Dress them up?

My MIL bought these 2 silk pink dresses for the girls to wear at my BIL's wedding in March. I am not sure about them because they are short sleeved and they look pretty uncomfortable. I have brought the girls to 2 previous family weddings and I kept them in cotton coveralls. They were pretty ones, but comfy because of the length of time we were there and the girls needing to nap in their carseats for a portion of the time. I don't mind dressing them up for the wedding. I just want them in something warm and comfortable. If they wear these dresses I will have to shop for sweaters and tights, and that isn't comfortable. Plus, I feel like my MIL is kinda stealing my thunder a bit. I am their mother so I want the pleasure of buying the wedding clothes, KWIM? She bought the dresses at Marshalls for $12 so expense isn't the issue. I could always exchange them at Marshalls and tell her the girls outgrew them. Yeah, it's a little sneaky but then I will get to pick an outfit I feel is more appropriate. What do you think?

 

My MIL bought these 2 silk pink dresses for the girls to wear at my BIL's wedding in March. I am not sure about them because they are short sleeved and they look pretty uncomfortable. I have brought the girls to 2 previous family weddings and I kept them in cotton coveralls. They were pretty ones, but comfy because of the length of time we were there and the girls needing to nap in their carseats for a portion of the time. I don't mind dressing them up for the wedding. I just want them in something warm and comfortable. If they wear these dresses I will have to shop for sweaters and tights, and that isn't comfortable. Plus, I feel like my MIL is kinda stealing my thunder a bit. I am their mother so I want the pleasure of buying the wedding clothes, KWIM? She bought the dresses at Marshalls for $12 so expense isn't the issue. I could always exchange them at Marshalls and tell her the girls outgrew them. Yeah, it's a little sneaky but then I will get to pick an outfit I feel is more appropriate. What do you think?

 

Yuk! Sticky situation. Not sure what your situation is, but I have to be very careful around my MIL. She gets upset when I do not dress them in outfits she bought my boys. The exchanging is a good idea, but what if there is a bigger size to get?? I would talk to DH to see if he can help with the situation. He might get his mother to give in.

 

Just exchange them and say they outgrew them. Weve gotten some pretty ugly or uncomfortable stuff, so I use that as an excuse so not to hurt feelings

 

I think my MIL would be disappointed if the girls don't wear what she bought, but I think she would understand if the dresses don't fit. They very well may be too small by the time the wedding rolls around in March, because the dresses are size 6-9 mos, and my girls are tall like their dad and are already outgrowing a lot of their 6-9 month clothes. I may just run up to Marshalls and see what they have, and then I would tell her I exchanged them for something else that fit. Since it's Marshalls, they wouldn't necessarily have the same dresses in a bigger size. I don't want to be mean or manipulative, but I am the one that will be caring for my babies during the wedding and it will be so much easier if they are comfortable.

 

I have the opposite problem. My MIL doesnt buy the girls anything but my mother buys them everything. I mentioned the other day that I was going to go shopping next Friday (payday) and get the girls their 1st birthday outfits and bibs. She showed up the next day with bibs and wants me to go buy a certain outfit. Samething with Christmas, she shows up with 2 dresses and 2 jumpers to wear for their 1st christmas. I didnt even get to see them before she bought them! I didnt say anything and just put the girls in them. They were cute, but I am there mother and I feel that I should be the one to pick them out....

In your case, I would either exchange them or wait until a few weeks before the wedding and tell her that you couldnt find any sweaters for them to wear and it will be too cool for short sleeves so you bought them something else that was a little more pratical for a March wedding and ask if she wants you to return the dresses she bought them...

 

I have some lovely dry clean only, velvet, scratchy ultra expensive dresses my MIL bought for our kids if you'd like to use those .

I agree with the pps -- the size thing gives you a good out. Tell her that you appreciate the gesture, but that the dresses were too small.

Oh -- and I agree with you about choosing functional clothes for babies. I would buy something that is cute but comfortable. No one wins if your kids are cranky because their clothes are annoying!

Kim

 

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I have some lovely dry clean only, velvet, scratchy ultra expensive dresses my MIL bought for our kids if you'd like to use those.

Dry clean only? Yikes!

I agree, you should exchange them, outgrowing that size is a perfectly valid excuse. And what she doesn't know won't hurt her.

 

I would exchange them as well. They will be so cute in March at the wedding. My Ds was in a wedding when he was little, and so cute in his little suit

 

I think saying they didn't fit would be a nice way out of it, without hurting feelings. I'd feel the same way....for special occasions, I like to pick the clothes myself.

 

I think my MIL would love the velvet dresses! They sound like just her style!

Anyways, I'm glad to see you guys agree with me on this one. I'm gonna exchange the dresses at Marshalls, tell her they didn't fit, and have fun shopping for my own dresses.

 

Personally, I would use the dresses. It is her son's wedding so there's nothing wrong with her wanting to dress up her granddaughters as cute as possible. You can put a long-sleeve onesie under the dresses and over the tights and then take off the dresses later in the evening or when they go to take their naps. This way the girls will have something comfortable to wear during naps and cranky times, you can still wear the dresses, and you don't have to change their clothes. It's only for one day.

If they actually did outgrow them, then definitely exchange them but be sure to get something that your MIL would deem as "cute".

 

You COULD just dress them in the dresses and make her happy for JUST the ceremony. Then you'll likely need to feed them at some point after that, right? SO... you change them so as not to wreck the pretty pretty dresses and you put them in YOUR CHOICE!

 

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You COULD just dress them in the dresses and make her happy for JUST the ceremony. Then you'll likely need to feed them at some point after that, right? SO... you change them so as not to wreck the pretty pretty dresses and you put them in YOUR CHOICE!


My thoughts exactly!!

 

I completely understand wanting your girls to be comfy, especially since weddings can be such long days for little ones. Silk dresses might look nice, but comfort is definitely important—cotton coveralls sound way more practical. You could always exchange the dresses discreetly, or even check out something cozy and cute by calling a place like Comfrt Clothing phone number for options that combine style with comfort. Either way, you're the mom, and you should definitely enjoy choosing what's best for your girls!