Polka Dots....

My granddaughter told me about it when she was here for Thanksgiving. A comforter, for her bed, with “neon bright” polka dots and a black background. That's what she wanted for Christmas.

She wanted it because she saw it in a store and liked it. Her current bedspread is “old” and “worn” according to her. She is almost eleven, so she would know.

Mostly, what I heard, when she was talking, was that she wanted to choose the bedspread for her own room. She was willing to be guided by others, but she wanted to make the final choice. Seems reasonable to me.

Yesterday afternoon, I picked her up at Aunt Jo's house. She had spent a whirlwind four days with her cousins, and was ready to come back to the relative boredom of Grandma's house. She had had a chance to spend quality time with her cousins, and Grandma had a chance to recuperate from her procedure last Thursday.

Before heading home, I asked her to accompany me on a search.....for her bedspread. I had her call her mother and make sure that, if I bought her a new bedspread for her birthday (tomorrow), she would be allowed to use it at home. Mom said “of course” and we were off in search of polka dots.

I might mention that it was pouring down rain for the whole time we were out shopping, too!

We went to one store and lingered in the linen department. I saw a chance to teach: “don't get anything here if you don't love it, there are other places to look. Don't settle.....” And she didn't.

The next store had only one youthful bedspread/comforter, and it was polka dot. But the background was white, not black. Again: “....don't settle. If this is not what you wanted, let's keep looking.”

And finally, we made it through the rain to the third store. As we walked into the linen department, she spied the polka dot bedspread of her dreams. I spotted another one, called “Tangerine Dreams” which I thought was lovely. She liked it, too.

And then, down to business. The one I found has to be dry cleaned. Forget that. I had to explain to her what dry cleaning is, and then, she didn't want it, either. So, on to the polka dots. Black background? Yes. Neon bright dots? Yes. Machine washable? Yes.

Oh, and it's reversible and comes with sheets and THREE pillowcases, too. And there are throw pillows, too. She walked back over to the dry clean only bedspread: it had decorative pillows, too. Ah, but they are $45/each. Not happening, sorry....

So yes, this frivolous outing had a purpose. She was listened to, and got what she asked for. Sort of. She didn't get the impractical bedspread, or the expensive throw pillows, or other decorative items. She got to choose what she wanted, within reason, and make decisions about her own space.

Now, when she looks at her room, it will be decorated in polka dots of her own choosing. It will make her smile to look at it, and it will make her feel good about herself because:

She was worth all that shopping in the rain!