We don't get too excited around here about Hallowe'en anymore. The street where we live is very dark due to lack of streetlights and not many kids venture out this way. My kids have been far too old for trick or treating for many years now anyway. Is it not the most annoying thing in the world when teenagers who look like they need a shave and are the size of linebackers show up at the door?
I think Hallowe'en should be all about the little ones. Seeing them dressed up and looking so adorable used to be one of my favorite things. Their excitement never fails to bring a smile to my face. And the costumes! There are mothers out there who could rival Martha Stewart any day.
I was never one of the "creative" mothers who could come up with a brilliant idea and turn it into a fantastic costume. My kids generally made do with store bought ones. Every once in a while, for whatever reason, I truly believed I too could do something amazing with a little fabric and a sewing machine, and a whole lot of imagination.
I am not a sewer by any means, although I would like to be. The year I decided that my daughter should dress up like a baby, complete with footed pyjamas, soother, bonnet, and blankie, was not one of my best. I bought this pink fuzzy material that I thought would be warm and cozy. Got myself a pattern and was certain I could whip up something fabulous in no time at all. No problem, other moms do it all the time. Good Lord, that was one of the most trying experiences in my life! No one told me that the material would be too thick and that I would be forcing it to get through the sewing machine. No one told me that the material would shed, leaving pink fluff over my entire house. No one told me that maybe the pattern was not for beginners. And years later, someone tells me over and over again that that was one of the worst ideas I have ever had and how could I possibly have done that to her? She kills herself laughing every time she looks at the pictures.
Another year, my son decided he wanted to be a skeleton. After looking in every store I could think of and not finding one single skeleton costume anywhere - how is that possible by the way? Don't skeletons and Hallowe'en go together? - I figured I could come up with something. I bought him a pair of black sweats and a long sleeved black shirt. Got myself some white reflective tape and stuck the tape on his outfit in a pattern like a skeleton. A little paint on the face and he was good to go. Genius, no? Plus he was reflective so I added safety conscious to my list of things to feel good about. He also laughs and mocks me for my lack of creativity when he sees pictures today.
Wishing everyone a safe and candy filled Hallowe'en.
Aw, don't be too hard on the older kids; Halloween may be the one day a year they don't want to be grown up. Kids where we live Trick or Treat thru HS. As long as they're polite, let's not rush them.
Posted by: Maureen@IslandRoar | October 31, 2009 at 09:11 AM
I'm with Maureen. The teens going around in normal clothes and carrying pillow cases can get off my porch, but lots of teens love the holiday and put serious time into their costumes. They've earned the candy! I was lucky because I always looked young for my age (I kept trick or treating until 15 or so) but I always felt like we were deemed "too old" just as we were getting old enough to really get into it.
Maybe if teens weren't snubbed on Halloween, there would be fewer TP, egging and general "trick" incidence.
Posted by: Meagan | October 31, 2009 at 01:24 PM