Zip it already

I've been a bit surprised as the mother of boys at how much they actually care about what they wear.

Will's day can be thrown for a spiral by a missing favorite hat or pair of mittens.

You can imagine how upset he was Monday morning when we realized that his winter coat had been left in the U.P. After doing a quick search of the van and closets, I got his old one from the basement.

"This jacket is SO small! I don't want to wear it."

I was sort of no-nonsense this morning and said something like, "You're right. It is small. Zip it up."

When I picked him up after school, he showed me the zipper was stuck, "This is why I never, never, never, never, never, ever, never want to wear this coat again."

"OK. You're right. Put it on now please."

I got a few glares but he eventually pulled it over his head so we could get going. He seemed to calm down when I told him that Grandma Clary had mailed his coat priority from Michigan.

At dinner, I asked Will if his teacher had asked why he had a new folder today (Charlie got his hands on the previous one and, well, you can imagine). Kind of casually, he answered, "No, she didn't ask about it. I was also relieved that no one asked about my 'new' coat either." Dramatic pause. "Because I really don't like it."

Could have fooled me.