It was book week last week, and all over Australia mums where complaining bitterly about the stress and drama of dressing their children up for the school parade. I complained along with them. I love the idea of book week, I love that children celebrate their love of books by dressing as their favourite character from a book, I love that children who are reluctant readers might participate in a different avenue of book appreciation, and this may encourage them to read. But, I complained about it being a pain in the arse.
I put this very funny photo on facebook to much comment, with the general consensus being that my boys where clearly unimpressed with being Thing 1 and Thing 2, from The Cat in the Hat. And they where unimpressed - Thing 2 was actually crying in this photo, and Thing 1 was putting on a brave face because he knew he had pushed his mother too far with the complaining and the whinging. Why where they so unimpressed? They had chosen the characters, weeks earlier.
Here they are less than an hour later, delighted with themselves and enjoying the moment.
So why the drama? Why the angst? Why the tears? I think the thought of the day stresses them so much that it erupts in a nervous tantrum, and they react by complaining - a great deal. This in turn presses my buttons, especially if I have put time and effort into creating the costumes that they decided on. Which in turn activates their whinge response even further. I think they are stressed because they are worried they will be embarrassed in front of their school friends. The costume they visualized all those weeks ago suddenly seems a bit lame, and if your mum hasn't even realised the vision properly, well then...it's all a bit crap. For such a simple costume, I had a bit of trouble putting it together. I visited 7 stores (seriously) looking for a blue wig, but unless we wanted a Marge Simpson or Katy Perry look, they where no where to be found. I had Sales Assistants checking on top shelves and in store rooms - no luck. But then I found a tutorial on Kidspot that said to hot glue a feather boa onto a beanie, and rejoiced! I bought 2 feather boas and put them high on my desk, only to discover at the last minute that the dog had thought they would make a great midnight snack. What a bitch! I had no time, and had to use them anyway - luckily the dog hadn't been too hungry. I had been to 5 stores looking for long sleeve red t shirts, and had no luck until the 5pm on the afternoon before the parade, when I found a school pack of 2 shirts. Eureka! I ran home and put them next to the feather boa, to be sorted after dinner......at which point I opened the packet to find that actually, they where short sleeved t shirts.
Here they are proudly smiling for a sibling photo, as taken by Pingu and Dorothy.
On the morning of the book parade there was much drama because the sleeves where short, not long. The feather 'wig' was uncomfortable, stupid, hangs in the eyes, doesn't even look good. The signs on the shirts weren't glued on properly, just pin them, this pin might stick in me! Why won't you pin the bottom?? I'm cold with short sleeves, my jacket will cover up the shirt, it doesn't go with my out fit, this feels dumb can I just stay home?? Of course the answer was no, and we dragged those complaining boys through the school gates grimacing the whole way.
But - a funny thing happened as soon as they saw other students dressed up. Monkey Boy decided he would wear his hat after all. The Gentleman remarked that he hoped it would warm up soon so he could take his jacket off and not hide his outfit. The interest and delight they took in seeing everyone else in costume soon turned to pride and acceptance in themselves. I'm not sure what the message is, but next year I will be showing them photos from this years parade, so they can remember that it will be OK. I will get the outfits together with a few days to spare, so it won't be a surprise for them. Or maybe I will even empower them to make their own freakin' outfits? Then maybe I won't have to complain about Book Week parade either.
Did Book Week do your head in? No? Then share your secret!
xx