What it takes to be Kevin’s mom is some big hair and shoulder pads

A couple days ago, the littlest one said, “I really want to be Kevin’s mom.”

I gave this zero thought. If I had, here are some of the thoughts that may have meandered across my mind:
1) Who is Kevin?
2) Does she want to name a kid Kevin when she’s a mom?
3) Is this some pretend game she’s been playing with her siblings?
4) Has she named her latest pet rock Kevin?

If I had verbalized even one of the above questions, my Tuesday morning would have been at least 63% less hectic. Because Tuesday at 6:45 I walked into a lovely domestic scene of three kids eating cereal while Hubs sipped coffee and I was pelted with the following:
“Mom. What’s the name of the kid with glasses who wets the bed?”
“I’m going to be one of the older sisters but I need brown hair.”
“She really needs help being Kevin’s mom.”

What is even happening?

“You know! The bed-wetter from Home Alone!”

“Oh for heaven’s sake. Kevin’s mom from Home Alone? I thought she was having some sort of future identity crisis.”

Hubs just gave me that over the coffee cup eyebrow raise that says I’m pretending I know exactly what’s going on and you should be ashamed that you don’t but also I have no idea what’s going on and I deeply hope you’re going to handle this.

Well. I wouldn’t be much of a lifeguard if I couldn’t handle a little Home Alone costume crisis at the crack of dawn…

The bed-wetter’s name is Fuller. The brown-haired older sister is actually a cousin and her name is Heather and if anyone asks she has blonde hair. Lastly, Kevin’s mom wore black leggings, a white T-shirt, a black, shoulder-padded suit jacket from my yesteryears of actually working in an office environment, a purple long-strapped purse slung over one shoulder and hair parted on the non-usual side of her head so it was extra pouffy and voluminous circa 1990.

In other words. She nailed it. I mean I nailed it.

Hubs came into my work area and said, “I’m not gonna lie. Kevin’s mom actually came together pretty nicely there.”

“Yes. I don’t shine often, but when I do, I shine bright.”

School has issued dress-up days for the week before Christmas break. Each day was movie-themed. Somehow we made it through Monday without me knowing this or even knowing what the movie was. But Tuesday, Home Alone day, was not to be missed, per my children. It was not to be missed but it was also not to be discussed prior to 6:45 am Tuesday.

Never one to miss an opportunity for a teachable moment, I made sure to gather them ’round Tuesday evening and encourage them to put some thought into their costumes for the next day, which was Grinch day.

“Nah. We’re good. It always comes together in the morning anyway.”