When you find out you’re expecting a child, the preparation begins in earnest. You gather a collection of essentials: diapers, cute onesies, and nursery furniture. However, what you may not foresee is the need for an entirely different set of items later on—things like tie-dyed shirts, quirky hats, and wildly patterned socks.
If your kids are not homeschooled, you’ll soon find yourself needing these unusual items for those dreaded notifications that come home: Spirit Week. This phenomenon might have a different name at your child’s school—maybe Fun Week, Awareness Week, or School Pride Week—but at its core, it’s a series of themed days where students dress up. It’s an enjoyable experience for kids, but a different story for parents scrambling to assemble the right outfits that nobody ever has lying around.
Honestly, I struggle enough to get my kids dressed on a regular day. I can’t even count the mornings I’ve sent them off while hoping no one notices their wrinkled clothes or that one of my sons is wearing his brother’s jeans that are way too small. So when it’s “Retro Day,” and I need to find the fringe vest and peace-sign sunglasses I bought for the last time, I can’t help but feel overwhelmed.
I understand the intent is to build community and school spirit. But really, can I get my act together for just one outfit? Not when “Wacky Hat Day” is next, and I need to find something truly funky. A regular baseball cap won’t cut it, and believe me, the only funky hat we have looks like a poop emoji—definitely not school-appropriate.
I often find myself envious of the moms with daughters on “Crazy Hair Day,” who have so many styling options. As a mom of short-haired boys, I’m limited. My best bet is spiking their hair or running to the drugstore for temporary hair dye, which inevitably leaves a mess on their clothes and even in my bathtub.
And “Pajama Day”? Please. If my kids aren’t sleeping in their underwear, they’re wearing outdated pajamas that have shrunk to capri-length. They insist they still fit, but let’s be real, they don’t.
Each Friday, my kids are required to wear school colors, so I have to juggle laundry to ensure there are enough red and gray outfits available. If there’s a big game for our local sports teams, it’s encouraged to wear team gear. Just the other week, I bought the most garish fluorescent orange shirts for “Wear Orange to Combat Bullying Day” because apparently, orange is the ultimate bully deterrent. My eyes are still recovering.
Managing this chaos is even more challenging with multiple children in different schools. I have one in elementary and two in middle school, plus a high schooler. Sometimes they all have Spirit Week simultaneously, but the themes vary. One school might have “Twin Day,” while another has “Superhero Day” and “Beach Party Day.” This requires coordinating outfits and accessories across the board—good luck finding a cape and beach-themed attire in the middle of winter!
Given my tendency to mix up my children’s names, keeping track of who wears what and ensuring everything is clean and ready is a feat that often feels impossible, especially before I’ve had my morning coffee.
While I usually manage to send my kids to school dressed for these themed days, I can’t help but think of families who may struggle more than I do—those who lack the resources or face serious challenges that make it hard to get their kids to school at all. The added pressure of fitting in during Spirit Week can be overwhelming for parents who are already under stress. It makes you question whether these events truly promote school spirit or just add stress to families.
I understand the intention is to create a sense of belonging and pride in schools, and I wholeheartedly want my kids—and everyone else’s—to feel engaged. I just wish there were a less demanding way to achieve this, especially for those who are genuinely struggling.
Until that day arrives, you can find me digging through last year’s Halloween costumes to find a cape, frantically texting my neighbor at 7 a.m. for some red and gray face paint (a handy tip: get to know your neighbors well enough to reach out early in the morning). It’s important to my kids, and that makes it important to me, even if I don’t enjoy the process.
For those of you with little ones yet to start school, consider this advice: it’s never too soon to stock up on the most bizarre items. Get a big box and fill it with funky accessories, quirky socks, and temporary hair dyes. That way, when your child announces it’s “Dress Like a 1960s Superhero with a Funky Hat” day, you’ll be the parent who’s ready for anything.
In conclusion, while Spirit Week aims to foster camaraderie, it can place undue stress on parents. Balancing the demands of these themed days with everyday life is a challenge worth considering for schools.