"I'm not wearing boots to school today!"

This is the statement that started an interesting conversation this morning. Maggie thought since she knew for sure that she had a student council meeting during recess, that she didn't need to wear boots to school.  When I pointed out that even if she wasn't outside for recess, she still had to get to and from school (and oh by the way, we're under a weather advisory later - it might be snowing on the way home) she stomped her foot and whined,"NOBODY wears boots!"
"Really? No one?"
"Well, Addie and Karlie don't have to wear boots to school!"
Right.......
So I took a deep breath, and attempted to have a logical conversation with Maggie and Katherine while we finished doing their hair.

I asked them again to remind me what my job was as their Mom.
"To keep us safe so we don't get hurt"
(They've been told that many, many times!)
Exactly, so I told them that my decisions are always based on that job description. And that many times in the next 10 years (or more!) they will not like the decisions that I make. But that my decisions always start with the idea that 1) I love them so much, and 2)I need to keep them safe.  We talked about how other moms and dads will make different decisions, and that's fine. I told them that sometimes I will make the wrong decision, I'm not always going to be right (but I usually am!) And, we talked about how they are welcome to disagree with me, but that calmly talking (rather than stomping feet and whining) will make me much more willing to listen to their side of the story.  I also said, I might be the uncool Mom, but I was OK with that if it meant they were safe.

It might have been a bit heavy for 0800 on a  Tuesday morning. But,  I wonder if we talk about things like this now, if it might make it just a tiny bit easier as the disagreements become bigger. When it isn't just about wearing boots to school, but something bigger and scarier?

I don't know. But for today, I was the uncool mom, pointing out that if the teacher for Student Council suddenly had a conflict, and Maggie ended up outside for recess, she'd be very glad to have boots (And SNOW PANTS!)

Little did I know that wasn't my only UNCOOL moment of the day!

When Abby and I arrived at Dance class, we saw that the costumes for the spring recital had arrived, and the other girls in her class were all taking theirs home. When we started this class in January, they offered Abby the opportunity to be in the recital, or just take the class and learn the dance, but not participate in the recital. Seeing a picture of the costume (ugly/not age appropriate in my opinion) learning that this costume was going to cost about $50, and then learning that the recital would be admission by $8ticket/person only, I quickly decided that Abby's life would not be destroyed by NOT participating in the recital. She could have fun in class, learn other things, learn the dance, and just explore the concept of Dance Class this year, and perhaps do a "real" recital later in her life.

I was NOT prepared for Abby to understand the difference. And I was certainly not prepared for the complete devastation of that understanding.
It looked something like this - but with more pouty lip, tears streaming down her cheeks, and in her adorable leotard!

It's pretty much impossible to reason with a 3 1/2 year old, so I just gave her hugs and distracted her and went on about the day. But, sheesh, I'm totally the "uncool mom" today. Let's hope I can redeem myself tomorrow!