When you discover you’re expecting a baby, the first thing you do is prepare. You fill drawers with cute onesies, stock up on diapers, and furnish the nursery. But what you might not foresee is the necessity for a whole new collection of items down the line. You know, things like tie-dyed shirts, quirky hats, flamboyant socks, and neon everything.
Unless your children are home-schooled, you’re bound to find yourself in need of these seemingly random items when the school sends home that dreaded last-minute flyer announcing the event that elicits sighs and eye-rolls from parents everywhere: Spirit Week.
Your child’s school might call it something else—Rally Days, Red Ribbon Week, or maybe even Crazy Theme Week. Regardless of the name, it’s the same concept: a series of days where students dress according to a different theme. Fun for the kids? Sure. Fun for the parents tasked with assembling outfits that no one keeps on hand? Not so much.
Honestly, I struggle to put together my kids’ outfits on a regular day. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sent them off with wrinkles or mismatched clothes—like my son wearing his brother’s jeans that are two sizes too small. So when it’s “1960s Day,” and I need to hunt down that fringed vest and peace-sign sunglasses I stashed away last year, I can’t help but feel overwhelmed.
I might manage to pull together one decent outfit, but then I remember tomorrow is “Funky Hat Day.” Not just any hat—a funky one. And not the one hat we do own that resembles a poop emoji. Ugh.
I often envy the moms of long-haired girls on “Crazy Hair Day.” They have endless possibilities—like that soda-pouring hairstyle from Pinterest that makes me swoon! Meanwhile, I’m the mom of boys with short hair, and aside from adding some spikes—which barely lasts an hour—I’m scrambling to find temporary hair dye from the drugstore. You know, the one that will inevitably leave a colorful mark on my couch.
And “Pajama Day”? If my kids aren’t sleeping in their skivvies, they’re wearing pajamas that are so short they look like cropped pants. They insist they “still fit” just because they can squeeze into them. Or they’ll be in their summer shorts and tank tops in the dead of winter, leaving me to buy seasonally appropriate sleepwear they’ll wear once before declaring it “too hot.”
Every Friday, the kids are supposed to don their school colors, meaning I must keep up with laundry to ensure an arsenal of red and gray outfits. And don’t even get me started on the fluorescent orange shirts I had to buy for “Wear Orange to Combat Bullying Day”—because we all know orange is a proven bully deterrent.
Managing these themes is tricky with one child, but with multiple kids in different schools, it’s a logistical nightmare. I have three in elementary school and one in middle school, and sometimes they have Spirit Week simultaneously. So, while Monday might be “Twin Day” at one school, it’s “Superhero Day” at the other.
I can barely remember my kids’ names, let alone what they’re meant to dress up as each day. Keeping track of the required clothing and accessories, and ensuring they’re clean, is a Herculean task, especially before my morning coffee kicks in.
I understand these events aim to build community and school spirit. I genuinely want my kids to feel included and to learn the value of participation. That’s why you’ll find me rifling through last year’s costumes for a cape, buying camouflage shirts, and texting my neighbor at 7 a.m. to borrow some red and gray face paint. It matters to them, so it matters to me—even if I don’t enjoy the process.
So, for those of you whose kids haven’t yet started school, let me share a word of wisdom: it’s never too early to stock up on a collection of random items. Grab a box and fill it with everything from hippie beads to funky socks and temporary hair dye (plus a bottle of Soft Scrub for those dye mishaps). That way, when your child comes home announcing it’s “Dress Like a 1960s Superhero with a Funky Hat and Crazy Socks for Flu Season Awareness Day,” you’ll be that mom who’s totally prepared.
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Summary
Spirit Week can be a chaotic time for parents, especially when juggling multiple kids and their respective school events. Preparing in advance by stocking up on quirky items can help ease the stress. Despite the challenges, participating in these themed days is important for fostering school spirit and community.