I cringed when I brought Isabelle with me to the nail salon for the first time. Since July, she’s accompanied me about five times (including today). It’s become her time to rest and relax. She watches “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” so intently that people forget she’s even in the salon. What a deal! She gets to chill with her beloved Daniel Tiger while I get beautified without having to pay a babysitter.
This morning, I was packing up her iPad and headphones for our trip to the nail salon. That’s when this happened:
Once I was at the salon, I told Jodi Isabelle asked about having her toes done too.
“I’m surprised it took her this long!”
“Really?” I asked.
“Yeah, I would’ve thought she would’ve asked sooner,” Jodi replied.
“I don’t know if she meant that she wanted you to cut them or polish them. Either way, it’s not happening for a long time,” I said.
Today’s conversation with Isabelle brought me back to a conversation I had with Dana Murphy earlier this month. Dana and I were talking about our daughters and the idea of them wearing anything other than peel-off nail polish. She told me she let her oldest put nail polish on her toes once and just felt like her tools looked — strange. It was like her daughter’s preschooler feet looked too sophisticated. I knew what she meant.
Until I had talked with Dana, my objection with nail polish had been from a nail health standpoint. I didn’t want Isabelle to ruin her nails with the chemicals. After Dana and I talked, I realized that polish on her toes would make her adorable little feet look age inappropriate.
I remember polishing my nails at the age of six so I know the day will come — sooner rather than later — when Isabelle will ask to use nail polish. I will only be able to say no for so long. At some point, I’ll give in and experiment with colors on her toes. That said, I will be the one polishing her toes since I’m not about to pay for Isabelle to have a pedicure!
Raising Literate Humans 
HAHA One of the many perils of having a daughter. I have the same issue with ear piercing, which many people I know have had done at 6 months (the youngest age it’s allowed in my province.) The polish at our house that my daughter can use is a shade of pink I’d never wear. And my son wants it on his toes too!
As the mother of boys, I never had this problem, but I’m always surprised when first graders tell me they’re going to a birthday party at the nail salon! I’m sure I wanted to be like my mother and polish my nails when I was little, but going to a salon was never an issue because there weren’t any! I’m with you, Stacey. Let Isabelle watch Daniel Tiger for now. She has plenty of time for pedicures when she’s older.
My daughters are 23 and 20 and both live in Europe, over 4,000 miles away! Oh, to be worried only about nail polish on their preschool toes again! Enjoy your sweet daughter; she’ll be grown in a nanosecond.
I SHOULD not admit this, but I was over 50 when I had my first mani-pedi. It was Memorial day weekend and the long month of June with sandals loomed ahead…..so I went with it! The person at the salon asked, “Long time, no pedi?” I nodded in agreement but almost died from laughing inside. I still do not like the idea of all those chemicals on kids nor on adults – but I love the look so I do clear gloss once a week year round and a few pedis in the summer. I must admit, however, that I do color my hair 🙂 There are only so many chemicals a girl can take!
Going to the nail salon has become a super-special occasion with my daughters (and a super-expensive one since all four of them are ALWAYS happy to go) but it leaves me trying to remember when my first trip to the salon was. It might have been for my wedding! I don’t think I took my oldest until she was a teenager, although we have had a very large bin of nail polish in the bathroom cabinet for years.
Oh, and this could be a VERY cute picture book!
I think we need to have a battle about this before I will have a seed idea.
I like how your slice moved from the now to the earlier conversation to your childhood.
I saw this slice title and had to read it. Save her sweet toes for as long as possible. Aside from the cost, you are right it just doesn’t fit.
It’s a worry to me about those birthday parties. Surely there’s something more fun than going to have the nails done? I don’t do any nail polish, but I think my daughter did when she was older. There is a special kind she used for the grand-girls, maybe it’s a peel off. I’m glad to hear you’re waiting, Stacey.
I can’t imagine hosting one of those birthday parties for Isabelle right now. Maybe when she’s 16…
Never having had children I can’t really offer much. However, Walking through Wal*Mart and such places I find it amazing the products that are available for children. It seems that society wants them to grow up much too soon.
Glad to hear that you will hold off on allowing her to use polish for now! I enjoyed reading your post about this moment at the salon. I do love getting my nails done and there’s something about getting your nails done with your mom at a salon that’s so dear to me. It’ll be so special when she’s old enough to enjoy this with you!
I’m glad you wrote about this. I grew up with boys, so am not always very girly. I struggle with the “riules” for Mea and me to follow, to help her be girly, but not too much so, and not too early.
It’s such a tricky balance. It’s hard to keep them young when society seems to want them to grow up quickly.
I’m not a mom, but I worry about the day I do become one. There are so many things to consider! It seems like blogging is a great outlet to bring up these difficult questions!
This made me smile. I’m always a little surprised when I get a pedicure and in the chair next to me is a little boy or girl. I didn’t get my first pedicure until after I graduated from college!
What a sweetie! I love that she goes with you!
And I’m with you about not doing things too early.
I love this! The one time I went to get my toes done with my friend and her mom, her mom talked the entire car ride about how crazy it was that this was so normal for us. She didn’t get her first pedicure until she was 30. Nail polish, makeup, it’s all designed to make you look older. Of course it doesn’t belong on preschoolers! I hope it never does. Your daughter sounds just as adorable as ever 🙂
I hear ya, totally. My daughter, Lily, has had “sparkles” nail polish or light pink on her toenails from time to time (not at a salon though), and I’ve always felt a little torn about it. Chemicals, body image, etc. On the other side of the coin, a good friend of mine’s little boy wore sparkly blue nail polish on one hand to school one day last year and was tormented about it, which makes me SO ANGRY. If Jackson, my son, wants polish, he will have polish!!!!!!!
I think the time you are able to take by painting your daughter’s toenails has more impact on her in the long run. You share some special memories together and she has something to look forward to in the future.
I appreciate that you take the time to make yourself feel beautiful, even as a busy woman in today’s world!! And I love that you let Isabelle see that and its importance!
I try! I looked way better in the 00’s when I worked in the cosmetics industry! What can you do? 🙂
I know I wasn’t thrilled when my daughter’s Girl Scout group had a field trip to a salon for manicures & up-dos. They were 5 or 6 years old. They also took a trip to a clothing store and did a fashion show. I guess it was fine, but I wasn’t comfortable with such a concentration on looks so young. It seemed that many moms thought it was fantastic though. I think the “right time” is a very individual decision. Definitely an interesting slice.