to let my ten-year-old DD dress as an anarchist for the royal wedding?

[cinnamontoast]

At DD's school they've been asked to dress like royalty for a day to celebrate the royal wedding. Felt slightly sick at the thought of all those little princesses and, knowing my DD is distinctly anti-girly and not especially pro-royal, I suggested she go as a republican. Oliver Cromwell is tricky to do (suit of armour, anyone?), so we settled on an anarchist - all in black, anarchy symbol splashed on T-shirt, bomb etc. Now I'm wondering if it's a bit inappropriate and in bad taste. Maybe I should lighten up a bit about royalty? Otoh, she REALLY doesn't want to be a queen or a princess, it's just not her style.

Sure it is a nice, simplistic prejudice probably does you quite nicely. Your patience is starting to run thin with all the things you're making up that I've said-- ?

So what?

Hogsback -- and? That makes dressing up as an anarchist and carrying a bomb to school a good thing to do?

If she wants anarchy there won't be a state school for her to go to. It doesn't take much to work that out.

I know! I know! What about a pearly queen? All you need is a big pile of buttons and a few hundred hours to sew them all on

How stupid that the "anarchists" on Saturday were spray painting "tax the rich".

Duh. Who's going to tax them?

cinnamontoast "She hasn't read Walden, Hogsback, but I will put her on to it right away."
And then you seriously coming here and saying that she has ideas of her own?? Hahaha

It was a JOKE, Bemybebe. But why shouldn't she read Thoreau? And I do recommend books to her, I love the fact that she reads widely. Are we not allowed to have any influence on our children?

Mmm are we getting away from the point slightly? OP was looking for dressing up ideas not arguments about anarchy as a philosophy. I had reservations about the fake bomb thing (and Oliver Cromwell come to that) but as someone else said its a dress up not actually a statement of her political beliefs. Did OP say anywhere that she and her daughter are anarchists. I think that the point is that she wants to object to the general royal theme by dressing up as something alternative.
Nothing wrong with that surely?

I understand it was a joke, so is suggesting that 10 year old has strong independent ideas on philosophy and politics.

Why don't you also suggest Karl Kautsky for good measure?

BlueFergie nothing wrong, of course... nothing wrong...

There is something not morally wrong but rather stupid with suggesting a ten year old dress up as an anarchist and carry a fake bomb to school. Yes.

Hmm, didn't realise it was a parenting faux pas to fill your kids bookshelves for fear of influencing them.. Best take away DD's copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, lest it influence her to eat a bunch of crap and then hide out in a sleeping bag for 7 days hoping to sprout wings. Very irresponsible parent me..

Thanks, BlueFergie, got it in one!

Well as far as I understand it the fake bomb idea was abondoned several pages ago, so maybe we can move on from that?

If the theme is to dress like royalty then that is what she should do ( or a jokey version like Elvis or a corgi) or if she doesn't agree with the whole thing then just go in her normal school uniform and not take part.

Now is dressing as an anarchist got anything to do with dressing as royality? which is what they have been asked to do.

If someone want to be a serious anti-establishment, why not go dressed as 'Osama' and have a Tesco bag with a bunch of wires sticking out? That will strike a cord with the school...

On a serious note, if you are so politically conscientious, why don't you suggest "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" and help your daughter to respect human rights rather than making role models out of petty hooligans?

cinnamontoast seriously, give a sans-culottes costume some thought. It would be easier to make, more readily identifiable than a generic 'anarchist' costume and quite light-hearted too.

Beertricks: a lot of posts since my last! If the OP doesn't think the school should be celebrating at all, that should be taken up separately with the school.

But unless/until the school is persuaded to rethink, then the dratted thing will be going ahead, and she needs a costume!

cinnamontoast: how about delving a bit further back into history and going as Boudicca - proper leader/rebel. Robe type costume and blue body paint?

Easier than Oliver Cromwell. I now have the song stuck in my head.

Aargh. Oliver Cromwell.

I still think she should staple beer mats to a T shirt and go as the Queen Vic.
Or dress as a Nazi and go as Prince Harry.

grovel "...dress as a Nazi and go as Prince Harry."

Wow, you think it is funny??

Prince Harry went to a fancy dress party dressed as a Nazi and got (rightly) lambasted for it. So, yes, if she wants to poke fun at the Royal Family it would be quite funny. In my humble opinion.

I know the story, thank you very much. I wouldn't qualify it as "funny" though. Extremely sad for the Royal Family and an indication to what extend they neglect to educate their young royals in British and the world history. You on the other hand is just plain weird for suggesting it to a 10 year old girl.

I am definitely not a royalist btw (partly because of the incident above).

"Beer-matted" Queen Vic, on the other hand, is very funny though (I my humble opinion).