Mamas, Don’t Let Your First Graders Grow Up To Be Cowboys

Pic2With less than 24 hours’ notice, we were told that Justin’s school would be celebrating “Western Day.” Instead of wearing the school uniform, the children would be allowed to wear Western/Cowboy gear to school. Jeans were acceptable. Toy guns were not. There were no further instructions beyond that.

With GWE out of town, it was up to me to turn flip-flop and board shorts wearing (“Southern California Dude”) Justin into “Cowboy Justin.” For hours (ok, 15 minutes,) I scoured the house and garage looking for anything that could be considered “Cowboy.” GWE would have been much better suited for this task because she’s more imaginative when it comes to things like this. (I’m just happy when I remember to put my underwear on BEFORE my pants!)

I could not find cowboy boots or a holster. I could not find a badge or a vest to put the badge on. (Let’s be honest – Justin doesn’t need no stinkin’ badges!!) I was able to find a red bandana. I tied it around Justin’s neck and stepped back. He did look like a cowboy….however, it was the cowboy from The Village People. I quickly removed it.

Finally, I was able to find a jean jacket and straw cowboy-ish hat in the closet. I waited for Justin to wake up this morning and I presented him with his costume.

He looked at the clothes…and then me…and then clothes. He stated, “This isn’t what a cowboy wears! Isaiah [his best friend] is going as The Lone Ranger! I want to be The Lone Ranger too!” I assured him that he was going to look like a cowboy. But sadly, we did not live in “Daddy’s House of Costumes” and we would have to manage with what we had. With anger in his eyes, he put on the clothes – all the while never losing eye contact with me.

I have to admit. He didn’t really look like a cowboy. But, I couldn’t figure out who he looked like. It was a  familiar look. I just couldn’t put my finger on it…until we walked outside.

As we walked to the car, our neighbor’s Mexican lawn crew drove up. Four guys jumped out of the truck with leaf blowers, lawn movers, and hedge clippers. All of them were wearing “double denim” (jeans and jean jacket) and straw, cowboy-ish hats. I thought, “Oh shit! I dressed Justin like a Mexican gardener!”  (By the way, I don’t mean for this to be offensive….but the similarities were undeniable.)

I quickly ushered Justin into the car, but I’m pretty sure he saw the crew and he probably recognized the similarities as well. Thankfully, he said nothing and climbed into the car.

In the future, could the school give us a little more notice when choosing a theme day??? “Superman Day,” “Transformer Day,” or “Mario Brothers Day” – I’ve got that covered. Anything else and I’m going to need a little time to go shopping!!

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