Everyone that knows me knows I’m largely oblivious to my surroundings. My wife has been conditioned to not only tell me most things multiple times but to email the really important ones.

I’m not sure why I am the way I am. I like to think it has more to do with stress and fatigue than being lazy and self centered but the jury is still out.

With this short glimpse into my fractured psyche you can understand my surprise when, just hours before the third birthday of girl #2, I receive a call from the dad of one of the pending party guests. He wants to know what size clothes the girl wears. It seems some last minute gift buying is in progress.

Please understand that I don’t hold the dad responsible for this inquiry. The pain in his voice made it clear that he would have rather pushed his way through the pink plastic aisle than try to find an article of clothing let alone several articles that make up a matching outfit.

Casting a wide net

At this point I’m kicking myself for not just putting my wife on the phone. I think what kept me from doing this was that the dad had been asked to call called . We were now in this together. The only thing to do was pad the answer and hope the mom at the other end of this exchange would find the sweet spot in the middle.

The thought process went something like this.

How old is she going to be? 3 , got it.
How do they do sizes for kids? I think they go with the year and a T. OK, I think.
Since she’s gonna be 3 suggest the 3T but step it up a notch to 4T just in case. 2T should be out of the question cause I know she’s not small for her size.
DING. Decision made.

“3T to 4T,” I answer. “3T if she needs to wear it now or 4T if it is for a few months later.” Sounded good to me. The phone call ends with both of us pretty pleased, if not relieved.

It turns out 4T was closest to the right answer. I think the buying mom got it right with the gift, although I can’t be sure since I’ve got this whole oblivious thing going on.