The dark. Monsters under the bed, in the closet or waiting to grab your ankles as you walk up/down the open basement steps. Fire. Strangers. The vacuum cleaner. All are common fears we suffer through and torment ourselves with during childhood. Maybe yours, though, is not so common. Tonight, I discovered Nate’s unique dread. Sweatpants.
My word. The boy lost his stuff when I wanted him to try them on. These are a few of his protests through tears: “But I don’t like them!” “They’re too big for my body!””They’re just, they’re just, no!” “I want to wear my fast pants!”
I know he’s not really afraid of the sweatpants but his reaction sure made it seem that way. Maybe he’s just taking a stance against certain sports wear? Next time, I will attempt to introduce the sweatpants into the wardrobe a little more subtly. Say, in the dark? While telling him the sweatpants monsters will come out of the closet if he doesn’t wear them?
Never! Sometimes, I just need a little demented humor to help me deal with the parenting things I don’t know how to deal with. I mean, I’m pretty much the opposite of Nate. I like sweatpants so much, it’s scary.
Are You Zhazha? 
Ha! Scary pants – I love it. Maybe you could try making a game out of it – tell him you want him to race around the yard in fast pants, and then race around the yard in sweat pants to see which ones are faster or if they’re equally fast. Maybe if he can be convinced just to put them on for the race, he’ll decide they’re not so bad after all.
That is such a great idea! I can’t wait to try it. Thank you!
Drew is particular like this, too. He won’t wear anything to bed that isn’t the synthetic pj material. I tried to put him in boxers and a comfy tee over the summer…nope. No go.
Me? I prefer boxers and sweats…
And that synthetic material is so scratchy! Ahh, the mysteries and adventures of parenthood.