Wal-Mart and Target, you failed me...

[telaryn]

Swimsuit manufacturers need to get a serious clue. For one reason or another, I hadn't bought Robin a new bathing suit yet. Well, yesterday she expresses an interest in spending the *entire* afternoon with her cousins and her aunt at the beach, and doing things like miniature golf.

Oh...gee...like I'm going to object to my child spending an afternoon outside in the PERFECT Florida Spring weather?

Not happening.

So we headed off to Wal-Mart. For the past three years, I have been able to acquire a particular brand of no-frills, inexpensive yet durable one piece swimsuit at Wal-Mart.

Because I waited, that particular design was sold out. WAY sold out. There was one small, and one XL -- both in the ugliest print ever.

So we looked at the other selections available. Cheapest price was two times more expensive than our old standard, and they all advertised "breast enhancement padding".

Let me get this straight -- I'm going to pay twice my desired cost so that my eleven year old daughter can "enhance" the look of her breasts?

Oh no. SO no.

So we headed to Target. There, even their *store* brand is $25.00, and yes -- advertises the dreaded "breast enhancement padding".

Frustrated, we head home. On the way, I remember K-Mart. Figuring my only alternative at that point is to loan her *my* swimsuit, I turn in the parking lot.

Situation is not much better. The suits *are* cheaper than at the other two places, and they have similar padding. *However*, it's not as pronounced, and they don't advertise it as a selling point.

Plus, the suit she liked covered more of her torso than any suit she's been able to wear in the past three years.

Motherhood -- it's all about the compromise.

Comments

[laughingimp.livejournal.com]

This comment brought to you by the People for Pissing Off Internet Lurkers. (http://www.livejournal.com/users/laughingimp/68478.html)

[telaryn.livejournal.com]

*smooch*

And you're right.

[harmonyfb.livejournal.com]

::shaking head::

You know...Stretch & Sew sells some nice patterns for girls' swimsuits. Just sayin'.

Cause I'm about at the point where I'm going to start making the girlchild's. :(

::nod::::

[kcasey.livejournal.com]

With our shorter swimming season, the Bee puts in every waking hour in the pool. One suit isn't enough. We've learned she needs two... minimum.

:::heading over to fabric store:::::

[peacockharpy.livejournal.com]

Right. Breast enhancement padding. In kids' suits. Because lordy knows you wouldn't want your pre-teen to be boobless.

What is it with the sexing-up of kids these days? What happened to letting kids be kids?

*locks up Meg in small room with box of Little House books and a long pinafore-type dress*

[telaryn.livejournal.com]

Right. Breast enhancement padding. In kids' suits. Because lordy knows you wouldn't want your pre-teen to be boobless.

Well you see, there we have the crux of the problem. They're *not* kids suits, but kids need those sizes.

Fashion cycles

[kcasey.livejournal.com]

As for the whole kids looking like adults thang, it isn't new to this century. I'm thrilled the Bee prefers dressing up as an 18th boy instead of an 18th girl for that very reason.

But yes - they simply don't make decent clothes for girls who aren't little girls anymore.

The Bee is now 5' and a very athletic 100 lbs. What friggin' girls size is that? It's not.

I feel your pain.