Oh did you not make yours?…

Jenny Thomas - 3 Mar 16

It’s World Book Day, given I run a children’s book shop I should have been all over this yet somehow the panic still set in as I rustled together bits and bobs to fashion a Little Red Riding Hood outfit yesterday.  It turns out she looks pretty damn awesome and she felt it too which frankly is the main point.  Yes we like the story but is it our favourite??  no probably not, have you not read Poo Bum?!  Like many knackered parents we went for what was the easiest and fitted a character to the costume, you do what you have to do.

Off we toddled to school, twee basket in hand and blusher on the cheeks, full of spring cheer and anticipation for the other weird and wonderful characters.  Sadly when there should have been kids messing about together amidst a tonne of sellotape and toilet rolls, what it felt like instead was a strange breeding ground for parental under/over achievement.  

It starts from before conception, those who get pregnant easily vs those who struggle.  Then a baby who is breathed out with lavender oil vs one who exits via the sunroof, lanisoh-laden nipple vs clinical bottle, pureed deliciousness vs dry toast off the floor.  It never stops, the other day someone asked for some advice about whether to leave a child asleep in a car for a minute, apparently this gave the masses permission to comment on everything from the matter at hand to the fact the child had a coat on in the car (yes we have all seen the news).  If your child has dodgy teeth then it must be poor diet, not the fact that their enamel didn’t form properly…then again if the enamel is crap it MUST be because you had a cruddy diet during pregnancy. 

What really got my back up is a text from a friend saying how she felt like the worst mother for her shop bought Alice in Wonderland.  This mum is freaking amazing and has a really tough job on her hands, she has the same time constraints as anyone else and gets through the days trying to keep her head above water.  Why should she be made to feel less of a ‘real’ mum because she didn’t get the thimble out and start stitching together a homemade frock?? The fact that she even cares about this kind of thing shows she is an awesome human being because she wants her daughter to feel so loved, comfortable and settled in her book day outfit.

I admit that I can cast aspersions sometimes but keep myself in check and regularly deal out slapped wrists for my wrongdoings.  Yes that kid is purple faced with rage and the parent has no control, yes that kid has no coat on whilst it is snowing, yes MY kid is that kid so before I wouldn’t dare to think less of a mum (or dad)  for not staying up until midnight sticking cotton wool onto a white t-shirt.  Less of the judging here people, whether you dress up or not, whether you make it or you don’t, whether you pass off a Disney princess as the real deal (because we all know these are REAL stories at the heart) it doesn’t matter.

World Book Day has been running for 19 years, the intention has always been to ensure that all children have a book of their own.  It is devastating to think that some children may not read books or be read to, that is the significant thing to take away from today.  Instil a love of reading in your children, of characterisation and development.  Whilst some may think that a single shop-bought wand is a lack of effort on a parent’s part, that child can be anyone with that wand.  We should be less stuck in our adult ways of thinking and take a leaf out of the kids’ books.

Jenny Thomas

Mum of 2 little-uns, working from home on my own children's bookshop whilst trying to do it all...then realising I don't want it all but some would be nice. www.smallprint-online.com.

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