It Went A Little Like This....

"Hi Guys, how was your day?" Followed by the anticipated, time honoured traditional responses of "Good" and.... "Good" in a slightly different pitch. In most households this is the usual, run of the mill after school greeting.

Today was slightly different. *I hear your audible collective intakes of breath.* I know, right, I couldn't believe it either. It went like this:

Master 10 going on 40, "We have to dress up tomorrow. In a New Caledonian Theme. And we have to take a plate of food to share. It could be something French if you like."

Let me translate for you. "Mum, I need the most awe-inspiring New Caledonian costume complete with beach and palm trees. While you're at it, can you whip up some French pastries filled with lots of whipped, soft cream, topped with some hip-defying chocolate with some Camembert made in the South of France by French maidens with soft-skinned hands on the side. By the way, I need it two days ago."

My mind automatically locks on to the beach scene only it places me squarely in the shallow ocean water reclining on a deck chair. The cool, gentle waves wash gently over my legs whilst I sip upon something with a little umbrella and bendy straw in it. My eyes drift lazily closed behind my humongous, designer sunglasses. I wave a lazy, indifferent hand. Wake me when it's all over.

Only to be jolted back into reality when Miss 8 going on 8 adds, "Oh, I'm dressing up too. Only mine is an Australian Aboriginal theme and we need real aboriginal food like witchety grubs!" Now read that again and at the end add in the most animated face to ever grace a Broadway Musical complete with big, blue eyes opened as wide as they can go without her eyebrows getting lost in her hair. Witchety grubs????? I'm sure that neither Coles nor Woolies stock them. Not even in the Deli department.

What does a mother do? She finds the nearest tshirt with a palm tree and "Wave Rider" or similar screen printed on it for Mr 10 and some black pants, a red jumper and a yellow flower brooch for Miss 8. TaaaDaaa... instant culturally correct costumes. Now, for the food. Hmmm.... I'll fall back on the trusty cupcake!!!  Everyone loves cupcakes. How to make them culturally correct?? I know! The kids can make toothpick flags to decorate them with! Hell, I don't even have to Google the flag design.

Voila! I'm sure that if I had a cape and pretty tiara I could save the world! How was your Monday? :)