Written by Amanda Harvey, Marketing Communications Coordinator at Catie’s Closet
One of the most common debates I have with my daughter is what she is going to wear. And no, she is not a teenager. She doesn’t go to school. She is four and spends her days at home with me and her little sister.
She has no one to impress nor does she face the societal expectation of keeping up with ever changing trends.
Yet, what she wears is already a daily topic of conversation.
She is the epitome of a girly girl.
She loves all things pink and sparkles and is a mermaid’s number one fan.
She adores princesses and knows them all by name, story, and of course, outfit.
She has umteen princess story books that we’ve read a thousand and one times each, and she can tell you their most famous lines from their best-known movies and shows.
Most of the day, she goes by a name that’s not the one on her birth certificate. And she will tell you if you get it wrong.
As I predicted, she tries to force her sister to play along, even though she doesn’t fully understand yet, and is unintentionally uncooperative.
Okay, now that you have a little more insight, back to the clothing.
If my daughter had her way, she would spend 100% of her time in a dress or nightgown. And not just any kind. It must have short sleeves.
Even when it’s 30 degrees outside? Yes. Why? Because princesses don’t wear long sleeves.
Knee-length dresses are acceptable, however long dresses are preferred. Why? Because princesses wear long dresses, of course.
What about when all of the short-sleeved dresses are dirty (because she goes through at least two a day with outfit changes), my darling little angel plucks them (or digs them) out of the hamper. And no, that’s not a joke.
If I suggest wearing a long-sleeve dress, whines and tears will surely ensue. It’s reached a point where I call attention to every picture or movie scene where a princess is wearing long sleeves. “See! Princesses wear long-sleeves, too!”
Forget it if I even utter the words “pants and a shirt”.
I know, I know. It’s completely harmless for her to want to wear dresses. And I am totally fine with her wanting to wear nightgowns and dresses all day. But, as her mom, when I see her arms and legs covered in goosebumps, I can’t help but suggest she add a layer.
“Princesses wear jackets!”
Pick your battles they say, right?
But this very important piece of who my daughter is in her childhood often makes me reflect on our work here at Catie’s Closet and the important role clothing plays in even a four-year-old’s life.
The truth is, my daughter expresses herself through the dresses she wears. They show off her interests and her personality. Even at this young age, she knows what she feels best in.
To her, they’re not just dresses and nightgowns.
Shouldn’t all children have the opportunity to feel good about themselves and what they wear, and to have choices about what they wear as they go about their days?
And that’s what we strive to do at Catie’s Closet.
My husband and I are blessed to be able to offer our daughter a drawer full of dresses of all lengths and sleeve types, as well as three hooks packed with numerous dress-up outfits.
Some of my neighbors, though, are struggling to put food on the table and keep the lights on.
Ensuring their child has well-fitting and seasonally appropriate clothing can’t be a priority. And forget clothing that helps their child feel confident.
That’s where Catie’s Closet comes in.
Through our programs, children and teens are provided access to not only clothing but other essentials such as toiletries, undergarments, menstrual products, socks, and shoes.
Even better, they have full agency over the items they pick out in their In-School Closet or receive via our SOS Urgent Response Program.
Read more about our In-School Closet Program.
Read more about our SOS Urgent Response Program.
We say this access is life-changing, and that’s because it is.
When you support Catie’s Closet, you don’t just give a child a simple t-shirt with a Frozen character on it, you spark their sense of self.
You don’t just give a boy a pair of pants. You give him the confidence to run at recess.
You don’t just give a homeless student a new jacket. You provide warmth and dignity.
You don’t just give a girl a short-sleeve dress. You give her the chance to feel like a real-life princess.
As we also say, “It’s so much more than clothes.”
I feel thankful that my daughter has the opportunity to feel like her best self as she plays and learns about the world around her. And I’m especially thankful to be a part of an organization that provides the same for other children who are not as fortunate.
Regardless of a child’s situation, whether they are living in poverty, homeless, a victim of a fire, transitioning into foster care, or are brand new to the country with hopes for a better life, every child deserves to have their basic needs met and to feel valued for who they are.
