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.

For inspiration, check out Rik's clothing in 'The Young Ones'.

FWIW - YABU. If you don't agree just send her in her uniform FFS. Unless you really want all the other little girls to ignore her for the rest of the term that is?

Gooseberrybushes, I'm astonished that you think the school will laugh at her for being different. They are much nicer than that. And I doubt she'll be the only one who doesn't want to conform. I refer you to my earlier post about the child covered from head to toe in purple balloons - now THAT's ridiculous.

Meditrina, I admit to feeling slightly daunted by a Cromwell costume, not being a Blue Peter type of mum, but will do my best.

It's not a risk though is it? It's likely to be fact - I know, I have a girl child myself and know how they will be likely to react.

Each to their own - I didn't say it was wrong, I just think it's all being a bit heavy-handed when there is no need to be. And I don't even consider myself to be royalist!

MrsFruitcake, you're just wrong. They wouldn't ignore her. Don't know what kind of school you've experienced but they are simply not like that (are any kids that mean?). And it's not just about me not agreeing, DD doesn't agree either. And no, I haven't brainwashed her, she has a mind of her own.

Why do you need approval if you're such an anarchist? Why do you need people to say yay, cool? Are you being unreasonable? What do you care? You rebel you.

You want to associate your daughter with a bunch of thugs, you go ahead. I believe the anarchists on Saturday were wearing hoods and black bomber jackets, accessorised by large wooden clubs. Wooo so cool. Why do you care what people think?

Perhaps she'll be doing it for real soon.

Ah ha, Gooseberrybushes, but were they anarchists or were they planted by the police to discredit peaceful protest? Just a thought.

Just a stupid thought.

Mind of their own? You're joking. It's just another club.

Yes, kids are mean. All of them. Pack mentality and all that.

You'll do it anyway, I agree with Goosberry though, why ask for approval if you have already made your mind up? I think just wearing her uniform would be a bigger statement. Then if she was embarrassed she could just say she forgot to dress up.

Why do you want approval for this? Just go ahead and stuff em all.

Couldn't agree more Beer.

Gooseberry - Being an anarchist has nothing really to do with being 'non-conformist' in the sense that you mean, it's a political philosophy. The word directly translates to "Without rulers".

In fact for demos and actions there is a bit of a 'uniform', it helps people to remain anonymous if everyone's wearing the same (usually all black, with facial features partially obscured.)

Nobody wants to be giving big ol' smiles for the FIT cameras and as you can clearly see by this thread, there's still a bit of a stigma attached to being an anarchist or being involved with anarchists.

Oh of course. My daughter dressed as a princess. She can't see beyond her own two feet and all she wants to do is wear tiaras.

Gooseberrybushes, is your name something to do with being prickly by any chance? I don't think there's any need to take it so seriously. The anarchist thing was a lighthearted rebellion against royalist claptrap, which I then had some second thoughts about, hence the post. I think you're confusing anarchists with terrorists in any case - I'm not planning to send her off to train with Al Qaeda.

Rather a statement of the bleeding obvious that criminals disguise themselves in order not to be caught.

A conformist anarchist. Now there's a mind-boggler.

Er no I'm not confusing anarchists with terrorists though it might suit you to think so.

No it's nothing to do with being prickly. Though it might suit you to think that too.

Gooseberrybushes - Anarchism as a political philosophy has been around to the 16th century and you're basing your opinion of it on the behaviour of some idiots last Saturday

Would you really describe William Godwin, Kropotkin, Emma Goldman, Thoreau etc. as thugs? Really, go and read Walden...

MrsFruitcake, I hadn't made my mind up, which is why I posted. And if you'll look back you'll see that I have since spoken to DD, suggested some of the ideas on this thread, and she decided to be Cromwell instead.

If she wants to be without rulers tell her what she really wants to represent. A world without tax collection, support for the poor, state education, state health services blah blah blah.

So much for being able to think it through.

She only wants to do it because anarchists are in the news.