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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to hate school dress up days

108 replies

Lonecatwithkitten · 18/10/2014 18:07

We have had notification that children in need will be a dress up day with the theme superheroes. Why oh why can they not pick an option which enables the wearing of home clothes.

I am a lone parent running my own business that offers 24/7 emergency care to be frank I have enough to do as it is.

OP posts:
SoonToBeSix · 18/10/2014 19:16

Can't you just borrow one from a friend?

wtffgs · 18/10/2014 19:25

Knobbing iPhone ate my postAngry It was a long rant about being an LP and a teacher. It's a load of MC shonk and I loathe it. No, actually, I can't borrow from a friend/nip to Sainsbo's. Time and money never in abundance here! Sad

hels71 · 18/10/2014 19:28

We have to dress up as a fruit or vegetable....

SevenZarkSeven · 18/10/2014 19:35

YANBU we usually get about 8 minutes notice, don't have piles of dressing up clothes in the house, both work FT and the whole thing is the most enormous PITA.

Frogisatwat · 18/10/2014 19:52

I am in wales and we have a thing called t llew jones day. Your characters are basically limited to a pirate a gypsy or a highwayman. Not so easy when you have an 11 year old who is far too big for dress up.

Purplepoodle · 18/10/2014 20:07

But kids love it. It doesn't matter if it's a pita for us parents surely it's about the kids. Superhero doesn't have to be hard. Make a mask with your kid.

MrsDeVere · 18/10/2014 20:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsTerryPratchett · 18/10/2014 20:13

My favorite saint. He died with an ax in his head. Tragic of course but funny seeing Renaissance artists try to make a bloke with an ax-head all serene and saintly.

cricketpitch · 18/10/2014 20:17

My kids hated it. I hated it. Only the people who had time/money to do it all enjoyed it.

Momagain1 · 18/10/2014 20:18

All she needs is a cape and a mask. Doesnt she even have a princessy type cape? She can make a mask on her own at her age?

Does she have any performing costumes that she could add a mask to in order to become Super(whatever works with that costume?)

Sirzy · 18/10/2014 20:19

I think it's fine as long as you get enough notice. Doesn't have to be something expensive either really.

That said I was pissed off that after going to the time and Effort to make a stickman costume for DS for yesterday he ended up off ill! Thankfully they do book day every year

Original poster
Lonecatwithkitten · 18/10/2014 20:19

Do you not think I do things for her all week in amount my crazy work hours I take her to two musical theatre classes, two choirs, tap dancing and dog agility. I spend plenty time with my DD I don't need to make a mask with her to make it about her.

OP posts:
Picturesinthefirelight · 18/10/2014 20:21

Trying to think outside the box here are there any MT characters who could be seen as superheroes in an inspirational way?

Elle Woods?
Scaramouche?
Shrek?
The women from Made in Dagenham!!!???
Mary Poppins?

Elphaba?

ashtrayheart · 18/10/2014 20:39

If she wants to do it let her think about what she can go as. If she's not bothered (as my ds never was) then don't bother.

Letitsnow9 · 18/10/2014 20:44

I never understand fancy dress (rather than your own clothes) fundraising days, why should families spend £10 on themed stuff to give £1 to charity

5Foot5 · 18/10/2014 20:50

She is 10? Well why is this your problem? At 10 she is surely old enough to take a bit of initiative and do this for herself. When DD was at primary they used to dress up for World Book Day and by year 5 they were strongly encouraged to make at least part of their own costume.

zipzap · 18/10/2014 20:56

Wear normal clothes and wear a badge on it that says 'teacher' (or even her teacher's name).

Easy and gazillions of bonus points from the teacher for think they are a superhero.

Ds2 had to dress up as an insect in reception for a minibugs ball they had when doing mini beasts. The TA drew me to one side to say that it was their homework to decide on an Insect and that they had kickstarted the discussion at school, all sitting in a circle and getting very excited about it. Until they got to ds that is - who when they asked what he wanted to be, just said 'are you mad? I do not do dressing up especially not as an insect. I've never heard anything so ridiculous and that's final'. Unfortunately even at 4 he knows what he likes (and he's always hated dressing up) and wasn't afraid to say it straight, even when it was inappropriate to be quite so blunt!

That was a fun weekend, having to first change his mind and then make the ruddy costume (he finally relented if he could be a woodlouse... Hmm)

cruikshank · 18/10/2014 20:57

Yes of course, a ten year old is perfectly capable of driving to the nearest supermarket, pulling a tenner out of her arse like magic and buying a costume.

I agree with Letitsnow - I have spent much more on fucking dressing up clothes over the years than I have on contributing to the actual charity itself. It's a pile of fucking shite. Also agree with the PP about 'wear something spotty' for that cunt Pudsey - fine if you're a girl, not so fine if you're a boy and your mum has precisely 30 mins a day while the shops are open to scout round them in a state of ever-increasing frustration trying to find the one (there must be one) item of boys' clothing that has spots on it.

zipzap · 18/10/2014 20:58

And yadefinitelynbu to hate dress up days!

cruikshank · 18/10/2014 21:01

Btw a good wheeze for world book day is a Harry Potter costume. DS has worn his three years in a row now and will be wearing it for the next two as well. I got given it by a friend and it's a cape (one size fits all), tie (ditto), specs (ditto) and wand (ditto). Bit of lippy to do the scar and bob's your uncle.

FrustratedBaker · 18/10/2014 21:08

Ds2 had to dress up as an insect in reception for a minibugs ball they had when doing mini beasts. The TA drew me to one side to say that it was their homework to decide on an Insect and that they had kickstarted the discussion at school, all sitting in a circle

This sort of thing makes me a bit cross actually. I'd rather they did half a day at school, then came home for times tables and reading (instead of it being when they are so tired!) and had all the dressing up and glueing and sticking fun after tea, instead of homework. It's crazy that they do THIS at school then you have to teach them times tables and reading.

FrustratedBaker · 18/10/2014 21:09

Sorry that top bit I was quoting zip zap.

FrustratedBaker · 18/10/2014 21:09

Anyway it's a cute story and I really, really like your DS zip zap.

5Foot5 · 18/10/2014 21:10

Yes of course, a ten year old is perfectly capable of driving to the nearest supermarket, pulling a tenner out of her arse like magic and buying a costume

Christ cruikshank, no wonder you have spent so much on dressing up clothes over the years if your solution is to just fork out for a costume at Tescos. A 10 year old is capable of following some of the suggestions floated here, e.g. downloading a mask and decorating it. Also a 10 year old with a strong interest in musical theatre must surely enjoy dressing up and possibly has more experience at dabbling with make up/stage paint/ costumes then many others her age.

DD is not especially arty/crafty but at that age managed a caveman costume on her own at virtually no expenditure. (Bit of fur fabric and some papier mache on a lemonade bottle to make a club)

WorraLiberty · 18/10/2014 21:13

If she's 10 years old, she doesn't need you to help her make a mask OP

Just let her get on and make one if she wants to.