My shopping life with Oliver...

I love going shopping with Oliver when he's helping me pick out clothes for myself. He's so encouraging and helpful. I always leave the stores feel better about myself because of his words and positive energy. On the other hand, I occasionally dread shopping with him when we have to find clothes he will like: super soft, never scratchy, in the right style, with the right look (still not 100% sure what look) and most importantly PINK. I hate this job because his sensory issues change when he finds something he can't live without. Example: if he sees a sparkly dress he NEEDS to buy it, even though I know he'll never wear it after the first time because it'll be too scratchy. Or this long skirt he fell in love with- because he had other skirts in his drawer he hasn't worn since last year.

Don't even get me started on shoes! Oliver dislikes any shoe that is not a flip flop. I could never be upset with that because I love walking around in sandals and barefeet. My problem is he does need closed toed shoes for some things and he will NOT try shoes on unless they are the right color. And that color has to be pink! We were in the shoe aisle looking to get Lucius a pair of slip on shoes. In the two seconds it took me to find out they didn't have any in Lucius' size, Oliver slipped these beauties on. He begged me to buy them for him. I was the meanest Marmee ever and did not get the hot pink high heals. I just didn't think they would work for most school day activities and outdoor play. For a boy who dislikes closed toed shoes because "they hurt his feet"- high healed shoes is not the right investment.

This isn't really a shopping experience, but it is Oliver in his new outfit. His teacher sent me these photos one day. Apparently he found this tub to sit inside of to read. She texted me that he'd been in the tub for a good half hour reading. That's Oliver!