Dressed to break the bank
When designer gear is a must for kids, we have our priorities wrong, says Masanda Peter.
By Masanda Peter
Article originally in
Parent24
Call me stingy or out of fashion, but I am still to understand with the fuss is all about with having kids adorned in designer wear. Why on earth parents do that is beyond me, unless you have a pocket like the Motsepes.
A friend of mine once asked me why I do not buy designer wear as in top brands clothing for my son. I was surprised that she was noting my son’s dress code. The response effortlessly came out: ‘because I am investing the money towards his future education, also ensuring that he goes to a good crèche and has a healthy lunchbox everyday and also lives in a comfortable environment – that is where I prefer to spend some of my money.’
Spoiling a child from time to time with a nice designer item is fine but I think it should not be a regular thing unless of course you can afford it. I will not succumb to peer pressure on this one. What I find puzzling is that a mother would stretch herself because so-and-so’s child has a birthday party and their child should arrive there wearing clothes from a designer shop – why?
Try attending a child’s birthday party these days; you actually cannot tell whether it’s a wedding or really a kiddie’s party as per the invite. At times one would hold the biggest party for a child, afterwards the bank balance is thin - meaning that they could not really afford this. I ask myself why one has to put themselves through this.
You might argue that designer clothing lasts longer but so do good chainstore clothes. Children outgrow their clothes quickly so really what is the point of buying expensive clothes they will outgrow?
I think we need to set our priorities right as parents and really invest in things that matter. In that way you are also teaching your kids about setting their priorities right when they grow up. I am sure we all want our kids to grow up understanding the value of money. Sure we want the best for our kids and we want them to look good but are we setting correct values for them?
Do we spend too much on kids’ clothes?