When you find out you’re expecting, your first instinct is to prepare. You fill the nursery with essentials: diapers, cute onesies, and the perfect crib. However, what you may not anticipate is that, as your child grows, a whole new set of necessities will emerge—think tie-dye shirts, quirky hats, wild-patterned socks, and an abundance of neon everything.
If your kids attend school, you’ll soon find yourself needing these seemingly random items during that dreaded time of year: Spirit Week. It may go by a different name at your child’s school—maybe School Spirit Days, Awareness Week, or Theme Days—but regardless, it’s a series of themed dress-up days that can send shivers down any parent’s spine.
As a parent of multiple kids, I often struggle to keep their outfits straight on a normal day, so when “1960s Day” rolls around, I’m left in a panic searching for the fringed vest and peace-sign shades I tucked away last time. Just when I think I have one outfit sorted, tomorrow is “Funky Hat Day,” and I’m faced with the task of finding something that stands out—not just any hat will do, and the one funky hat we own resembles the iPhone poop emoji, making it a no-go for school.
I often find myself envious of the moms with daughters on “Crazy Hair Day.” With long hair, the possibilities are endless (have you seen those Pinterest hairstyles that look like soda spilling from a bottle? They’re amazing!). But as the mother of short-haired boys, my options are limited. This usually leads me to the drugstore for temporary colored hairspray, which inevitably leaves a colorful mess in my bathtub and on my couch.
Then there’s “Pajama Day.” If my kids aren’t just sleeping in their underwear, they’re likely wearing old pajamas that barely fit, insisting they still do because they can squeeze into them. Or they’re still in their summer shorts and tank tops, which means I have to scramble to buy seasonal sleepwear that will only be worn once before being deemed “too hot” for bedtime.
Every Friday, my kids wear their school colors, so I must stay on top of laundry to have an assortment of outfits ready. And during important sports events, they’re encouraged to wear team apparel, which recently led me to purchase the most garish fluorescent orange shirts for “Wear Orange to Combat Bullying Day.” Because, clearly, orange is the ultimate bully deterrent.
Coordinating outfits for multiple children across different schools during Spirit Week can feel like a logistical nightmare. I have three in elementary school and one in middle school, and while one school might have “Twin Day,” another could be celebrating “Dress Like a Superhero Day.” Keeping track of who needs to wear what and making sure all items are clean requires a level of organization that often eludes me, especially before I’ve had my morning coffee.
I understand the intention behind these days—to build community and foster school spirit. It’s important for my kids to feel included, which is why I find myself rifling through last Halloween’s costumes for a cape or texting my neighbor at the crack of dawn, hoping she has red and gray face paint available. I want to support them, even if the process makes me feel a bit frazzled.
So, for those of you with little ones not yet in school, my advice is simple: start preparing early. Stock up on the most random assortment of items. Grab a large box and fill it with funky hats, colorful socks, and temporary hair dye (and maybe a bottle of Soft Scrub for the inevitable mess). This way, when your child comes home excitedly announcing “Dress Like a 1960s Superhero With a Funky Hat and Crazy Socks for Flu Season Awareness Day,” you’ll be the one parent who has it all figured out.
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Summary
Spirit Week can be a daunting time for parents, requiring an entirely new wardrobe of quirky items and outfits. Whether it’s tracking down themed clothing for multiple children or managing the chaos of last-minute dress-up days, preparation is key. For future parents, starting early by stocking up on random items can make all the difference.
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