Defending the Shopper: Christmas Chaotic

Black Friday, cyber Monday, early bird or late owl... what ever your shopping habits are 'tis the season to break out the self-defense skills

First you have ever elusive hot item toy... you know the one every kid has, yours wants it and there is one left... that is when the 50 yard dash you did in 5th grade comes in handy. You eye the other mom, and GO. run like hell trying to get the toy. If you have to toss in an elbow like a hockey defender so be it.

Second, you have the "My kid wants it but I can't find it gift." The one you KNOW your kid would love (mine loves Brent Seabrook.. I can not find a Hawks shirt with that player.. why cant he like Kane or Toews like everyone else in America.")... you search high, low, Craigs list and Amazon to see and pray and hope and figure you can mortgage the house again just to make your kid happy.

While these are all justifications on our actions during this month of "giving"... there is the other side to defending the shopper... the verbal defense. As a mom of boys I feel like I forever have to be on the defense as a shopper.  Going out with 2 of the same gender people think you are bat shit crazy.. right because parents with one of each some how get no tantrums, no yelling, no fighting?! ok. sure. But my biggest defense as a shopper is not the behavior or the gender of my children. It is clothing.

Yes boys clothing. Why is it  that men make up about what 1/2 the population, and still have to get dressed (like girls) for work, school and play (like girls). Go on dates (like girls), to dances, weddings, and other 'events' (like girls) but have like 1/5th of the selection.. Who do you think is BUY and DRESSING these boys,,... GIRLS... and it is females like ME who want to rip fashion designers a new one.

Boys clothing can be separated in the following categories
1) Sports
2) Animals
3) Stupid Sayings
4) Animals playing sports with a stupid saying
5) Skulls 
** Replace cartoon characters for animals in many stores**
6) 3 Ralph Loren Polo options: Lumberjack, Red Lumberjack, white shirt.

Really... at christmas Im not taking my son to church is a fabulous lumberjack shirt (we dont live in a lumberjack area), skulls (he is not the angel of death), or some random sports shirt. Im sure god loves hockey but its not church wear... Or for pictures?! Really my cute boys need plain old polo's, or collared shirts, or something that is NOT with a slogan or animal....I vent all the time about the lack of options in boys clothing. You want men to look classy, clean and appropriate well they dont just figure it out. Start having more than 2 options for young men. Start with nice shirts and pants without Tommy Hawk, Skulls or " I hate homework." If JC Penny can pull " Im too pretty for homework" then pull the boys shirts that say equally as derogatory statements. I want my boys to look classy for pictures, save the skulls for the park.

whew.. vent over.  :)