(Dandelions - 'cos he grows like a weed)
The reason it's particularly winding me up today, is that I'm sitting here trying to work out how on earth to write a letter to school explaining/getting their permission for having a properly badged school sweatshirt custom made. The only style we can get in the appropriate school colour (maroon for goodness sake!) has a different setting of the sleeves. Does it really matter? The 'uniform man' , suggested that I should write to school to get permission in order that my son didn't get disciplined for having a non-standard sweatshirt. Can it really be that much of a issue? If the only difference is that his sweathshirt has set -in sleeves as opposed to raglan ones, how exactly is that an act of rebellion? I mean come on ... aren't there more serious issues in secondary schools. I mean I'm trying my best.
Perhaps I should scream 'discrimination', on the grounds of height. That always gets attention. Not really my style though and he'd be absolutely horrified. I mean make a scene, he couldn't bear it. I might enjoy it though.
The American lady who lives down the road from me adores the whole school uniform thing. How much simpler it makes life. No arguments about what your child wears to school. Less expensive than buying all outfits you would otherwise need. Fantastic. You have to agree with her. I'm sure that if my daughter had to make a decision about what to wear each day we'd have to be up at five. She's a wonder to behold when confronted with a wardrobe full of clothes.
Uniform, (well, clothes in general to be honest) have always been difficult for him. It's the problem of being 'non-standard'. Going into adult sizes is making it easier because you can get different height/width combinations. (Best not to think about the extra cost.) Uniforms don't seem to work this way.
My son just wants to blend in. He doesn't want this fuss and attention because he's tall. He's fed up with being asked if the air is thin up there or told that he'd have a good career in basketball. Especially as the only sport for him is cricket. I'm fed up with being told to feed him more. Have you seen the size of my food bills?
I've always felt a little sad for him because his height has excluded him from a lot of things. (I'm talking maximum height limits on fair rides and at activity centres where friends where having their birthday parties.) Sad, because it's going to be a few years before some of his peers begin to catch up with him.
So, how do you think I should begin this letter?
.........Dear Sir,
My son needs new sweatshirts for school. The XL size is not long enough in the sleeves (did I mention our orangutan ancestry) and the body would drown a 'sumo wrestler' (no offence meant).
The 'uniform lady', suggested tumble drying the XL size on hot to reduce the body size but experience tells me the arms would shrink too and at between £15-£20 each I'm not willing to experiment...
...........Not quite the right tone is it?
Sorry! This turned into a bit of a rant. I know I should be grateful that that he doesn't give me more to worry about and believe me I am. This is just frustrating! Think I'll go and ....... no! If I finish this letter so that I can forget about it. (Yeah! Like that's going to happen.)
Comments