The Stuff Board: Part 2 Buying stuff and Princesses

see all those question marks? yeah, they make me nervous too. 

Oh... I know what you're all saying... "you should save the best for last." 

You know what I say to that?

BO-RING!

So here we have the most exciting section of the Stuff Board (for me anyway). The TO BUY section. All of the listed items are things that we need before our departure date, or things that are cheaper here, or things that are just easier to get here.

And yes, to some (Martin), it doesn't seem so exciting. It represents $$$ signs, and more stuff to move but sometimes...sometimes... buying stuff is just exciting, and necessary...

I am giddy with excitement at the thought of a new camera that doesn't need to be charged every other picture, and a computer that can actually create Word Documents. AND....new school stuff!!!! Lots and lots of new school stuff... curriculum, new books, workbooks, Montessori materials, a little of this, a little of that... in Polish and English! (because home-schooling in Poland is way easier to do than we thought)....SO EXCITED... seriously. (We have been putting off the school stuff until we knew our plans for schooling next year, and now that we know for sure I am on the internet at  home-schooling sites like a kid in a candy store. It's a good thing I have my credit card number memorized, it makes things much more convenient! ;)) 

I know that this list will be getting longer as the date approaches, and soon we will have to "bite the bullet" (Martin) and start "adding stuff to our cart" (ME!)  but for now, I am technically on a "buying stuff" hiatus until we absolutely have to...my house is crusting over with boxes of half packed items, goods to give away, and junk brought home from every where under the sun by my children. Imagine a freezer that needs to be defrosted and I am that long lost t.v. dinner waaaay in the back. Yeah, like that, except less convenient and less delicious.

On a related note, sort of.

Speaking of buying stuff. I have a confession. One for the books. 

I have been raising my little girl, my precious Bina Fina Adelina,....like a little boy. No, no, not like these people, obviously, but definitely on the other end of the spectrum from, well, Disney Princesses, fairy wings, tea sets, and everything pink. 

I have absolutely nothing against Princesses, Disney or otherwise. I have no feminist notions against tea sets or dressing up in high heels. No, the biggest reasons why? Pure and simple, lack of space (I can barely get through the house to my own kitchen, how in the world will I fit one in for her too?) and, a personal, selfish aversion, to the color pink. (Like how little girls are decked out in bright pink from head to toe. You know why it looks strange... BECAUSE IT IS. No adult dresses like that!)

BUT, lately, Lina's been having a bit of a rough time. Not just "she's 2 and will grow out of it" rough. Martin and I have been talking about it a lot. And today, after talking to the extremely friendly French woman, and mother of two daughters, at Target, he (Martin) and I,  and she (the French woman at Target) all came to the same conclusion.. Lina needs more Princesses, fairy wings, tea sets, and PINK, in her life. That's all there is to it. She is the third child behind some very boyish boys. She has been playing *around* the boys since she could walk, but never really *with* them. Which means that at any given moment she is just wandering around the house getting into trouble, not able to find a space, or object, that sparks her imagination among the trains and cars, and Legos and Lincoln Logs. And I think it's because.... shhhh.....(whispering)....she's a girl.

So, today we went to Target to look at toys, at some things that piqued her interest, as possible gifts just for her, for Christmas (I'm thinking maybe a tea set and some dress up clothes that are not  Disney princess per se, but def. princess-y, have you seen those prices??!!). In the clothing section I offered to let her buy some new pajamas (since right now she is wearing camouflage dinosaur p.j.'s to bed every night) and she immediately chose this...

I persuaded her to exchange it for something a bit more comfortable since I figured the pink mesh might not be the best for sleeping, and she said "ok," put the frilly one back, settled for the more practical pair (still princesses!) and we pressed on. And just as we're leaving, she looks at me and says, " Actually, Mommy, I don't really like this," and holding up the practical p.j.'s. "Ok Lina, let's go back and choose something you do like." (all the time thinking that she is just being silly and difficult and wants to spend more time looking around instead of going home). We place them back on the rack and she immediately goes for the frilly one again, no hesitation. And the rest, is history.

And, to make myself feel better, I have just added "Disney Princess pajamas" to my TO BUY list, and scratched it off.  Yeaaaaaaah, progress.