It's that time of year again!

Have I ever mentioned that DD2 has some sensory integration issues? Well, she does, and it tends to make her a little quirky. Sensory issues are tough... because they have no specific pattern that they follow - but if you irritate her by trying to pretend they don't exist... well that is a fight you just cannot win.

Here is our latest:
Spring is here in Colorado. Some days the weather is lovely, other days the weather is absolute crap. Believe it or not - we have a harder time dressing DD2 when the weather is lovely. She is able to go from long sleeves to short sleeves with no problem (this is the first year we've not had to "ease" her in to short sleeves slowly, because what she really wanted was her arms covered up so that nasty air couldn't touch them), but pants don't seem to be so easy. She will wear a dress, preferably with tights or knee socks, but I have been able to convince her that the air won't bug her too much if she is is in socks that stop at the ankle. Shorts and capri pants are much harder for her to wear. (Why? We don't know. The experts don't know. God does know, but I'm not speaking to him today - all good natured of course, he knows why I'm mad and he's OK with it for a little while.) Shorts and capris require LONG socks, either knee socks or crew socks pulled ALL the way up. (She also insists on wearing socks with sandals, and will probably insist upon this until around the end of June. Why? See above.) To deny her, to tell her that she cannot have socks covering up all exposed lower leg flesh, is to ask her to shut down her brain, have a tantrum, and to be able to focus on nothing but her vulnerable exposed flesh until it is covered again. The part that I really have a hard time understanding is that if she is in a skort or shorts, she is OK with her upper leg being exposed... it's the lower leg that throws her sensory world upside down. Gotta be covered from toes to knees. Crazy, right?

So, if you see a darling little freckle faced girl wearing capris, knee socks, and stack heel Hello Kitty sandals please be kind. I'm sure by the end of May - given enough nice days to practice airing out her skin - she'll be able to dress normally again.

Although I hear that one of my brothers spent an entire summer wearing long underwear. I hold my head up high when I tell you that my family seems to have a history of embracing and celebrating its quirks. (But, to be on the safe side, we're not going to buy DD2 a pair of long underwear any time soon!)


UPDATE on Monday morning: And, just so she can make a liar out of her mom (as DD2 is nothing if not a little ornery), today she decided that she's wear ankle socks with her little mary jane shoes with her capri pants. Her decision. Go figure.