I really thought long and hard about it shortly after moving out of my house and Juli requiring a hoodie/jacket. He had left his favorites at his mom's and I didn't want to go there. I felt he should have a completely different set of clothes at my house. Well, we went to 3 places where hoodies were ~$20-30....but no: the only hoodie he wanted, and what he got, was one by American Apparel. It was partially my fault because I didn't want to shop there so I told him, "get whatever you want regardless of price"....of course, that means I paid close to $50 for a hoodie while giving my money to a corporation which, while "immigrant friendly" in public perception, has horrible gender politics in-house.
I also recall how my mom (qepd) and dad would buy Juli presents at Walmart. I'd always be gracious for Juli and avoid the political elements of that discussion...but then again, I should have that dialog with friends who shop at Trader Joe's or Target. Those gifts were always laden with schdenfreude...even if not volitionally.
OK, that sleeping pill with a Stella chaser is beckoning me into bed...for a change, I might listen....though, at inception, there was a parenting confession or insight that went beyond "we all fuck up" or other cliches and platitudes.
