To not let DD wear dirty clothes?

[Ramekin]

DD was in floods of tears this morning, because she wanted to wear a particular top.
She'd worn it yesterday and spilled some chocolate ice cream down the front, so I said she couldn't wear it today, but that I would wash it this morning and she could wear it tomorrow.

She was begging and begging me to wear it (turns out one of the other girls has the same top, which is why she had to wear it). She was wailing that everyone else would be in pink stripy tops. She had on stripy leggings, but that wasn't good enough apparently (although she did give me a very watery smile through her tears when I suggested she spent the day upside down)

Now she has gone off, I feel like a right old meanie :( Would you have let her wear it?

It's at times like this I wish she wore school uniform . She's only 4 and already basing her clothes round what the other girls wear, what on earth is it going to be like when she's 14?

You're the parent it's your choice and she'll get over it. Right thing done.

Depends. Might a quick sponge down have saved the day?

Oh god, stand your ground. DD1 has driven me bonkers over the years with her wardrobe dilemmas and 'it's too tight/baggy/insert random complaint'

It's too late for me, save yourself.

Hhhmmm, torn on this one. I gave in in a similar situation and let DS wear his favorite digger T shirt which had food on the front (was 8 months pg and not in the mood for a fight), but now I have a digger T shirt with a stain that won't come out. Just as well he has moved on to fire engines.

Seriously, I think the point is less about dirty clothes and more about your DD/my DS learning that what Mummy says goes. I don't give into DS's irrational demands now, but also argue the point and stand my ground on tiny things, just because I am the grown up and I am in charge!

I probably would have let her but I can totally see why you didn't. In my eyes this is the sort of thing that's important to the child and not really that important to the adult, so the child wins.

Thank you for not all telling me I am evil! And MissMowgli at save yourself.

I do think it's up to me to stand my ground, it's just that she wasn't having a tantrum and being all unreasonable, she was trying to control herself and just saying "Oh please, Mummy"

But I suppose if I gave in today we would just have the same issue tomorrow with an even dirtier top, and a precedent for me letting her wear it.