Tuesday night, Sarah came into my bedroom dressed like this.
I was a bit taken aback since her usual Tuesday night apparel is sweat pants and an over sized t-shirt, an ensemble she refers to as her “comfy clothes.” As it turned out though, Wednesday was Pirate Day at school and Sarah had been up in her room trying to find something to fit with the theme.
As it turns out, she discovered that she did not really own anything overtly pirate-esque and so her writerly imagination went into overtime. She started playing around with some outfits and finally came up with a variation on the theme, deciding that she would be an aristocratic woman who had been captured by said pirates.
Hence, the hat and gown. And the whole ambient air of aristocracy.
The only problem with that whole idea? When Sarah got to school on Wednesday, it turned out that only about a dozen other kids had dressed up at all, probably since the event had been put together at the last minute and wasn’t real well publicized.
When I dropped Sarah off at the front curb and saw all those teenagers clad in their normal garb of t-shirts and jeans, I had a few mama qualms to cope with. My sweet captured captive was going to stick out like the proverbial sore thumb. Would she be made fun of? Teased?
How does one fare when one is the only aristocratic woman amidst gathered, giggling hordes of the non-aristocracy?
Well, as it turns out, Lady Sarah did just fine. She said a couple of boys who have never talked to her before complimented her dress and she got quite a bit of positive attention. Overall, she was quite pleased with herself for pulling it off and I got to breathe a big sigh of Mama Relief.
Back when I was in school, I always dreaded Spirit Week and Official Dress Up Days. I just wanted to wear my usual non-noticeable clothing and disappear into the crowd, since I was quiet and introverted and the unofficial wall flower of my school. The very thought of showing up in something as noticeable as what Sarah wore yesterday would have completely done me in, which is why I especially admired her panache and poise in pulling it off.
What about you?
When you were in school, did you love the Dress Up Day/Spirit Week activities and dress to the hilt? Or were you more like me, wanting to shrink into the shadows and not be noticed?
I’d love to hear from you–either your story or stories of your kids (or grandkids) and the way your family deals with Dress Up Days and Spirit Days. Are they days to celebrate or days to dread?
In the meantime, I will sit here and be extra thankful that those days are behind me and that I no longer have to stress out over how to put together an outfit that makes me look my favorite cartoon character. Or don myself in garments that represent my favorite flower.
Ick. Give me my comfy clothes any ol’ day!
I didn’t mind spirit week. i wouldn’t go too crazy but i would take part. my kids on the other hand, we go all out. last year was crazy hat day and i forgot and didn’t have any crazy hats so we put pipe cleaners together to make a wacky hat. I went to the salvation army one time and let me son glue material and pom poms to a shirt and pants for crazy dress day. and even though they are boys we have done quite well with crazy hair day as well,lol. spirit week does not come up as often as it did when i grew up and you really have to be paying attention to notice it amoungst all the flyers.
I always preferred to stay under the radar at school, so never participated in spirit week until my senior year, when the guy I was dating that year insisted I dress up and participate. It caused a huge fight when I resisted, so I gave in. It was not pleasant for me, especially the day I had to wear a sheet all day for ‘toga day.’ Ugh!
Melissa, Wearing a sheet all day? Not so much fun! I’m glad right along with you that those toga days are behind you! 🙂
Sarah is such a neat, creative young lady … and so pretty! I admire her confidence, too. 🙂 My children (ages 18, 16, 11) love dressing up for spirit week! The wackier the better. 😉 As for me? Not so much. Ha! I will be honest, though, I used to love it as much as my children. I remember exactly when I changed …
I was 16 and heading to work one early Halloween evening. I was an aerobics instructor, and would often teach in a unitard (a longer, one piece leotard).. The one I had on, actually, was part of a costume from my dance recital the year prior. So it had quite a dramatic flare, to say the least. 🙂 But it was Halloween, so I slipped into it before heading to work (which I never did – I always waited until I was at work to change).
All was well until … I ran out of gas.
On a country road.
Long story short, I approached the only house in sight. A very nice man answered the door, and he let me in to use his phone. He insisted I stay inside and wait on my father. We were soon joined by his 3 other sons, all around my age. They didn’t speak much. Just stared. The man told me he was the minister at the church down the road. Boy, did I feel foolish! And never again enjoyed dressing up like I used to. 😉
Oh, on a side note, my father was less than thrilled that I “went inside a stranger’s house”. He never let me hear the end of that! Halloween of ’87 will never be forgotten, that’s for sure. 😉
Michelle, what a great story! 🙂 If you think Halloween of ’87 was memorable for you, just think how memorable it was for that pastor and his family! Thanks for sharing and embarrassing but fun memory.
We did not do the “Dress Up” days in school,but now that I’m a teacher, we have them every year and I do not like them at all! I do not like teaching in my pajamas, costumes, and other non-traditional clothing requirements. Suffice to say I probably wouldn’t have been a good participant. However, I love watching the kids dress up and seeing how their creativity turns these days into a veritable costume party. They do a great job playing off the theme. I must say Sarah would have been a hit at our “pirate” day!
Lisa, yes, I’m also fascinated to see what kinds of outfits Sarah and other kids come up with–it’s pretty amazing, sometimes. (Although I’m like you; I wouldn’t enjoy teaching in my pj’s!)
Sarah, you look so charming. Unhand her you pirates!!! We didn’t have any spirit week at school, but we did have dress up days, although in the late 50’s and early 60’s most of us wore skirts and blouses. So don’t remember what I wore on dress up day, only remember it was fun.
Sharyn, Love the “unhand her, you pirates” line. You sound very authentic in your pirate-ness! Glad you have fun memories of your dress up days.
We didn’t do spirit days back in the time that I was in school (we were too busy chipping our work into stones). However, there was a year that I wore my Halloween costume for the whole day. Most students lived near the school and went home at lunch time, when they changed into their costumes. A small handful of us were bussed, and my costume was too heavy to carry, so I wore it. Only one student said anything, but I remember feeling mortified. Don’t notice me! Let me crawl into the woodwork!
And yes, Sarah does look adorable! She was born to be aristocratic!!
Jan, that must have been made for some long homework assignments, chipping your work into stones! 🙂 I can’t quite imagine a costume being too heavy to carry; it must have been some kind of costume! You and I can just crawl right into the woodwork together!
She looks beautiful 🙂 How is Sarah doing? I think there has been so little Sarah’s news recently. Is school going well? 🙂 Has she been working on a story?
Trine, Sarah’s staying busy! She’s involved in a couple clubs at school and several things at church so her days are full. She isn’t working on any new stories but still spends a lot of time editing and revising the book she’s been working on for over 7 years!
Thankfully we didn’t do that when I went to school, I guess that just shows my age. Loved, loved seeing Sarah and the necklaces!
Cindy from Sonoma
Cindy, Sarah was definitely awash with jewels. (Thanks, in part, to a certain Sonoman friend.) No wonder the pirates were so intent on kidnapping her!
I was always one to try and not be noticed clothes wise.. but I admire Sarah and all the others who are brave enough to dress up on those days. makes life more fun
Sharon, glad to hear there’s another person like me who didn’t want to be noticed! I’ll let the other people be noticed and I will happily be the one doing the noticing. 🙂
I’m with you, Becky! I dreaded those days. However, I surely do admire Sarah’s individuality and courage. She looks great!
Angela, Sarah did look lovely indeed. As she walked into the school, I was just so very, very glad it was her and not ME!