In the past month alone I’ve sent the kids off to school in “opposites” outfits, “sporting hero” outfits and “1960s/1070s/1980s” outfits. As a result, I have stronger opinions on the value of school uniforms than I ever thought possible.
I can’t stand themed parties at the best of times. This may come as a surprise to some, but I maintain that loving to decorate a party does not necessarily transpire to loving to decorate a person. I really don’t like decorating people.
I don’t quite know why our school loves “mufti-day” so much and I definitely don’t know why they love “themed” mufti-days so much, but they do. Don’t they realise how much extra-bother a mufti-day theme is to a parent? How much extra performance anxiety they induce?
Devoted Mum says: “I’m going to Blochs after school to buy leg warmers for Annabelle’s 1980s costume tomorrow, do you want to come with?”
I say: “You’re buying $30 leg warmers just for the mufti-day? What’s wrong with cutting off the sleeves of an old knitted jumper and sticking them on her legs?”
Cue “those poor children” looks.
So, sure, my kids rock up to mufti-day looking less than turned out, but they never seem to know it. I’m pretty sure Badoo thought she was all that and change in her “1980s” sleeve-leg-warmers, homemade scrunchie and mum beads. Max was definitely in love with himself in his made-up “1960s” costume (converses, white socks, jeans rolled up and a white t-shirt… lots of hair product). Cappers honestly couldn’t care less about any of it. “Can’t I just wear jeans and shirt?” Cue 1970s. Ah, she takes after her mum that one.
Next up we have a reprise of the “1880s” themed-mufti requirement – this time for an excursion to Elizabeth House. Max went on one of these to the Ryde School House in Year 2 but darn if he hasn’t grown out of his “1880s poor boy” costume since then. Actually… I’m pretty sure I can squeeze him into it and won’t it be more authentic if it’s way too small?