Kid Clothes and Kung Fu Panda

 

We have been packing this summer full of fun.

We took our kids to see the new Kung Fu Panda movie at the theater.  We loved the first movie, and were really looking forward to seeing the sequel.  

We still laugh over our experience taking the older kids to see the first Kung Fu Panda, at the theater.  We went with our Pastor and his wife.  Jersey #2 left a lasting impression.  In the middle of the movie, the main character makes a reference to being hit in his "tenders."  Jersey #2 (who does not appear to have an "indoor voice") turned to her Dad and exclaimed,

"Tenders.  He doesn't have Tenders.  Dad, what are Tenders?  Do I have Tenders?"

Our Pastor and his wife did their best to try to stifle their laughter, but they enjoyed the commentary immensely.

The Referee did his best to quiet Jersey #2, saying her Mom would explain it later.  He was totally embarrassed.

The sequel was wonderful too.  The kids were older this time.  We only had to take 1 bathroom break.  It was nice.

Previously that morning, while the kids were attending Vacation Bible School with friends, The Referee and I enjoyed a breakfast date.  Then, we decided to go to a department store and look for T-shirts.  Knowing we were planning a trip to visit Thomas the Train, I was looking for T-shirts for the kids to wear.

I was really disappointed to realize just how messed up the kids clothing section really is.  It appears that department stores would like the children to grow up MUCH faster.  There were no Thomas the Train shirts in any size larger than toddler sizes.  I know many early elementary-aged boys who love Thomas, so I am surprised that there are no shirts in their sizes.  

While looking in the older boy sizes, I found Kung Fu Panda T-shirts on sale.  Knowing we were going to the movie that afternoon, I thought it would be fun to surprise the kids with matching shirts to wear.  Unfortunately, that plan also backfired, when we realized that Kung Fu Panda T-shirts did not go beyond size 7.  (In general, kids sizes tend to broadly follow kid ages).  All of the older boy shirts were TV themes that seemed to be more of a high school or college interest.  A sales associate asked if we needed help, so I told her what I was looking for.  She informed me that there were no shirts with that character in the larger sizes.  She then went on to explain that they tailor the characters to the interest of kids of that age range.  I informed her that MANY boys ages 8-10 are fans of Kung Fu Panda, so the store was quite inaccurate in its selections.  

The Referee asked if we would have any luck finding Kung Fu Panda shirts in the girls' department.  I immediately laughed and informed him that the clothing in the girls department follows the same theme:  love, peace, and look-at-my-butt!  The girls department is totally disgusting with its sexualized clothing for school-aged girls.  There are no fun characters at all.  It was no surprise to me why there was no one shopping in that section of the store, and all the shelves and racks were full.  Most parents do not want to buy that trashy clothing for their daughters. 

In the end, I skipped buying any Thomas the Train t-shirts, because we still had toddler sized shirts at home.  I bought the younger 3 kids a Kung Fu Panda t-shirt from the boys section.  We bought the older girls a guitar t-shirt from the boys section.  T-shirts in the boys section are much better made, with thicker material, and more material to cover their bodies.  The store probably has no clue how much sale they actually missed from me.  I would have bought 5 train shirts, and 5 Kung Fu Panda shirts.....if they had actually been available.  Then, I would have been back for guitar shirts for another occasion.

The kids were thrilled with their new shirts.  They do not realize my struggle to keep them dressed in age-appropriate, modest clothing, so that they can be free to be children for as long as possible.