And on a more productive note, is there a mom who is more crafty and enjoys it that you could ask to help you? I would think that if you provided the materials, you might find someone eager to help. Those crafty types like showing off their skills.

And on a more productive note, is there a mom who is more crafty and enjoys it that you could ask to help you? I would think that if you provided the materials, you might find someone eager to help. Those crafty types like showing off their skills.

That's a good idea, and another reason to do something I've determined to do anyway, which is actually get to know some of the other daycare parents, particularly the ones of Annabel's dearest friends. She wants to have a play date with her three best friends and invite them to our house, and I'm thinking, "OK, I've met Keawa's mother once, at that last dinner, but while I'm sure I've smiled and nodded at Eli's and Maya's parents coming in and out of the center, I have no idea which ones they are."

Susan, I think a lot of it's a holdover from the "good old days" when mothers stayed home and had time to hand-craft costumes. (Same goes for blithely sending kids home early on short notice.) You do the best you can.

You could do the old, "I know it's silly, but I'm worried about AB's costume - I want her to look great but I'm not very skilled in the sewing department" and see if you get a bite.

ETA: the "it's silly" part is to be self-deprecating, not that I actually think it's silly. I'd want my kid to look great, too!

Or you know, she wants to be a pirate shepherd. Maybe she could, um, commandeer a good costume.

Well, it's probably too late to do much this time, since the pageant is Friday. It's just frustrating, because they didn't give us information on what our kids would be doing till last week, and with more lead time I could've ordered or gone out and bought a good costume. In theory I guess I could have/should have anyway, but this time of year is insanely busy. DH has his work Christmas party this week and is up to his ears in cookie baking. My writers group Christmas party is tomorrow, and I'm much busier with choir than at any other time other than the run-up to Easter.

Susan, I think a lot of it's a holdover from the "good old days" when mothers stayed home and had time to hand-craft costumes. (Same goes for blithely sending kids home early on short notice.) You do the best you can.

I think this is true, and it's just maddening. I feel like I'm constantly running just to stay in place as it is just to make it to work every day, be a decent wife and mother, and make reasonable progress on my WIP. So I get into exaggerated panics over stuff like this because it takes me life from barely manageable to Too Damn Much, and it just pisses me off.

If it were me (I am also non-crafty), I'd ask the teacher at the beginning of the year (cause you know it's gonna happen again) if when costumes are needed, could a general announcement go out with a request that those who'd be willing to help other parents with costumes make themselves known? I still think that there are probably moms who would totally do this.

Well, it's probably too late to do much this time, since the pageant is Friday.

Part of my Mom's craftyness was just this sort of dilemma -- she had mad skills but she never got to use them.

A short-notice shepherds costume would be some sort of brown or dark robe, Dad's shirt, or possibly a length of fabric (she would wish for burlap here) that's, say, 2 yards long cut down the middle to the 1 yard point tied around me with something rope-y looking, a pillowcase (now she'd wish for a flower sack) tied to my head with more of that rope and a stuffed sheep stuck under my arm.

Well, I was planning to do the t-shirt with sash at the teacher's suggestion, but beyond that I'm stuck. I can't get a child's bathrobe between now and then, or really buy ANYTHING. I'm at work all day, and there's nowhere readily accessible to shop during my lunch hours. I have choir tonight and that Christmas party tomorrow night. DH is as busy as I am. Another teacher suggested putting a scarf over her head, but the only scarf of ours that didn't get lost in our move is a way-too-long one.

Thrift store run at lunch?