I love that kids are completely and utterly okay with themselves. I wish that we adults could have the self-esteem that most children just naturally possess.

Take fashion, for instance.

I do my best to make sure the wee beasts are put together nicely before we leave the house. Shirts and pants (or shorts now that the weather is changing) are coordinated. Colors work together and don’t clash. Comfy sweatpants aren’t paired with a button-down shirt. You get the idea.

But as beasts are prone to do as they get older, they start to get opinionated. And all of the parenting advice you hear or read tells you that you should pick your battles wisely. Let the beasts have some control over their clothes and you can be the boss about bedtime. Or so the books say.

So this morning, it was raining as I pulled some clothes from the closet. My beasts are close in age but I don’t match their clothes like I see some parents doing. They aren’t twins, after all. And even if they were, I wouldn’t make them match. Twice the clothes, twice the expense, twice the therapy later in life.

But I digress.

This morning I put together two nicely styled outfits. Big A was in a green checked pair of shorts and a green shirt with one trendy line of argyle. Little A was coordinated with a solid green short and lime green shirt with an all-over argyle print. Similar. Not matchy-matchy.

Because I had picked out the clothes, I told them they could choose shoes and put out two pair for each to pick from. Oh, but it was raining. Did I mention that?

Big A believes that even one rain drop is enough to require rain boots. I told him it wasn’t raining very much and to select his shoes. He tossed them aside and ran to the closet for his Iron Man rain boots. Iron Man. Black, red and gold. Not in the realm of earth tones that would have worked with the green ensembles.

So, of course, Little A had to emulate his big bro and also tossed my chosen shoes to the side in favor of his Lightening McQueen rain boots. Also black, red, and gold. At least they were still coordinating with each other.

So off to school they went. Shorts just covering their kneecaps (it’s early in the season…they’ll be above the knees after the summer growth spurts kick in), and boots coming up to their knees. That alone was enough to bother my fashion sensibilities.

I cringed a bit as they confidently strode into their classrooms, wincing as other parents looked over with raised eyebrows. A couple gave me a knowing look, as if they’ve shared in similar fashion crisis in their homes. But the beasts didn’t notice. They walked right over to their friends, most of whom shrieked in delight and made note of their cool boots. At least all beasts their age share in the same misguided fashionability.

So I guess it all worked out. Their self-esteem is well in tact and their feet are dry.

I did leave their teachers alternative shoes in case they decide later in the day that those boots aren’t made for walking after all. But if they keep them on all day, I’m going to snap their pics and add them to this post. I’m sure they will beam with pride at how momma wants to show off their stylish look.