World Book Day.

I don’t know about you, but those three little words are enough to make my heart sink and have me reaching for the wine.

5 things I hate about World Book Day

I know it’s designed to get kids reading and I know it’s a charity initiative all in a good cause, but my goodness I could do without it.

SoΒ I’m adding World Book Day to my ever-increasing list of things they don’t warn you about school,Β alongsideΒ half term hellΒ and school run stress.

5 things I hate about World Book Day

1. It always seems toΒ fall midweek, when everyone’s getting tired and ratty. Why can’t it be on a Monday so you have the weekend to prepare and the rest of the week to recover?

2. Meltdowns are inevitable. Itchy and scratchy costumes, hair styles they expect you to copy exactly and tails attached to bottoms – there’s bound to be a meltdown at some stage. And if it’s not them it’s you.

3. The expense. Ok so you don’t have to buy a costume – you could make one. But the fact is that making one a) probably wouldn’t be good enoughΒ inΒ your little darling’sΒ exacting eyesΒ and b) cause aforementioned meltdowns – both mine and theirs. So spendingΒ Β£20 to avoid all this is a small price to pay. I’m just not looking forward to when we’ve got all three at school.

4. It can wreck your make up.Β Using eyeliner to draw on Tabby McTat’s whiskers because you were too mean to invest in properΒ face paintsΒ is a false economy.

5. The pressure. There’s no getting away from the factΒ their costumes are a reflection of yourΒ parenting skills. OrΒ lack of. Even a TV clipΒ entitled ‘5 no-sew World Book Day costumes’ managed to make me feel inadequate, with kids stepping out in intricately painted Alice inΒ Wonderland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory costumes. I can just about manage a stapler.

Did you have to produce an outfit for World Book Day this year? Did you love it or hate it? I’d love to hear your view!

Linking up with…

Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday
You Baby Me Mummy