You know those crazy people who have daughters that decorate their school lockers with everything but the glittery kitchen sink? Well...you might want to stop reading right here...
It might help if I go back a little. (Like, five years) ago when our first son was given the combination to his very first school locker. Looking around and hearing squeals, I didn't realize how much fun there was for girl lockers - as chandeliers and fuzzy throw rugs were flying around the fourth grade hallway. Normal boy moms rolled their eyes in unison as they all nonverbally agreed of how thankful they were not to be going through the same misery.
Turning back to our son's locker with his sad, sorry pencils and glue stick on the top shelf, I on the other hand, felt a lump in my throat.
"Should we put some pictures on your door? Maybe a magnet or two?" I hoped.
"Mom, no. It's good. Let's go."
humph.
One son, two sons then three sons consisted of year after year of the same. It began to feel the way it would every time we'd look for Christmas or Easter outfits for the boys before our daughter was born. The huuuuge option of navy or khaki pants gutted me every time while I forced myself not to turn and go through countless dresses dancing with ribbons and bows.
Then...just like that first dress, it was time...even though I never thought the day would come.
Our daughter and I spent hours going through websites, gathering ideas, planning a theme, studying row after row of store shelves looking for the perfect accessories. My husband thought we had lost our minds and we did a little, but it was more than I could've hoped for. I knew to love every minute of it, not being naïve enough to realize how quickly decorating a locker for a fourth grade girl with sparkles will all too quickly turn into middle school (ahem) independence.
So, we began. A rainbow unicorn world was the theme and Thank You, Lord Jesus we found a locker chandelier, unicorn accessories and yes, even a fuzzy rainbow locker carpet.
It might help if I go back a little. (Like, five years) ago when our first son was given the combination to his very first school locker. Looking around and hearing squeals, I didn't realize how much fun there was for girl lockers - as chandeliers and fuzzy throw rugs were flying around the fourth grade hallway. Normal boy moms rolled their eyes in unison as they all nonverbally agreed of how thankful they were not to be going through the same misery.
Turning back to our son's locker with his sad, sorry pencils and glue stick on the top shelf, I on the other hand, felt a lump in my throat.
"Should we put some pictures on your door? Maybe a magnet or two?" I hoped.
"Mom, no. It's good. Let's go."
humph.
One son, two sons then three sons consisted of year after year of the same. It began to feel the way it would every time we'd look for Christmas or Easter outfits for the boys before our daughter was born. The huuuuge option of navy or khaki pants gutted me every time while I forced myself not to turn and go through countless dresses dancing with ribbons and bows.
Then...just like that first dress, it was time...even though I never thought the day would come.
Our daughter and I spent hours going through websites, gathering ideas, planning a theme, studying row after row of store shelves looking for the perfect accessories. My husband thought we had lost our minds and we did a little, but it was more than I could've hoped for. I knew to love every minute of it, not being naïve enough to realize how quickly decorating a locker for a fourth grade girl with sparkles will all too quickly turn into middle school (ahem) independence.
So, we began. A rainbow unicorn world was the theme and Thank You, Lord Jesus we found a locker chandelier, unicorn accessories and yes, even a fuzzy rainbow locker carpet.
The icing on the unicorn cake? One of her best friends from the BFFs of all times is right. next. door. Their lockers are side by side and it was all we could do to wonder how we could remove the separating wall.
The middle school principal even came around the corner to see what all the giggling was about before he helped the girls with locker combinations.
It was more fun than we could've hoped for and for you 80's fans?...We even found an old school locker answering machine worthy of a "Saved by the Bell" episode, so her brothers and friends can leave messages.
As over the top as we may have gone, I considered a glitter confetti gun and jokingly told my husband we could try to fit an easy bake oven inside so she could make cupcakes between class. He didn't laugh.
In the end, it's so beyond wonderful having boys and there's nothing better than a son's heart, even though their lockers could be the most boring things on earth. On the other hand, it's our daughter's first taste of her own little space apart from all of her brothers and it ended up being more fun than we knew what to do with.
I know the boy locker and unicorn years will be gone all too quickly and through each day of the back to school madness I'll try to cherish and appreciate each one while they last. From glue sticks to rainbows and everything in between. Here's to a great new year.
Sparkle cupcake anyone?
The middle school principal even came around the corner to see what all the giggling was about before he helped the girls with locker combinations.
It was more fun than we could've hoped for and for you 80's fans?...We even found an old school locker answering machine worthy of a "Saved by the Bell" episode, so her brothers and friends can leave messages.
As over the top as we may have gone, I considered a glitter confetti gun and jokingly told my husband we could try to fit an easy bake oven inside so she could make cupcakes between class. He didn't laugh.
In the end, it's so beyond wonderful having boys and there's nothing better than a son's heart, even though their lockers could be the most boring things on earth. On the other hand, it's our daughter's first taste of her own little space apart from all of her brothers and it ended up being more fun than we knew what to do with.
I know the boy locker and unicorn years will be gone all too quickly and through each day of the back to school madness I'll try to cherish and appreciate each one while they last. From glue sticks to rainbows and everything in between. Here's to a great new year.
Sparkle cupcake anyone?
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