I had it written on my calendar that Ellie, my seven year old, was to dress like a vet yesterday for school.

I asked her if she was meant to be a war vet or an animal Doctor and she looked at me like I deserved a good, swift kick.

I was glad she acknowledged the question at all. It confirmed I hadn’t gone completely mad and the random notes on my calendar aren’t just a cry for help. (Yet)

She needed a white lab-coat and some medical supplies. I told her she could wear one of my white “lab coats” (button down shirt) and to look in the animal medical supplies drawer for the other stuff. See above for good, swift-kick-look.

We talked about a presentation she was going to make to the class and that she needed to speak “royally” according to her teacher. When I asked if she meant ‘public’ speaking, she shook her head like I had been living under a rock.

The kids have been tasked with presenting to the other students on a member of their community.

Me: What are the other kids in the class being Ellie?

Ellie: The boys are being firefighters, policemen and construction workers.

Me: What about the girls?

Ellie: We’re being vets.

Me: All of you?

Ellie: One of my friend’s Moms is a vet so…..

It occurred to me the stay-at-home-Mom uniform didn’t offer the same je ne sais quoi, though my old white dress shirt doubled nicely as a lab-coat and my British heritage might be what locks this thing down for Ellie when it comes to the speaking royally part.

She was beyond excited about dragging her Bristol board, supplies and leftover animal hair from our visit to the Humane Society on her jacket for authenticity. She was equally hopeful that maybe some of the girls in the class would forget that it was “Dress like your friend’s Mom day” and she might have a fighting chance at presenting something unique.

I’m dreading tomorrow. My calendar says “Mom does our homework day.”

But it doesn’t look like my hand-writing.