Playground Attire

On a bright sunny day, I've got two little kids who are just dying to spend some time getting dirty outside. What's a Daddy to wear?

An old Sero oxford shirt, frayed to death at the collar, with a Scottish wool v-neck and a Barracuda jacket I've been saving since I acquired it in the cold months.

Cords with ducks on, argyle socks, and L.L.Bean blucher moccs, for comfort.

A Donegal tweed cap from Ireland seals the deal. Comfortable, casual, rumpled, well worn, and even a pinch whimsical. Beats all Hell out of sweatpants and sneakers.

We spent the whole day out, the kids travelling in a red wagon and I pulling it. We picked up Mama's contacts at the eye doctors, went out to lunch, visited the Andover Shop, hit the secretest of all thrift shops, and spent a very long time in the playground, where Daddy himself played in the sand and assumed the role of "the shark" in some boat game a bunch of kids made up. Afterwards, we spent a few hours in the back yard, and when Mama came home, Daddy washed the dishes and made dinner. All while dressed like an adult...you know, differently from the children. Imagine that?

People who use the fact that they look after small children as an excuse to walk around dressed like children are being lazy. Adulthood, and especially parenthood, is no place for laziness. I'll try not to get on a high horse about it, but dressing like an adult teaches children a little something about being an adult. Spending the day in pyjamas and sweat pants teaches them something too.