All four of my kids play dress up. There are two pink boxes filled with hats, tutus, socks, pants, aprons, old dance costumes and random pieces of clothing the kids use for dress up.
When the girls were little they would dress up and then ask me how they looked or to hold them up to a mirror so they could see what they looked like. It was then I realized that there were no mirrors their height that they could easily see.
After spending some time looking, a yard sale down the street yielded a full length mirror to put in the living room for dress up time.
At first the mirror was a relief, no more picking kids up or describing how they looked. The kids played and would only look in the mirror when they played dress up. Then I notice they began to look in the mirror all the time. I would tell them to clean up their toys and would see them stopping with a toy to look. I would tell them to get ready to go somewhere and instead find them spinning in front of the mirror.
Will kisses the mirror and I have often caught him talking to his reflection. I’m not sure what he is saying because he always whispers.
Casey once threw a temper tantrum and then wiggled across the floor so he could watch himself scream.
I have seen a line form in front of the mirror. The kids will wait their turn to look, but this inevitably this leads to a fight.
It has moved to a couple of different locations in the living room and dining room so that it doesn’t fall over or so that the kids don’t try to move it themselves. I get annoyed that I have to say things like “stop looking in the mirror or I will turn it around.”
It has provided me with a few laughs over the years while I watch them looking and they don’t know I’m watching. My favorite times are when they walk by it as if they forgot the mirror was there, stop, back up and take a quick look.
I know the twirls and talks and kisses will change into more ‘grown up’ looks in the mirror like checking to make sure their hair or clothes “look alright.” It is starting to happen with Lizzie as she is getting ready to go somewhere and wants to know if she looks pretty. I always remind her that no matter what she is wearing she is always beautiful.
For now, I will watch while they watch.
When the girls were little they would dress up and then ask me how they looked or to hold them up to a mirror so they could see what they looked like. It was then I realized that there were no mirrors their height that they could easily see.
After spending some time looking, a yard sale down the street yielded a full length mirror to put in the living room for dress up time.
At first the mirror was a relief, no more picking kids up or describing how they looked. The kids played and would only look in the mirror when they played dress up. Then I notice they began to look in the mirror all the time. I would tell them to clean up their toys and would see them stopping with a toy to look. I would tell them to get ready to go somewhere and instead find them spinning in front of the mirror.
Will kisses the mirror and I have often caught him talking to his reflection. I’m not sure what he is saying because he always whispers.
Casey once threw a temper tantrum and then wiggled across the floor so he could watch himself scream.
I have seen a line form in front of the mirror. The kids will wait their turn to look, but this inevitably this leads to a fight.
It has moved to a couple of different locations in the living room and dining room so that it doesn’t fall over or so that the kids don’t try to move it themselves. I get annoyed that I have to say things like “stop looking in the mirror or I will turn it around.”
It has provided me with a few laughs over the years while I watch them looking and they don’t know I’m watching. My favorite times are when they walk by it as if they forgot the mirror was there, stop, back up and take a quick look.
I know the twirls and talks and kisses will change into more ‘grown up’ looks in the mirror like checking to make sure their hair or clothes “look alright.” It is starting to happen with Lizzie as she is getting ready to go somewhere and wants to know if she looks pretty. I always remind her that no matter what she is wearing she is always beautiful.
For now, I will watch while they watch.
 Dress up fun |  |
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