As the back-to-school season approaches, alongside the essential supplies like binders, pens, and notebooks, there’s one more task on your list: purchasing new clothes for your tween. Gather any unused gift cards, as a wardrobe refresh is essential for the upcoming fall season.
This means you will likely be spending a substantial amount of time at the mall. Unlike a solo trip to buy yoga pants—typically a straightforward and drama-free task—shopping for your tween involves navigating a host of stores to find reasonably priced outfits that cover all necessary areas and are deemed acceptable by your child.
Expect to enter vibrant stores that might overwhelm your senses or dimly lit, high-end shops that could evoke feelings of nostalgia for those who grew up shopping at stores like J.C. Penney or Sears. Most significantly, you’ll be engaging with a young person who would rather keep her earbuds in than participate in a conversation you initiate. For all parents looking for guidance on making this outing a success, here’s a brief quiz to get you mentally prepared.
Quiz: Are You Ready for the Tween Shopping Experience?
- Before departing for the mall, you:
- a. Enthusiastically inform your tween that shopping will be enjoyable, and we should leave any negativity at home for a memorable bonding experience.
- b. Remind her that the mall visit is primarily for clothes, not snacks.
- c. Suggest she clean up her room, only to find out she already has everything she needs.
- d. Remain silent.
Correct answer: d. As a parent to a tween, you know that less is often more. (If you’re feeling adventurous, the ideal answer is b.)
- Upon reaching the store, you:
- a. Accompany your tween everywhere, even as she attempts to distance herself from you.
- b. Enter with her but find a nearby seat to check your social media while secretly hoping she avoids the pricier items.
- c. Stay outside the store, occasionally getting up for a snack.
- d. Begin to feel anxious.
Correct answer: Trick question! Your tween will likely act as if she’s shopping independently. Sorry, Mom, but you’re just not 11 years old anymore!
- When your tween expresses interest in trying on clothes, you:
- a. Rush into the fitting room with her before she can shut the door.
- b. Wait outside, calling out questions through the door.
- c. Channel your inner Kevin Arnold’s mother and loudly advise her on fit.
- d. Go back to biting your nails, hoping the expensive items don’t fit.
Correct answer: None of the options. Your tween prefers to keep you at a distance—remember, you’re out of touch!
- When your tween finds something she adores, you:
- a. Agree it’s lovely, but only if you want her to pass on it.
- b. Pretend to dislike the item to spark her desire for it.
- c. Critique its quality, leading to her frustration.
- d. Hand over your credit card without a word.
Correct answer: d. But first, remind her that your budget only allows for three shirts and two pants, which might lead to her reluctantly putting back that trendy $80 piece that she’ll later resent not having.
After your shopping journey, you may feel triumphant, while your tween might be sulking about the item she couldn’t purchase. The drive home could involve 20 minutes of silence, occasionally interrupted by glares. Don’t fret too much; another shopping trip for new shoes will come soon enough. By then, you’ll be well-practiced—consider volunteering your partner for the next outing.
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In summary, shopping with your tween can be a challenging yet rewarding experience, full of negotiations and adjustments. Preparing for this adventure is crucial, as is understanding the dynamics of your relationship during these formative years.