World Book Day - It's a minefield!

World Book Day is a chance to introduce children to the joy and magic of the written word. Speaking from personal experience, it is also a chance for parents to learn some self restraint!

Jimmy & I get creative!

When I was studying fine art, I had a teacher who used to drive me insane by scrawling all over my lovingly executed drawings. Now I have to fight the urge not to become that very same tutor! When I was pregnant, this was not in the the vision I had of the future. In those naive daydreams I was always serenely creating (in a sunlit studio of course) with my child prodigy next to me banging out his latest masterpiece! 

So the temptation to stick my oar in and make my son's entire costume myself for World Book Day is overwhelming. Now, I don't want to come over as the pushy mum but there is a prize to be had here! 

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Spot the homemade costume!

We really do tread a very fine line with our costume making. I will never forget the cautionary tale of when my nephew had to dress as a chicken for the school play. There they were, all lined up on the stage. There stood Jacob in his homemade, yellow, cardboard beak and feet and his Granny's old fur coat. The other parents had obviously all nipped down to a branch of 'Costumes are Us' and fought grimly over the best feathered outfits for their little darlings.
When I asked my Sister In Law what he looked like she replied; 'He looked like the kid who's parents had forgotten about him until five to nine on a Monday morning'. 

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Anyway, I think we have come to a happy compromise this year. My son has decided that he would like to go as 'The Slightly Annoying Elephant' by David Walliams. I have made the headdress. Well, I had to, I couldn't possibly endanger my son by letting him use the sewing machine, could I? He will be making the adoption certificate featured in the book. It will look brilliant because it will be done on the computer so the text will be as beautiful as a monk's  manuscript!

Pictures next week!

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