Tomorrow Lauren has a Letterland party at school. Each child goes dressed up as their favourite Letterland character. Here she is as Fireman Fred. Looking at the link, I see that Fireman Fred has been replaced by Firefighter Fred, but since Lauren's school still learns about Fireman Fred, Fireman Fred she will be. I don't mind Firefighter Fred, but I think it's a pity to see Wicked Water Witch let go in favour of Walter Walrus.

It was a bit of a saga arriving at Lauren being Fireman Fred. She came home from school yesterday telling us she was going to be Annie Apple, until I pointed out that it was going to be a little tricky whipping up an apple costume out of my art box. And then she was worried about changing her choice, as teacher Natalie had written down Annie Apple next to her name. So I had to go with her to school this morning just to 'check' with the teacher that it was okay to change. Fine. They only wanted to know which character each child had chosen so that they could give them a corresponding Letterland picture to colour. Then, we had a bit of an agony about not being one of the girl characters. I could see she was keen to be Fireman Fred, but was a bit anxious about whether it was okay. Finally she couldn't resist the prospect of the fire helmet and fire hose.

Then we had a big worry about not having a Fireman Fred mask. The teacher made some passing comment, as the kids were packing up to go home, about making sure they did not forget their Letterland masks. So she was convinced that she had to have a Fireman Fred mask (helmet, boots, jacket and fire hose just not sufficing). I kept trying to discuss the impossibility of making a Fireman Fred mask, and that it was for characters like Clever Cat or Dippy Duck. All my arguments were met with 'But Natalie Said' until finally I got through to her.

Lauren seems very anxious about authority in general. Don't ever make the mistake of suggesting the teacher might not have every fact in the universe completely accurate. Last year we had a debate which lasted about 6 months because Natalie Said that the school's Aladdin movie was number 1, and therefore the one we have at home must be number 2. This was despite the fact that in their movie Aladdin and Jasmine are married, and in our movie they meet for the first time.

I hope Fireman Fred has a happy day tomorrow. I hope it turns out to be one of those confirming 'I can be an individual and make my own choices in life' sort of days, and not one of those 'oh no I desperately wish I was like everyone else and I want to crawl into the ground' sort of days.