Hello Kitty Backpack

The only backpacks available at the Navy Exchange were Hello Kitty backpacks. The Exchange - for all you non military folk - is the general merchandise store located on the military base. The items can be significantly less expensive than that found elsewhere. Back home it’s probably not a big deal. But in Guam the stores are limited. They do have “The World’s Largest K-Mart”. But - get this - is too expensive!! So I don’t shop there!! So anyway the only backpack was a Hello Kitty one. I looked and peered around. I thought we need to get something different. You know… something a little less Paris Hilton.

I kept looking for something cute and unique. Of course my soon to be kindergartner was all about the Hello Kitty Backpack!! She was insistent. “No mommy this is good.” “Well honey let’s see if they have anything else”. Around we went until it hit me! Ah Hah!! I forgot! Kids don’t want to be unique! Being different is tantamount to disaster!! Kids want to conform! It makes them feel safe and similar if they look and act like their friends.

I’m itching to tell her all the things that make us different also make us special. For now, I think I’ll save my “it’s okay to be different” speech for when it really counts. I bought the backpack. Now I need to make sure she doesn’t lose hers amidst the crowd of Kittys!!

Sheila Cason MD