Is there a Halloween equivalent to Ebenezer Scrooge? If there is, that would describe me to a T.
I don’t get into buying or making costumes that will be worn once, maybe twice. I don’t like having all that candy in our house and haunted houses and scary movies aren’t my idea of entertainment.
You must thinking that I sound like a whole lot fun about now, right?
I’m probably not really but I’ll admit to being a party-pooper when it comes to Halloween. It’s just not for me and that’s okay…I don’t have to participate in it…..
Oh yeah – I have kids so yes, yes I do.
Que the costumes and decorations (they’re lucky Daddy is fun!) and the trick or treating…
And because I have this irrational dislike for buying costumes and putting money into this, my least favorite of holidays, I’d made a good percentage of Brooke’s costumes in the past. Again until fun Daddy convinced Mommy that it’s okay to hit the party store and buy the dumb costume and be done with it.
So to all the other mommas out there who also feel less than jazzed when the jack-a-lanterns start popping up on porches everywhere and the kids get ideas for elaborate costumes, let’s remember it’s just one day (or 3 separate events for us!) and let the kiddos have their fun.
Then steal the good candy when they go to bed.
I struggled with Halloween myself. When my kids were little, the costumes you purchased were awful masks that they couldn’t see out of, and a nylon shift with a picture printed on it of what the costume was meant to be. A “good costume” was one made at home, the more original the better. The whole process stressed me out. Back to school for me meant the beginning of the underlying stress of worrying about what I could come up with for Halloween, x 3 for my 3 kids. On the bright side, when it was over, if it had been a successful costume I had all of about 24 hours of feeling some satisfaction and about 10 months of nothing to worry about, at least costume wise. Today the selection is endless with all the accessories waiting to be found at Party City or maybe your local Dollar store. But when I look back at the pics of the kids in those costumes, I get to relive the moments of satisfaction and the smiling (and occasional crying) little ones excited to put on that costume and hit the street. I’ve loved every picture of your girls in their costumes, and thought to myself what a good mommy you are for coming through for them with adorable costumes and even more for the hours of yourself you put in to giving them those happy memories. Their mommy IS a fun mommy. I can certainly identify with being a tired mommy, but trust me, you are a lot more as well. And your girls are as blessed to have you, and you are to have them. Keep up the good work, there will be many days later when you aren’t so tired, and you will look back at Halloween (and all the other days) with a sense of satisfaction and a bit of wistfulness.