks and fully coordinated outfits somehow with good, attentive parenting (I'm being facetious, not literal).
It has been so liberating and such a learning experience for me to force myself to not force my will or ideas about appearances onto my dd. And I could give a flying leap what other people think about her appearance. I just wonder about the mommas that posted about it being very important to them that their children always maintain a certain standard in their appearances, do you consider at all the message you are sending to them or how it may effect their sense of self or even their self-esteem? I'm not flaming.. I am genuinely asking for your thoughts.
DD picks out her own clothes. I rarely buy her clothes without her being present and allowing her full input on what we buy. I love, love, love watching the outfits she comes up with... the other day she wore a bright rainbow colored striped shirt, purple leggings with a pastel pink, green and blue butterfly and flower pattern on them, navy blue sox with white sandals and a black Black Hawks hat that her uncle gave her. I love the way she rocks her own style and her personality and vibe just shine so bright and it makes me feel so damn good that I'm not imposing any ideas of beauty or fashion or matching.. I mean why the heck do clothes need to match and who the heck decided which colors match... what does that even mean?
My own personal style has become much less constrained and creative since dd started rocking her own outfits. Her style inspires me to be more playful and much less fashion conscious (not that I ever was too much).
I'm mainly bringing this up because I recommend just letting go a bit, because if you can get past initially feeling like "omg, how can I leave the house with her looking like that?" (which I went through silently on the inside early on) it starts to feel really good to be raising someone who is getting to be exactly who they are and is forming their own preferences and style and personality without any pressure or control to be someone else's vision or idea of what's presentable and attractive. And, as an added incentive, there are no power struggles over clothes, which on its own makes it worth it.
It has been so liberating and such a learning experience for me to force myself to not force my will or ideas about appearances onto my dd. And I could give a flying leap what other people think about her appearance. I just wonder about the mommas that posted about it being very important to them that their children always maintain a certain standard in their appearances, do you consider at all the message you are sending to them or how it may effect their sense of self or even their self-esteem? I'm not flaming.. I am genuinely asking for your thoughts.
DD picks out her own clothes. I rarely buy her clothes without her being present and allowing her full input on what we buy. I love, love, love watching the outfits she comes up with... the other day she wore a bright rainbow colored striped shirt, purple leggings with a pastel pink, green and blue butterfly and flower pattern on them, navy blue sox with white sandals and a black Black Hawks hat that her uncle gave her. I love the way she rocks her own style and her personality and vibe just shine so bright and it makes me feel so damn good that I'm not imposing any ideas of beauty or fashion or matching.. I mean why the heck do clothes need to match and who the heck decided which colors match... what does that even mean?
My own personal style has become much less constrained and creative since dd started rocking her own outfits. Her style inspires me to be more playful and much less fashion conscious (not that I ever was too much).
I'm mainly bringing this up because I recommend just letting go a bit, because if you can get past initially feeling like "omg, how can I leave the house with her looking like that?" (which I went through silently on the inside early on) it starts to feel really good to be raising someone who is getting to be exactly who they are and is forming their own preferences and style and personality without any pressure or control to be someone else's vision or idea of what's presentable and attractive. And, as an added incentive, there are no power struggles over clothes, which on its own makes it worth it.
I am this way too. I mean as they have gotten older we have explained that other people often do judge, for whatever reason, by appearances but what that means for them and how they dress is personal. Many people don't like my son's shirts (
).
: ). He was always dressed pretty spiffy, and now, to get me back 
She's been picking out her own clothes since she was about 3. I gave up on "matching" long ago! :LOL She has her favorites, like her Hanna hot pink and orange plaid skirt. And she loooooves cheetah prints! She will wear sandals with sweats, tennis shoes without socks and flowered tights with a cheetah skirt. I love that she expresses herself through what she wears! I try not make a judgement on what she wears, as long as she doesn't pull it out of the hamper. But she will wear "dirty" clothes out and I have no problem with that if she doesn't. If we've been at the park all day and her clothes show it, that's fine. I will not ask her to change if we're going out to eat or the store or whatever. Sometimes now she will want to change when she gets something on her outfit, but sometimes not. The watermelon juice dripping down her shirt and the grass stains on her knees are just sometimes part of her day. We're certainly not out to impress anyone when we're doing our grocery shopping! :LOL
For the baby, I pick out her outfits and I do have fun dressing her sometimes! She usually does "match" somewhat but that's because she lets me and has no preferences of her own. Though lately, she has been grabbing things and trying to put them on herself! 
My kids bathe regularly (baby every day and 6-year-old at least 3 times a week). Their clothes are washed and taken care of. But honestly, I could not care less what others think of how they look when we are out. They are happy in what they are wearing and well taken care and that's what matters. If someone chose to think that I was neglecting my kids because they happen to have gotten dirty one day then that makes me sad. 
Oh, and the same goes for me, I am KNOWN for spilling food on myself and sometimes my clothes show it! 
I I will leave the house without brushing my hair too. 
