Karen Nazor HillTilleigh, 8, and Evie, 4, say exactly what's on their minds. No filter, whatsoever, at least with me.
Last week, I took them shopping. Our first stop was a shoe store, where I was looking for dressy sandals. The first pair I liked were metallic gold and strappy with a bow that covered the toes. I thought they were kind of sexy.
"Seriously?" asked Tilleigh. "Those look like kid shoes. Even Evie wouldn't wear them."
Narrowing my eyes and glaring at her, I replied, "These are pretty, Tilleigh. And they're made for adults, thank you very much."
"Well, adults would look stupid wearing them," Evie piped in.
Punk kids.
But the more I looked at them, I knew they were right. I'd look ridiculous in them.
"OK," I said, giving in, "these do look like kid shoes."
"Told you so," Evie said.
Hand-in-hand, we walked down the aisle and stopped when a sparkly black pair caught my eye.
"Nope," Evie says. "Those are just ugly."
Ugh.
"I'm not bringing you guys shoe shopping with me anymore," I said, teasingly.
Again, though, the girls were right. The shoes were ugly.
After about 30 minutes of circling the aisles numerous times, Tilleigh asked, "Are you trying to make us mad?"
I started laughing so hard I had to sit down. I was tired; they were tired. But I (we) finally found a pair that were pretty and, thank goodness, age appropriate.
Our next goal was to buy a pair of boots for Tilleigh at a kids' shoe store. Her favorite boots are beyond repair, so I was going to replace them. We had to drive across town.
"It's not fair that Tilleigh gets new shoes and I don't," Evie said from the back seat.
"Yes, it's fair because Tilleigh needs new shoes and you don't," I said. "Just because Tilleigh gets something new doesn't mean you get something new."
Hold on. This quote comes from the child's heart.
"It's not fair, Mom. I'm just a little kid. How do you think I will feel watching Tilleigh trying on new shoes, knowing I'm not going to get a new pair? I need shoes, too. Not boots, but I could use a pair of other kind of shoes. You got new shoes, too. How would you feel if we all went shopping, but you were the only one who didn't get a pair of shoes? I don't think it's fair."
Well, since she put it that way, she's right. I wouldn't like it if everyone got a new pair of shoes but me. Right or wrong, I instantly made the decision to buy Evie a new pair of shoes. She was very appreciative.
I did, though, try to be a rational adult and tell the girls why we always don't get something just because someone else does. But that particular day was an exception. Her argument was just too good.
Growing up, my friends used to tell me I had my father wrapped around my little finger. Guess where my grandchildren have me?
Yep, I'm wrapped around theirs, too.
Contact Karen Nazor Hill at 423-757-6396 or khill@timesfreepress.com.