Pink and poofy

There is something irresistible about a two year old who feels beautiful. It is honesty at its purest--no self consciousness, completely unaffected--simply pleasure and joy. Today Amber found one of the spring dresses I picked up at Goodwill a few weeks ago. I helped her put it on, and it was love at first twirl. This fluffy dress has so many layers of tulle that it can practically stand on its own. It makes her look like a giant cupcake!

"It's so fluffy I could die!" 

Peek-a-boo! 

Peek-a-boo guarantees the best smiles every time. 

 Little ballerina

Those deep, trusting, shining eyes looking up past my baggy jeans and boring shirt at me: one of my favorite parts of motherhood. 

Then Amber went and got her cars. She says the word "car" with a very distinct R sound, puckering her lips and really holding that arrrr. I packed up most of the upstairs toys, but I left the cARs out for Amber.

Puffy pink dress, playing with cars: I love how stereotypes and gender profiling do not exist in Amber's world. 

She kept hiding the cars in the voluminous folds of her dress. 

"Watch dis, Mommy. Car. Car. Car." 

All lined up! 

Amber started "counting" the cars: "one, two, three, ten, nine, two..." 

Half an hour of watching Amber relish the pink poofy perfection of her dress left me wondering what it would be like if more adults chose clothes that made them feel that beautiful and joyful, rather than boringly "dressing our age" or following weird/uncomfy fashion trends. If joy were the only fashion law then I, for one, would probably alternate between wearing a variety of historic dresses and yoga pants. But I'm painfully practical, and my main clothing consideration is comfort. That usually leaves me in loose-fitting jeans, soft [borderline manly] shirts, and wool socks. Amber has me wanting to change my ways and embrace my inner Emma Woodhouse/Eowyn/Anne Shirley.

Practical? --boring 

Functional? --secondary 

Joyful? --essential

Dress like a cupcake and play with cars. Believe in your own beauty. See it, embrace it, and find the joy in it! I think that's what Amber is saying.