Two sleepover parties, a family get together, and roller skating all in one weekend. How much is too much when you're ten? It started with an early melt down about what to where.
On Tuesday she tells me that the Friday party is a dress up party, and she needs a bird costume. On Wednesday we are furiously Googling bird costumes. Not one image on the whole global Internet search was any good, not one. "I don't want to look stupid mum!" Me -"but you're dressing up as a bird sweet heart, it's not going to look cool". I remembered the little girl next door had a fabulous chicken costume that would fit the bill, she looks at me aghast - "I'm not going as a chicken mum". There seems to be more of those mum, you're an idiot, looks these days.
We found a feathery mask and some wings from an old Archaeopteryx costume. Nope no good. "I'm just not going", loud yelling AND STOMPING AND sCREAMING AT THE TOP OF HER LUNGS. Me - deep breathing - well actually a little yelling too.
Leave the costume problem until Friday morning vegie group (we made a hot house - follow the link to check it out). I ask our lovely host, who has a resident peacock, if she has any peacock feathers she could spare. Yes, lots. Peacocks moult every year happily leaving their beautiful feathers everywhere. A borrowed boa from our gorgeous neighbour and we're well on the way. Then I remember I own a peacock dress, two safety pins for adjustment and the fancy dress problem is solved.
She even looks cool!
The tail is secured by the belt but was really only worn for the arrival, she plucked her uncomfortable tail and generously shared feathers with her friends - like the Rainbow Fish with it's pretty scales. Peacock feathers really are the most amazing things, such divine hues. I don't believe they could possibly bring bad luck or an evil eye.
Grateful for the generosity of friends. Grateful for peacock feathers. Grateful for things coming together at the 11th hour.
And, surprise, surprise, two sleepovers is much too much for a 10 year old, particularly when they don't get any sleep at the first party. Sunday night and Monday morning tears of extreme fatigue and impending illness. On the whole she held it together pretty well, bursting with joy over her first go at roller-blading and party good times. Grateful that the Big Bowerbird's weekends are not normally quite so filled.
