The countdown is coming to a close. Vman is finally returning back to school next week and entering 1st grade. Yahoo! While this summer has been fun, I’m ready to get back into a predictable routine.
While there are many rituals I enjoy about going back to school, shopping isn’t one of them. I remember as a child the painful hours of trying on countless pairs of pants, shirts and everything in between. If we found a pair of slacks that worked, my mom would buy those suckers in every color available. She would often have me throw on a sweater right there in the isle to see if it fit. At the time, I thought this was crazy. As a parent, I recognize the method to her madness. Get in and get out as quickly as possible!
Back to school shopping brings an extra requirement for my sensory kiddo, who needs to have his clothes tag-free, soft and supple. No jeans or slacks for this child. I’ve relied on Carter’s to get us by. They make wonderful sweatpants that somehow survived Vman and have been passed on to my second son. But Vman is now too big for Carter’s. I honestly thought I was going to cry… until I found out Osh Kosh was a sister store to Carter’s and has bigger sizes for elementary children. Saved by the bell!
Back to school shopping can be painful enough. But when you have a tactile defensive kid who feels uncomfortable in most clothing, finding the right pair of pants isn’t just a victory, it can be a Godsend.
Last August, parents spent more than $8.5 billion at family clothing stores, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. I’m betting you’re one of them.
How did your back to school shopping go?
Read more of my posts touching on Sensory Processing Disorder here. And to learn more about sensory challenges or to join our inclusive community, visit The Sensory Spectrum.
Allyson Bossie says
August 20, 2013 at 10:04 amMy oldest son (and now my youngest son) was very sensory. Back then, you couldn’t get tagless shirts or seamless socks. They just didn’t exist. It was so hard. He refused to wear socks, the teacher was always reprimanding me for his sockless feet, but if she only knew….They just can’t HANDLE tags, seems, and anything other than soft cottons.
He’s going into high school now and his dad is taking him shopping for clothes. HE just mentioned how he is dreading it because for my son it isn’t how it looks, it’s still how it feels and shopping takes forever!
Jennifer says
August 26, 2013 at 4:26 pmI can’t even imagine what it must have been like shopping when there weren’t even tagless shirts! Even then they don’t even feel right :-/
When my kid hits high school I may just give him a gift card and tell him to get his own darn pants!
Ashley S says
August 20, 2013 at 10:35 amLuckily I have a toddler so I don’t have to deal with this yet. But any time I’ve stepped into Target in the past 3 weeks, it’s been an absolute mad house!!
Jennifer says
August 26, 2013 at 4:27 pmOh my goodness. You do have a couple of years before you get sucked into this tradition. But remember the best sales are right now 🙂
Cat (Yellow Days) says
September 1, 2013 at 2:53 pmSo true, really not my favourite part of the summer holidays. Thanks for linking up to our Parenting Pin-it Party.
Jennifer says
September 5, 2013 at 11:29 amGlad to link up to your Pin Party. Great idea!