Every November, our kids’ school puts on a small Veterans Day assembly. Parents pile into the gym, clutching coffee cups, while the kids sing “You’re a Grand Old Flag.” A few local veterans sit in the front row — smiling, teary-eyed, pretending not to be. It always gets me.
This year, I completely forgot to prep anything for the class. No cookies, no craft supplies — nothing. I was halfway through packing lunches when I spotted a little envelope in the drawer: some flag tattoos from CICI & JIAJIA left over from the summer.
“Let’s wear these!” I told the kids. We dabbed them on before school — one on the hand, one on the cheek — and somehow that tiny thing made the morning feel festive. At drop-off, a teacher asked where we got them, and soon I was passing around extra sheets like candy. By the time the assembly started, the class looked like a mini parade.
There’s something nice about finding the easiest possible way to join in. No baking, no glitter, no last-minute panic. Just a tiny red, white, and blue sticker that says we’re thankful too.
