October 26, 2009

The Ghosts of Halloweens Past.

Like many of you moms out there I am in the mad dash to help my kids embrace another identity this Saturday.
I am not one of those crunchy granola moms who sews her kids costumes from scratch using self-designed, one-of-a-kind patterns. I can hardly sew on a button for goodness sake. But I do love the whole costume thing nevertheless.

This year I’m particularly thankful that my twelve year old still even wants to participate at all. I keep wondering when he’ll be “over” it.

This All Hallows Eve. he’s chosen to be everyone’s favorite gangster Mister Al Capone. A lovely hero don’t ya think?

And my little guy has decided to embody two people this year performing a costume change mid-festivities.
He’ll be our favorite NFL safety Troy Polamalu on Friday for the school parade, and Harry Potter on Saturday for the candy gathering. Sort of a theme…they are both quite magical.

I’m all good with these selections because for me it only means digging through the neglected dress-up bin in the attic, buying a long black wig for Tru, and a fake cigar and oversized sport coat for Max. Easy.

I have to say I am holding on to these Halloweens just a wee bit tighter than before.

Max, our beloved tweenager, has informed us that this year he wants to be with his friends for a large part of the night, which we’ve agreed to…reluctantly.

We’ve never trick-or-treated without him. And we just can’t fathom why he doesn’t want to to troll around with his mom and dad. Maybe it’s the bare mid-drift cheerleader costume I decided to wear last year.

He has agreed to walk around the hood with us for a small portion of the evening, knowing that we don’t want this tradition to end just yet and for the sake of his little brother who wants to BE Max in another life, (being idolized is so hard).

In all honestly we know the face of Halloween is slowly changing for our family. All too soon he’s going to ask for a roll of TP and the keys to the car.

So, because I like to torture myself from time to time, I started looking back through my old photos to reminisce about the ghosts of Halloweens past.

(Don’t know what was up with the face paint and playdoh box on the head…may have been a shot from Robin’s days at the frat. house.)

AND because my twelve year old would be mortified if I posted old pics of him in his Buzz Lightyear costume, your stuck with two of Tru. My little super hero. These were my favorite. I love that when our kids put on their costumes they are completely transformed before our very eyes. They truly believe. And we eagarly believe right along with them. And for my twelve year old, he gets to play dress-up again. A thing I think he sort of misses being “allowed” to do.

So today’s nugget of parental wisdom is to have fun gathering, or God forbid making those Halloween costumes this week. Even if they don’t decide what they want to be until Friday night and you’re stuck in the party store at 8:50 pm.
And remember to take loads of pictures.
Sooner than you think they’ll be asking to go it alone. sniff sniff.