Parents and teachers have praised a mother for her viral video defending her decision to send her kids to school in clean, but stained clothes.
Marla Branyan’s video, which has garnered over 1 million views, shows her 3-year-old daughter’s scuffed pink pants. Branyan explains that she buys gently-used clothes or hand-me-downs for her children because it’s more affordable, and that she doesn’t want to stress about keeping their clothes pristine.
Branyan’s daughter is a free-spirit who loves art and is often covered in paint by the end of the school day. Her son, on the other hand, is a neater kid who occasionally gets grass stains on his clothes.
Branyan says that kids can be messy at any age, and that she doesn’t want to buy her future 12-year-old new clothes every time he stains them. She also points out that teachers appreciate when kids wear slightly-worn clothing, as it takes pressure off them to keep the kids clean.
Branyan’s decision to dress her kids in clean, stained clothes is a practical and affordable way to parent. It also allows her kids to be messy and enjoy their childhood without worrying about their appearance.
