The difference between boys and girls

It is summer time now. Gideon is more mobile and scooting everywhere. He is getting dirty. He needs new sandals. He has a blue pair, I'd like a neutral pair. While out shopping with Grandma, Gideon and I spy a lovely brown pair at Stride Rite on sale (sale!!) They are sitting with the other 4 or 5 pairs of boys shoes. After inspecting them, I cast my glance to the "other" side of the store. The pink side. Now, for the most part, I am content shopping in the blue department. 2 racks of clothing, not a lot of options, easy enough. But every once in a while, I allow myself to gaze longingly at the pink side. So many choices! Skirts, rompers, butterflies and tank tops! The selection is amazing! So, while at Stride Rite, I allow myself the luxury of looking over at the vast array of girls shoes. Sandals, open toed, tennis shoes, and everything in between. Most options available in several colors! Color! Not just blue or brown! Amazing! I pick up the cutest pair of pink polka dot wedge sandals in a size 1. Yup, 1. That's roughly the length of 3/4ths of your pointer finger. How precious!! And then I think, if I had a girl, I would have to buy these. These would be a need, not a want. And I would have to justify my purchase to Noah, who loves me, but would not agree with me that they were a need. And then I'd need an outfit to go with them. An outfit of just the right pink. They weren't barbie pink, they weren't mauve, they were watermelon pink. Yup, that would take some hunting. While all of these choices swam in my head, I glanced back at Gideon. In a simple tee shirt and shorts, eating his new brown sandal. Thank heaven for little boys! I don't think I'm up to all that girliness, regardless of how cute it is. I think if I need a pink fix, I'll head on over to Carly's and play dress-up with Caitlin and Emma. Caitlin is even more pink that I am, and Emma's working on it. And when Carly's head starts to pound at the thought of matching one of the girls shoes to their outfits, I will gladly let her roam around in Gideon's fuss-free closet. Full of browns, blues and greys.