Prof Barbie

CA started at aged 9.

I started at...umm....3.

So I suppose Beth, at nearly 5 ½, is ripe to join the specs-wearing club.

I'm so relieved that we finally found a pair that she was willing to wear (sturdy plastic Barbie frames with purple hearts on the handles – yes, this is one of those times I didn't complain about commercial kids' merchandise), that looked presentable (not nerdy), and that CA and I were happy to pay for.

Glasses can cost an astonishing amount.

Some of the kids' frames we saw at Budget Eyewear cost more than $300!

Granted, these were the Easy Twist ones, meant to withstand mistreatment from the average child who has not learnt to live with glasses.

Thank goodness for private health insurance coverage, which brought our gap cost down to just under $55.

We can live with that.

Beth is growing used to keeping her glasses on when she needs them, and putting up good humouredly with the inevitable comments from other people.

Getting her to remember where she's left them is another to-work-on, as is taking care to replace them in their hot pink Barbie case.