Themed Dress, Life Lesson

If you are one of the lucky ones who went to high school or college with me, you know how much I love a theme.  LOVE a theme.  Themed spirit days, parties, serenades ... you name it, if it requires a costume, count me in.  Even after high school and college, my teaching job in Kansas City lent itself to dress up, thanks to Outsiders Day and our team-wide embrace of Greek Mythology.  Unfortunately (or fortunately, perhaps), my life now has taken on a direction that doesn't require my participation in crazy, over-the-top thematic attire.  However, when I picked Sara up from school yesterday and saw a sign on the door encouraging all kids to dress up for today's Hawaiian Day, I just knew that Sara had to participate.  We swung into Target in hopes that we (I) would be able to find something a) fitting for the theme, b) inexpensive, and c) available now as they are stocking fall clothes.  The almighty themed-dress gods must have been with us on our mission because Target had one remaining Hawaiian-style dress.  It was in Sara's size.  And it was on clearance.  Perfection!

Here she was this morning, Hawaiian dress and flip-flops on, flower in her hair ... (breakfast in hand, ready to go): 

I have no idea what happened during Hawaiian Day.  What I do know is that we talked about it the entire way to school, and by the time we arrived, Sara was so eager to get inside that she practically jumped out of the car, car seat and all.  If I did nothing else for my daughter this week, at least I began to instill in her the pride, the excitement, the absolute rush that comes when the outfit so perfectly reflects the theme.  Sometimes there is no greater feeling.  (We're allowed to teach our kids trivial lessons sometimes, right? Done.  Thankyouverymuch.)