Uniforms

My first reaction to R. having to wear a uniform to school was negative. I thought it would squelch an opportunity for self-expression. Now that we're into the school year, I realize that I was completely wrong.

First, the uniform itself is open to some variation. The guidelines are a white or light blue collared shirt, and navy or khaki bottoms. The style of these items is not dictated, nor is the policy strict. Nobody seems to mind if a kid shows up missing a collar or wearing brown rather than khaki pants. They can wear any outerwear they want or layer colorful shirts underneath, so the kids walk in looking like individuals. One little girl wears boys soccer shorts under a navy tunic, another layers a sheer lacy tunic on top, and the boys are all untucked and boyish. But still, getting dressed in the morning is easy.

Today the kids are helping a volunteer Mom plant flowers and herbs in the planters on the school deck, so the uniform was waived for the day. Old clothes were recommended.

R. woke up at 6:48 (before the alarm) and immediately set to the task of figuring out what to wear, taking all of the clothes out of the drawers. I suggested that R. just wear an older, stained uniform but this idea was immediately nixed. What was I thinking? 20 minutes later, after 3 inappropriate outfits were tried on, modelled, and returned to the overflowing drawer, R finally came in with a pair of khaki pants (uniform appropriate, actually) and an old long sleeve t-shirt that's a bit too small.

If there was no uniform, we would have to set the alarm 20 minutes earlier or spend time every evening planning an outfit. I'm glad to have that time to sleep or play an extra game of Uno.