VOL 10. - BOOK WEEK 

And just like that, we’re here again. Yep. Bloody Book Week. 

I love our children. But Book Week costumes every year for what feels like eternity … I just don’t know if I can love
them THAT much. 

As soon as I even think ‘Book Week’ my socials are flooded with costume ideas, hires, rents, buys. Next day delivery.
Yes, because this working mother of 4 has loads of cash to splash around for a costume that won’t fit or be
warm enough for one day only to be tossed in the already over flowing dress up box. Eyes rolling. 

It’s up there with the time the kindergarten teacher set the homework task to “make a family tree”. Listen, my kids are
all undeniably gifted and talented and will probably end up skipping grades or representing the country in equestrian or
something but we all know I will be making that family tree! 

Why? Why? Why? Do these amazingly brilliant, patient, hardworking, under paid professionals insist on inflicting
these painful projects and dress ups upon us?! I was so desperate last year I did the unthinkable. 

I logged onto Pinterest. 

I know. I know. I was only on for 4 minutes before I remembered these are not my people and just being here reminds me
of my inadequacies. I did learn how to fold some napkins in the shape of an emu – which I immediately altered to look like
a wang. That is sure to come in handy. 

So, I started again. I did some quick googling for “Book Week hacks”. All still looked a little hard. I asked the kids. What would
you like to dress up as for book week? That was a dumb idea. Number Two was reading all the Dr Seuss there is.
Was thinking I could Kmart some kind of Cat in a Hat. No. No. The Boy one really wanted to dress up as
Green Eggs and Ham. Well of course he does! 

The Big One wanted to be a superhero. Look, I know superheroes are in comic books but I really think I am
supposed to direct the dress up more towards some kind of Mem Fox possum classic right? The superhero thing
would have been super easy. Even ‘Fun Daddy’ has a Batman costume – although that’s not really because he
is fun daddy – more super fun husband... Let me just say this Batman knows his way around my Bat Cave. 

Eventually I concede and agree she can wear a superhero outfit. Which as it turns out was bang on because the
school announces that year’s theme “Reading is my Super power” and there were sooooo many super girls and
boys all over the playground. 

My superpower is juggling 4 amazing kids, a delicious Bat-tastic Husband, holding down a job, driving a minivan
and not wetting my pants when I sneeze (even if it is only just!). 

This year I am getting them all brown beanies and sending them to school in underwear made from leaves and they
can all be gumnut babies. Just as May Gibbs intended. 

NB: The Family Tree assignment that I did, made the front of the school newsletter. Told you my kids are gifted!