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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think 3 dress down days in two months is a bit much

32 replies

Buck3t · 16/03/2017 14:36

Seriously, Spanish Day, World Book day and the other one that was in February.

And suggestions of what can be worn, A matador outfit, a flamenco dress, oh and when for? 7 days later, do I look like someone who has a 9 year old's flamenco dress just lying about, oh and specifically no football shirts as they want the kids to use their imagination. Really? Well suppose I like spanish football and suppose it has been a great introduction to spanish culture for my family, and suppose that's what is in my wardrobe? Well I'm going on Ebay, so that's as far as DD's imagination is coming into costume choice. Why do I have to be on ebay looking for a flamenco dress? Why? Why indeed.

The day sounds great, but dress down is completely unnecessary.

And I'm stressed cause DH is away for the next couple of weeks leaving me alone against THE KIDS.

I don't need this.

OP posts:

2anddone · 16/03/2017 14:46

Agree they can be a pain! How about red and yellow clothes and go as the flag? Or shorts, t shirt and a camera round their neck and go as an English tourist?

throughgrittedteeth · 16/03/2017 14:47

Three is a lot and the Spanish one is so specific!

Are you nifty with sewing? Would a bit of net curtain on a normal dress not cut it?

Noodoodle · 16/03/2017 14:51

Don't stress! No matter what the costume day at my dd's primary, there were ALWAYS princesses/cowboys/superheros and very few in the "correct" costume for the day. But I don't agree with all these days anyway. Book day, fine. Red nose day/jeans for genes etc, fine. But proper costumed should only be if you have something you can do, you shouldn't feel like you have to go and get a whole new outfit for one bloody day of being Spanish or African (was one of dd's ones). Will they dress up for St Patrick's day or St David's day??

Wando1986 · 16/03/2017 14:52

Just dress your kid in the colours of the spanish flag

HairySunshine · 16/03/2017 14:53

DC5 has a Titanic themed day coming up - they have to dress up in an outfit befitting the class on their ticket.

Feed back to the school, three is a lot in such a short space of time!

isupposeitsverynice · 16/03/2017 14:55

I am a miserable old cow but I hate dressing up days. I make ds sort his own out now. I will help a bit, but he has to do most of the work.

Wellitwouldbenice · 16/03/2017 14:59

The school is just trying to make the curriculum interesting and fun, you know, trying to engage your kid... Yes I know it's a pain the arse but support the school for heavens sake, they dont go to the trouble of letters home, staff dressing up etc for the good of their health.

tabulahrasa · 16/03/2017 15:07

My family are Spanish...my niece mostly wears clothes from primark, if that helps...

Sundance01 · 16/03/2017 15:12

Just send her in her favourite clothes and say This is actually what Spanish children wear and reinforcing cultural stereotypes is not that great. That should shut them up.

My dgs school had 6 dress up days in one term. The complaints were so vigorous they never did it again

harderandharder2breathe · 16/03/2017 15:18

Dress down/dress up days are fine only if they are broad enough for all budgets and easy enough to be thrown together in five minutes.

The Spanish one is weirdly prescriptive

Original poster

Buck3t · 16/03/2017 17:02

Many thanks. I just need calming down. If it wasn't with a week's notice I wouldn't mind. Someone has just reminded me about red nose day. When is that bugger? I really can't be arsed. I like the idea of sending her in normal clothes and saying not to stereotype - it's offensive.

I think if the only way you can make the curriculum exciting is by dressing up every term, you are not being creative enough. Quite frankly. And working full time + part time, with kids with lots of activities I don't have the time nor the inclination to add to my homeload. And this is my point. I help with reading, reinforcing the timetables, I check homework chase GCSE projects ensure that they brush their teeth and stop playing gadgets, I take to singing, tennis and dance lessons, I have to create classes every week for my own students. I have to study I have time for 1 show and fall asleep in front of it. Then for round 2. All I ask is that the rather expensive uniforms are what they wear to school 6 weeks straight with no interruptions. Is that really too much to ask?

OP posts:

Wellitwouldbenice · 16/03/2017 17:06

Er, it's called being a parent We all have a similar 'to do' list to you. What did you expect came with kids? Staff???

Wellitwouldbenice · 16/03/2017 17:07

Oh and do get involved with your school if you think you know/can do sooooo much better with the curriculum...

IntoTheDeep · 16/03/2017 17:14

DS2's nursery is having a themed Irish dress day for St Patrick's day, but it's just a "wear something green" thing rather than having to dress up as a leprechaun or Irish dancing costume or suchlike.

So a nice easy dress up day. Can you do similar and find red/yellow clothes to represent the Spanish flag?

UmmAandY · 16/03/2017 17:21

Just draw something on a t-shirt with textile paint. We just had a France day and I drew the Eiffel Tower on the front and the French flag on the back.

I am totally with you, we live in the Middle East so we have had national day (dress like an emirate), international day (they had to wear the national dress from their country but my kids are from Denmark/Syria/Seychelles so yay for me. Then we had dress like your favorite animal, dress like an insect, soon we got world book day also and we still got 4 months to go

TiredBefuddledRose · 16/03/2017 18:03

Mine have to dress as 'space fairies' for something they're doing with the school choir, space fairies!!!!

Original poster

Buck3t · 16/03/2017 22:37

Tired good luck with that. What on earth is a space fairy

OP posts:

Original poster

Buck3t · 16/03/2017 22:43

Well it would be nice thank you for that, I never once thought of getting involved with the school. I'm going to try that!

An assumption has made one of us an ass methinks.

Not sure where I said I wouldn't get involved? In fact I'm sure I mentioned I was doing something. Reluctantly, but like any parent doing it all the same. I enjoyed school without dress down so bloody often. In fact surely if they do it too often the novelty will wear off no?. Anyway thanks for your constructive feedback, against all the helpful tips prior and after you, this really calmed me down.
Is there a bitch slap smiley somewhere?

OP posts:

Wellitwouldbenice · 17/03/2017 10:22

You seem to be making a mountain out of a mole hill. As all the other posters have pointed out, there are easy ways of doing dress up days. And the rest of us seem to manage - some of us are busy too you know, averaging a 60 hour work week... Just get a grip.

Original poster

Buck3t · 17/03/2017 11:42

The query was though AIBU thinking 3 in three months is excessive? You didn't answer. Thanks but I wish I only averaged 60 hours a week. I'm tired and as I explained I know I'm angsty because my husband is going away for a couple of weeks. What's your excuse exactly?

I'm sorry I like routine and I don't like disruption to said routine, which is why 7 days notice is not enough for me to organise a flamenco outfit, without getting somewhat irked. Something I think I'm entitled to, whilst managing.

Your right in that it's not a big deal, I can just send my DD to school in her uniform and not conform for this one day, cause it won't hurt and she'd still have fun because of all of the other well thought out activities they're doing.

OP posts:

Wellitwouldbenice · 17/03/2017 13:10

Look if you're out of your depth with 7 days notice to get a costume then there's something wrong. You're implying that you have a lot of other stress - perhaps sorting that out should be the focus of your attention rather than blaming, in my opinion, a not excessive number of dress up days and the school. You're finding a scapegoat for all your other issues.
You did come on this forum and ask for opinions....

isupposeitsverynice · 17/03/2017 13:40

Seriously? You can't imagine why a person might be too busy or skint to sort out a specialised costume in a week? There are scores of low income families at our school with two, three, four kids - you think they can just pull costumes out of their arses? Why are you spoiling for a fight about dressing up days - are you the fucker person that organises them? Bizarre. I still think yanbu, OP

Wellitwouldbenice · 17/03/2017 13:45

But there are loads of cheap, easy, quick (and dare I say obvious?) solutions on this thread for those on a low income and who are short of time.
For the record I loathe dressing up and would never organise such a thing...

haveacupoftea · 17/03/2017 13:48

Dress her up as something totally inappropriate. Like a bull fighter.

isupposeitsverynice · 17/03/2017 14:03

Or the bull! Victorious, sporting parts of matador on her horns! That'll be the last costume day for a while, I bet you

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