I always wonder how much of my parenting the kids actually absorb. I know that I've raised smart shoppers, my girls regularly come home from the mall and show me their small indulgences: this $10 shirt down from $46! This favorite scent of hand lotion for 75% off of $12 at Bath and Body. This maybe TMI, but my now-freshman has a growing collection of free panties from Victoria's Secret/Pink, that regularly sell for $9. She is as modest as she can be in her selections and we were at the mall yesterday and she wouldn't use a coupon because her father and brothers happened to be on this outing with us - though at the other end of the mall.

I had a moment yesterday where my younger daughter was very practical. It was the North American Nationals for Irish Dance and we were in downtown Chicago at the Sheraton. She was a team dancer for ceili, the eight hand figures. There were 58 dance groups in her category and they didn't recall (place in the top 1/2). Still in my opinion Nationals are Nationals (just under All Irelands). I would definitely spend $71 on a ridiculously priced, though totally adorable hoodie with the logos all over it and her name marked on the back.

Dancer daughter demonstrated such grace and maturity. The dance part she performed was flawlessly exocuted and I can always tell which of the eight are her, despite wearing all the same colored wigs. She holds herself in such a way that I always know it is her. She said she wouldn't be disappointed if they didn't recall, because they danced their best. She hoped they did. I asked my daughter which souvenir hoodie she wanted and she said, "I found some really nice dance shoes (gym shoe types) that I think would be comfortable and I could use them for pom poms next year." Of course the cost was as much as the hoodie. Luckily the vendor has store one suburb over from where I live, so I can buy them next month with those extraneous funds. Daughter picked out the cutest hoodie and will probably where it for years to come (her last one was from 2008 and she still wears it).

So in earnest my girl was going to win out for practicality versus frivolity. Probably the one and only time we'll be at Nationals and thankfully it was close to home. Cost $13 to park all day, $75 for lunch out to TGI Fridays, $71 for hoodie.

I almost had to pay $90 for admission, but that is another story. I should say that I appeared daft and the admission people charged me $90, but then I got smart and went back and requested my $90 refund, which I was given.