When you learn you’re expecting a child, the first instinct is to gather an impressive supply of baby necessities. You fill closets with diapers, stock drawers with cute onesies, and furnish nurseries with all the essentials. However, what you may not realize is that further down the line, you’ll need an entirely different set of items. These include tie-dyed shirts, outrageous hats, mismatched socks, and a plethora of neon accessories.
Unless your children are homeschooled, you will inevitably require these seemingly odd items when their school sends home a last-minute notice about an event that elicits groans and eye rolls from parents everywhere: Spirit Week. The name may vary depending on your child’s school—Rally Days, Red Ribbon Week, or Awareness Week—but the concept remains the same: a week full of themed dress-up days. While this is exciting for kids, it often poses a challenge for parents tasked with assembling acceptable outfits from a collection of clothing rarely kept on hand.
Honestly, I struggle to get my kids dressed on a regular day. There have been countless mornings where I’ve sent them off, hoping no one notices the wrinkled shirts or that one child is wearing his brother’s jeans that are way too short. So, when “1970s Day” approaches, and I’m scrambling to find the bell-bottoms and peace-sign accessories from last time, it can be overwhelming.
Perhaps I could manage to pull together one decent outfit, but then tomorrow arrives, and it’s “Wacky Hat Day.” That means I need to find something funky—not just any baseball cap will do. The only quirky hat we have resembles a poop emoji, and that is definitely not suitable for school.
I also envy the mothers of long-haired girls on “Crazy Hair Day” because they have endless possibilities. Have you seen those Pinterest hairstyles that look like a soda bottle is pouring out? I’m a mom of boys with short hair, and aside from a little gel to spike it up, there’s not much I can do. Thus, I often find myself dashing to the local store for temporary hair color, which inevitably leaves a colorful mark on my couch and a festive ring in the bathtub.
And then there’s “Pajama Day.” If my kids aren’t sleeping in just their underwear, they’re wearing old pajamas that look like they were made for toddlers, which they insist “still fit” because they can wiggle into them. Either that, or they’re still in shorts and a tank top during winter, compelling me to purchase seasonal sleepwear, only for them to declare it “too hot” after one wear.
Every Friday, the kids are supposed to wear their school colors, so I need to manage the laundry enough to ensure red and gray outfits are on hand. When local sports teams have a game, they’re encouraged to wear team gear. Just recently, I bought the most fluorescent orange shirts imaginable for “Wear Orange to Combat Bullying Day,” because, apparently, orange is the ultimate anti-bully color.
Keeping track of these themes becomes even more complex with multiple children attending different schools. I have three in elementary school and one in middle school, and it’s common for both to have Spirit Week simultaneously. For instance, while one school has “Twin Day” (dress like your best friend!), the other might designate “Dress Like Your Favorite Superhero Day.”
Considering I sometimes mix up my kids’ names, remembering who needs to wear what on which day—and ensuring the appropriate clothing is clean and ready—requires a mental capacity that is often elusive, especially before my morning coffee kicks in.
I understand that these themed days aim to build a sense of community and pride within the school. I genuinely want my kids to feel included and recognize the importance of participation. That’s why you’ll find me rummaging through last year’s costumes for a cape, buying camouflage shirts, and texting my neighbor at dawn to borrow some red face paint. It matters to them, and therefore it matters to me. But I can’t say I enjoy the chaos.
To those whose children have yet to enter school, let me offer this piece of advice: Start gathering the most bizarre items in advance. Find a large box and fill it with beads, funky socks, floppy hats, and temporary hair dye (and maybe a cleaning agent for those inevitable messes). This way, when your child comes home announcing that tomorrow is “Dress Like a 1970s Superhero With a Funky Hat and Crazy Socks for Flu Season Awareness Day,” you’ll be the mom who’s got it all sorted.
In conclusion, while Spirit Week may be a source of fun for kids, it often leaves parents scrambling to keep up. Preparing in advance can ease the stress of these themed days and ensure your child feels part of the school spirit.