If you were to ask any little girl under the age of eight what her favorite color is, there’s a high likelihood that her answer will be “Pink,” often accompanied by a smile. Before my daughter was born, I never realized just how many variations of pink exist. It seems to saturate their lives in a way that could easily lead one to believe they would scream if deprived of it. The reasons behind this fascination may stem from deep-seated cultural or evolutionary roots, but regardless, it’s clear that little girls simply adore it.
Raising my daughter, Clara, to be a feminine girl was never part of my plan. I wasn’t looking to fill her world with handbags, tutus, or anything else laden with glitter. Yet, here I am, with Clara clad in pink—pink leggings adorned with butterfly patches, a shirt bursting with floral prints, and pink sandals, courtesy of a grandmother who indulges her whims. Despite a wide array of colors available, attempting to guide her toward anything other than pink results in her solemn promise to wear those options “tomorrow.” So, when I decided to renovate Clara’s bedroom, which was still a vibrant apple green from its previous life as an office, it was no surprise that she insisted on pink.
“How about we paint your walls a cheerful orange?” I proposed, employing that overly enthusiastic tone adults often use to sway children.
“I want pink.”
“Okay, how about… Tangerine?” I suggested, adding a little shimmy of my shoulders, hoping to evoke images of tropical fun. Clara, however, was growing impatient.
“PINK!”
Tip One
When redecorating a child’s room, consider making it a surprise. Begin your project while they’re away—at preschool, Grandma’s, or during a playdate—so you have ample time to make meaningful progress. Most likely, they will adore it, as even old toys seem new against freshly painted walls.
On our way to the paint store, Clara declared, “I want my room to be The Enchanted Garden.” Her earnestness indicated she had been contemplating this for a while.
Her older brother, Sam, perked up in the back seat. “Oh, do you want faeries in there, Clara?”
“Yeah, faeries. And butterflies!”
“What about a rainbow?” he chimed in.
“Yes, and a rainbow!” Clara paused, contemplating. “And I want a unicorn.”
“Anything else?” Sam encouraged, his excitement contagious.
I was beginning to feel overwhelmed. “I can manage the faeries, Clara, but a unicorn might be a stretch.”
Fortunately, Clara is as agreeable as she is creative. But then Sam jumped in, “I want a giant spider on my ceiling.”
He currently had purple walls covered in rocket ships and glow-in-the-dark stars, none of which I intended to change until he no longer cared about what his friends thought. I began to mentally brainstorm how to blend a whimsical garden with a creepy-crawly theme in a way that wouldn’t terrify a five-year-old. Suddenly, a handful of faeries didn’t seem so daunting.
“Mom, can you do a praying mantis?”
Regarding the color pink, the spectrum is almost bewildering: hot pinks, soft pinks, peachy hues, Dusty Rose, Morning Glory, Magic Moments, Candy Stripes, Bubblegum, and beyond, with even more unique names like Razzle Dazzle and Sentimental Journey. I selected three sample jars, hoping to narrow down the options.
As the patches dried on Clara’s wall, she skipped in to examine my progress. Upon seeing the samples, she exclaimed, “Not that much pink! I want the whole wall pink!”
I attempted to explain that I was just trying to gauge how the different shades would appear in various lighting. Sometimes, I wonder what she thinks of me.
My husband, a fan of minimalism, suggested a more subdued approach. Therefore, combining this with Clara’s pink paisley rug and polka-dot bedspread, we hoped to avoid overwhelming the room. Naturally, upon our return to the paint store, Clara was immediately drawn to a particular sample aptly named Easter Bunny.
Tip Two
Avoid taking children to paint stores. There are too many options for their indecisive minds, and kids are often magnetically attracted to the most garish hues.
“Oh look, Clara,” I offered a sample that was several shades lighter.
She waved “Easter Bunny” in my face. “This one!”
“But Clara, it has nearly the same name as this one, Easter Bonnet.”
“What’s a bonnet?” Sam interrupted.
While Clara and Sam occupied themselves in a swivel chair, I took advantage of Clara’s inability to read. I discreetly returned Easter Bunny to its rightful place and opted for a sample of Pink Peony instead. However, it quickly became clear that Pink Peony would not be worth the tantrum that awaited me in the parking lot. With the first few brushstrokes, I discovered it was far too subtle—more like an embarrassed shade attempting to fit in at a pink-themed gathering.
Tip Three
Always start with paint samples. Colors never translate the same from a swatch to your walls under natural light. This practice will save you both money and the potential heartache of living with an unfortunate color for years.
After three trips to the paint store and five sample jars later, we settled on Ballerina, a shade that was soft yet vibrant.
“But where are the faeries?” Clara asked as her new walls dried.
“Flying,” I assured her, as swiftly as the mail can deliver them. When the faeries arrive, I’m confident they will find Clara’s Enchanted Garden as magical and delightful a place as she imagines, at least until her next obsession arises—perhaps turquoise and horses.
In summary, navigating the world of children’s preferences, especially when it comes to colors, can be both an adventure and a challenge. By employing strategic planning and a few creative compromises, you can transform a child’s space into a reflection of their imagination.
For further insights, you can explore resources on pregnancy and home insemination at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development here. For a comprehensive journey through couples’ fertility and intracervical insemination, check out this blog post. If you’re looking for a reliable solution, consider the at-home insemination kit, which provides all the necessary tools for your journey.
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