I'm a Connecticut mom of three with an interesting perspective on shopping for kids. When the muse for about a boy was born six years ago, I was just two weeks shy of turning 40 and my husband and I already had two tweens. For a few years I had a toddler, a tween and a teen.

I've been 'buying for Baby' since 1991, so I've seen kids' stuff evolve. And like all of the items now available to buy, the customer has changed as well. This go-round, the kid consumer in my home, let's call him Kid Cool, knows exactly what he wants. I know some of that has to do with him being the baby in a family with two much-older siblings. He's been watching an older brother and an older sister in action since day one. What they like has some influence on his tastes and what he considers cool. He wanted a studded belt to wear with his jeans, for example, way before we could find any in his size. That's because he saw his brother and sister head back to high school with them a few seasons ago. But I think Kid Cool is also a product of his times. Kids are more independent-minded at a younger age; they have their own ideas about what they like and don't like. These days they are not as easily influenced by what we parents like.

Fortunately for me, Kid Cool and I are on the same page when it comes to fashion (for now). He will get no argument from me when he wants to wear a military-style shirt, skinny jeans and high top canvas sneakers or retro plaid shorts with a busy graphic T-shirt. I only draw the line at comforters, clothes and shoes emblazoned with characters (but things like toys, slippers and pajamas are okay), store-bought Halloween costumes and birthday parties at places like Chuck E. Cheese. However, my older two do say Kid Cool has managed to bend the family rule a bit on the no-character clothing edict they remember all too well. They point to the Cars T-shirt and Spider Man sneakers I allowed when he was in preschool. I can't explain the lapse that allowed the bright gold Cars T-shirt, but the Spider Man sneakers were cool canvas low-tops with a serious retro vibe. In that case great design won out.

About a boy will provide a window into the world of a school-age boy - everything Kid Cool likes and dislikes when it comes to toys, clothing, shoes, entertainment and more. If you'd like to reach Kid Cool or his mom, email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

- Kid Cool's Mom, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it