Long on record as a Halloween hater, I want to take this opportunity to make it publicly clear why I’m not participating in this evening’s festivities.
It has nothing to do with my hatred of dressing up in a costume. It has nothing to do with a desire to see my children avoid sugar shock or cavities.
Really.
Unless you’ve ever had a 2yo who is terrified of people in costumes, well, judge not lest yet be judged, mmk?
I spent a long time looking for the red horse costume I made the 8yo when she was 2. It was a work of art, but it’s now apparently lost to the sands of time. And one too many Sterilite boxes of children’s clothing in my shed. Once I was unable to find it, I kept procrastinating about getting him a new costume. Since he really has no clue what’s going on.
But last week, we ran into someone in costume — a mask, the whole bit — and a tow truck winched around the 2yo’s waist wouldn’t have dragged him off me. I’ve never messed around with sound files on this blog, and you’re lucky, because otherwise I’d share with you what it sounds like when the 2yo shrieks in your ear. Repeatedly.
And finally I thought, why on earth would I torture my child so that he can participate in the "fun" of the holiday? Forget it.
So while the 8yo goes out haunting the neighborhood with her dad and a number of friends, the 2yo and I will be hiding in the back of the house with all the lights off. Don’t come a knockin’. You’re liable to scare the fool out of both of us.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
i live up a very long windey driveway up in the woods but off a fairly busy road. i don’t know what my neighbors look like. no one ver would come to my house knocking for candy unless they could drive and then well, they don’t need to be asking for candy. i am free. i am safe. hallelujah.
I hear ya. I knew we’d have a problem when I couldn’t get toddler #1 to walk down the halloween aisle at Target. We got about 3 feet out the door when same toddler lost it for the first of many times tonight. But I did avoid sibling rivalry fight by dressing both toddlers as bob the builder (patting myself on back). I haven’t seen toddler #1 cry so hard since she saw the lobster tank at the supermarket. I feel her pain.