Should Preschoolers Get Pedicures?

Every 2 or 3 months I treat myself to a manicure/pedicure. The manicure shop I go to is local and very reasonably priced. I rationalize the spurlge by saying it is a medical expense after all the daily bathroom bleaching and washing I do to keep a house of three boys going.  But last week when I went for my little treat I had a little surprise sitting next to me: A PRESCHOOLER - with her mother sitting right next to her! She was getting a full manicure and pedicure. The little girl was very well behaved and completely adorable as she giggled when they cut her nails and sucked her thumb while painting her toe nails.  I did not get my first manicure until I was in my late 20's and had a stable job......As a mom of three boys, I had many thoughts running through my head while watching the preschooler get her services:

• That could be a great way to get out of hiring a babysitter if you need to get a mani/pedi yourself....
• That looks like a more pleasant experience then when I chase my preschool boys around the house to get their nails cut - then SIT ON THEM while I do it......
• That is such a nice mother/daughter bonding experience.

I wondered, if I had a girl, would I do the same thing?

Then I pondered the tough questions:

• Is it a good thing for a preschooler to have a service like that? Will she then want it regularly after that?
• Should you wait until the girl is at least old enough to earn an allowance and have that as a reward?
• Is that any different then taking kids to the toy store now and then for a treat?
• Should we teach preschoolers who want their nails done to just do it themselves (like getting dressed)? Or have mom or other family members do it  for them? They could even paint their moms toes nails for fun.

In the end I decided, as a mom of three boys, the whole discussion I was having in my head was irrelevant. Then I remembered I do have three adorable nieces...

Original Silicon Valley Moms Blog post. Beth Blecherman is a Partner of the Silicon Valley Moms Group. Her personal blog is Techmamas.com.