Party Time.

The need to be a super woman is occasionally overwhelming, whether it's a good idea or not.
I had already decided to be sensible earlier in the week and took Bella birthday present shopping for one of her friends, instead of making something myself. Something that I really did have to talk myself in to, because it just felt like I was letting the side down with a store bought gift - especially when Bella very gleefully chose a dress up, sparkly fairy outfit that I would never have chosen to give as a birthday present. But as I said, I had decided to be sensible and not pile on pressure that just did not need to be there, and in all honesty I think Bella much preferred choosing a present than waiting for me to make one. So we were all happy.
Until yesterday morning, when for some insane reason I decided that Bella must, must wear a handmade dress to the birthday party itself. The party that was due to start in 4 hours. The one that I still needed to get to the shops to buy myself something to wear for.
Sigh.

So I gave in to the urge, telling myself that there wasn't really any pressure because I had a beautiful dress that the very kind Jennifer of Sophie and Lili  had sent for Bella, that I would be more than happy for her to wear. See? No pressure.
Hmm.

And to be honest, it did all go pretty smoothly, with a minimum of rushing around.
I managed to cut and sew most of the dress before we popped out to by me a new (bigger than normal) outfit (my current wardrobe is not fitting so well these days!).
And when we got back I finished it all up, adding a flower (first successful one ever) and even ironing it. With time to spare.
You see, it is possible to do it all. Even with morning sickness.
It's just not possible to do it all and cope with a two year old that does. not. want. to. wear. it.
I know. We've been there before. I should have known. And I did in fact know.
I just didn't know that I too would appear to have the emotional control of a two year old at the moment.
I'm not at all proud of my behaviour. As a rule, I try and act like the grown up and leave the tantrums to Bella. But not yesterday. No, yesterday it was a competition to see who could yell louder and cry harder, with Jim yelling at us all.
Not our finest hour.
The outcome though?
Well, Bella finally agreed to wear the dress and loved it as soon as she saw herself in the mirror and I promised her that I would try not to scream again. Or threaten to give her clothes away. Or tell her that I was never going out with her again.

And the party was a great success with Bella having a wonderful day and behaving perfectly.

(By the way, when I told Bella that I was giving her clothes away she said that her friend Abi would want the dress I'd made for her! And that she'd look very pretty in it!)

Comments

[mom]

It's a lovely dress, well done! And I'm so pleased that Bella enjoyed the party so much....perhaps Abi would like a similar dress?

[tracy]

i love you girls!!!
the fact that miss b has the courage to inform you what she would like to wear, and that you dare to question her makes me laugh out loud!
that sweet girl is going to grow in to the most WONDERFUL adult and that is down to you and Jim -
glad all is well
speak soon
tracy x
p.s - the dress is a masterpiece and i am sure would look lovely on bella's friend too!

[Angel Jem]

At least making a dress is better than trying to stuff a mushroom. (Goodness, that shows my age if I can remember Shirley Conran's Superwoman. Euck! No, I just read it from the library..... do you believe me?)
Keep feeling sick, honey!

[Amanda]

Thank you for posting this! I have been in the exact same horrid position before-- and was convinced that threatening to give her clothes away would snap her little 2 year old opinions back into align with what Mommy Dearest wanted. She in fact said the same thing as your 2 year old-- "Sure, give it to Eleanor!"
Ugh! Anyway, thanks for posting. It's amusing when it happens to someone else as well!
PS The dress is delish. Love it.

[Kristy]

You forgot the pocket trick from last time!
I had Josie tell me she hates me this morning because I was mean enough not to let her wear her Lelli Kellys to school.I mean how cruel could I be? Fortnately I was so drained from my weekend in Ireland that I didn't have to energy to tantrum with her!(This time!)

[Jennifer]

The dress is really, really cute. Bella is good at being 2, isn't she?
My favorite part of this post was that your clothes are too small these days - whenever else in your life is this a good thing?
Glad you had fun at the party!

[Karen à Toronto]

love the matching fabrics. very very cute.
take care.

[liz r.]

I have done the mom-tantrum too, more than once. Not among my finer moments. But you did get through it all, and I'm glad Bella ended up liking her lovely dress and enjoying the party. That's what counts!

[Sam]

Bugger. I am trying to make a dress at the moment and, after looking at your masterpiece, I feel like giving up. Did you follow a pattern? When you are better you should think about doing a masterclass!

[Alison]

We've been there oh so many times (usually though with the threat of throwing all the toys away). It's quite sad really, but I even make new clothes for mine just to go to the shopping centre.....we need to get out more, obviously. And damn you did well to do all that with morning sickness. My utter respect for you!

[bigbucketgirl]

sadly, all it takes now is a silent glance at the omni-present charity bag by the front door...to make the 2 big ones wear what I want them to! No tantrums for me! How long they stay away for is unclear as DS#2, YES #2 is choosing what he wants to wear...At.23.months.old. Today it was odd socks and an 'only in emergencies' Tigger pyjama top!
Great to see you back...........

[Jenna]

Ha! This makes me laugh because I could relate to every part of your story. The unreasonable need for handmade dress, I was there last Friday. The nauseated tantrum when child won't try on the fruits of my labor, reminds me of Halloween costumes. You are a wiz to get that cute dress done so fast. I found Sea-Bands help take the edge off the sickness.

[Meredith]

Adorable dress...I used the same fabric (different color) to make my sewing machine cover this week! I should have bought more for a dress for Hannah!

Hope you are doing well. Glad ot hear your clothes do not fit well (you know what I mean!)

Oh I've had many the mommy fit over time. It happens to us all. Easily forgotten, no worries. I figure they have thousands of fits over time; my occasional one is well-deserved.

[meg]

Ha! Thank you for starting my day off with such a good laugh, though I'm sorry it was at your expense. I have had those joint tantrums with my boy, too, so I'm just relieved not to be alone.

I had a fine idea for a handmade gift paired with store-bought accessories last week...and then couldn't find the toy anywhere. Enter completely different gift thrown into the cart -- done and done! Sometimes you just have to let it go.

[Chris Howard]

When I was 5 years old, my grandma made me a beautiful embroidered denim jacket (it was all the rage in the 70's). I HATED it, I thought it looked stupid and I REFUSED to wear it. Mom gave it away in disgust. Now that I'm an adult and I do embroidery myself, I would give most anything to have that jacket back.

Kids don't like clothes and they won't appreciate them. You keep right on making them hon, because someday Bella will unpack those dresses in anticipation of her own little daughter wearing them, and she will be so grateful that you made them.

Have a great week!

[Joan Gibb]

Manda, your post today made me laugh and brought back some memories of a little girl who didn't like a dress because of "not enough pinky pinky". She's 19 now, how did that happen?
Good to hear from you.
Joan

[susan]

Oh my. That takes me back. I had a wrestling match with my daughter when she was still in kindergarten about something I was bound and determined she was going to wear. She was just as bound and determined she was NOT going to wear it. After about 30 minutes struggling with her to get the outfit on we were both laying there panting on her bed; thoroughly worn out and she STILL didn't have the outfit on.

I knew then that I would have to pick my battles with my girl and clothes were just not going to be one of them. Determined, stubborn, mule-headed. Oh yeah. Kind of describes me AND my girl!

[EvaB]

Ha!!! Oh, my! This all sounds too familiar! Thank you for the chuckle.

[Joy]

Oh my...I was laughing so hard I had tears running down my cheeks...glad I am not the only one who makes the mistake of arguing with a two year old. :D Doesn't the emotional pregnancy stuff make you feel so weird? It always catches me off guard, like you said "I just didn't know that I too would appear to have the emotional control of a two year old at the moment."

And, that dress is just darling!

[Sandra]

I've made a few things for my girls too and have had to bribe them to wear them! Is this dress from a pattern?
You have my total sympathy with the morning sickness. Even playing with my eldest daughter and her PLASTIC food made me feel sick!!

[Belinda]

Oh! That has to be one of the cutest little dresses I've ever seen! I want a grown up girl version of it! Maybe a little fitted smocked type top...maybe?! :-)

[Amy Lu]

Ahhhh, Martha Stewart Syndrome, it happens to the best of us.

It's rough on our families, but I don't know, when you can make a beautiful dress like that in such a short period of time (while feeling sick and all) it sure doesn't discourage the insanity, does it?

I have a baby shower tomorrow night, which I am hostessing and making half the food, and while I planned on buying a gift I can't stop thinking about a certain Ottobre dress pattern.... Did I mention I'm babysitting a 12 week old and 7 year old (plus I have a 6 and 4 year old of my own) this week too?

I tell you it's a curse, having all of Martha's ideas and none of her staff....

[Melissa H]

Ok, you've made me grateful that my almost 2 year old doesn't seem to care at all what she wears. As long as she can pick her shoes, she'll wear whatever I put her in (including handmade dresses). Bella's dress is lovely!

[deb]

just darling!

[Beth]

The dress is beautiful...and the story behind it is so great! Maybe not the prettiest story, but so true about so many things in life. You have to take the bad with the good as my dad would say. :)