« Diamonds Makeovers are a girl’s best friend |
Main
| Food! »
October 16, 2006
It's All My Mother's Fault
At least that's what my kids say
My mother rocks. I mean, really, she does. But my freaky obsession with Halloween and what constitutes a “proper” costume is all her fault.
The woman didn’t get her craft on until a few years ago, when she started knitting (and then tried to teach me, which is an incident better left untold here. I mean, someone has to think of the children.). She didn’t make our clothes, my dad usually baked the Christmas cookies, and the closest she ever got to a glue gun were the hardened bottles of Elmer’s my brother and I had in our school bags.
But Halloween was somehow sacrosanct. Our costumes were – brace yourself – homemade. Like, not bought. (I know, the concept baffling, isn’t it?) She made our costumes from scratch, and some of them were, to be honest, pretty awesome.
One year I was an elf, all green felt and tights, with adorable little elfin ears. (And little elf boots, which were an unfortunate last-minute addition, because she made them out of green felt, too, and they barely lasted down the driveway before they were worn through.) Another year I was Raggedy Ann, which was a bit of a shortcut because I had a cloth doll exactly my size (I think I was four), so I wore her dress. But Mom made the red yarn wig and painted my face, and it’s still my favorite costume ever.
So, yeah, it was cool. When I was six. Sadly, I obviously inherited whatever bizarre illness had infected my mother, because since SkaterBoy, my oldest child, was born I’ve been congenitally unable to purchase a Halloween costume.
Sure, I’ll buy the accessories. The makeup, the scythe, the rattling Styrofoam bones. But from the first, I was determined to do Halloween the way my mom had. SkaterBoy was a puppy from 101 Dalmations the year he was three, and believe me, I learned the hard way that a glue gun is a lot more efficient than sewing dozens of kidney-shaped black patches to a white sweat suit. My lovable middle kid, Mr. Sunshine, was a dragon another year, and I spent many an evening in front of the TV sewing spikes to the back of the green sweat suit that was the basis of his costume.
I don’t really sew, though. I don’t own a machine, and my stitches generally only last as long as trick-or-treating does. When I was fifteen, and decided to go out at the last minute I actually stapled old sheets together to make a clown costume for myself. I like costumes homemade, but I’m the first to admit I’m no Martha Stewart.
Then along came Miss Smartypants, my youngest, and my only girl. And this year I’m buying her costume. Since her idea of being a princess involves running, throwing, and assorted unique gymnastics, I can’t even pretend I can make a dress that will withstand all that.
A witch I could do. A kitten, no problem. Basically anything involving a black leotard or sweats I can glue stuff to, I’m there. But a princess? With truly pretty, flowing skirts, and lots of sparkles and glitter? Not happening.
The truth is, I’m a little relieved. I think I’ve been cured. This October I’ll finally have more time for the really important things, like carefully hoarding Halloween candy where the children will never find it, watching the really gruesome moments in Thirteen Ghosts between my fingers, and lurking at Dunkin’ Donuts until the fresh batch of pumpkin muffins comes out.
And, probably, making a costume for myself. Just for old times’ sake.
Posted by at 7:33 AM | Comments (10)
Comments
Ooh! I love Halloween, too! Last year, I was a pirate having recently inherited my grandfather's Navy dress sword. I'm not sure about this year, though. Thing Two wants to be a robot which I think I can handle.
LC Eileen
Posted by: Eileen ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.literarychicks.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 16, 2006 10:23 AM
My mother also made our costumes when we were little and they were great. But I had no problem going to Toys R'Us to get my kids costumes. It was my daughter who wanted to "make" her own costume as she got older.
Posted by: Maureen at October 16, 2006 12:59 PM
I am so incompetent when it comes to arts and crafts. If I made Sam's costume, he'd be one of those kids walking around in a garbage bag with holes cut out for the eyes, telling everyone he's supposed to be a ghost.
He's going as Peter Pan this year . . . in a costume purchased from Disney. Only problem? Sam doesn't actually know who Peter Pan is. And the Disney cartoon isn't available. So I just paid a seriously over-inflated amount to buy a copy on eBay.
Was parenting this hard when we were little?
Posted by: Whitney at October 16, 2006 6:05 PM
I have done both for my kids. My SIL and her mother used to buy the Disney costumes and anything she could find at yard sales, which worked out well for me since my kids are in between hers in sizes. So when one of her kids outgrew a costume I knew mine would get it next year. One year the girls went at Tinkerbelle and Peter Pan--and those Disney costumes ROCK!! As they got older I have done more in the way of making costumes. Then they started dance--great way to get your money's worth out of those pricey costumes we have to buy every year for the recital by recycling them at Halloween! They have been flappers, cheerleaders, ballerinas, and one year DD#1 was a dead prom queen! They did "Thriller" that year at the recital and the costumes were made by the kids and parents--she hated me for ratting her hair up and putting dead leaves in it, but it looked REALLY cool!!!
Now they are 13 ande 15 and too old to trick or treat, so I just borrow my god children for the night so they have an excuse to go! :)
Posted by: Sheri at October 16, 2006 7:32 PM
Ha! When I was little, parents didn't even go trick or treating with their children! I distinctly remember skipping out of the house at the ripe old age of eight with my friend, Kate, to go trick or treating.
LC Eileen
Posted by: Eileen at October 16, 2006 7:43 PM
I remember that, too! (Going out alone, I mean.) Now, it's a whole-family thing.
The dead prom queen outfit sounds fabulous!
Posted by: Amy Garvey at October 16, 2006 7:48 PM
Ah Halloween! I call it The High Holy Day. I could be one grocey bag away from homelessness and I still manage to spend wayyyy too much on costumes. For Stinky Boy's first Halloween, he was a lamb and I was Bo Peep. I have a lady that can take one of my pathetic sketches and turn it into a costume worthy of Project Runway. I have a black taffeta french maid costume with oodles of lace, frou frou, and tulle. Okay, I'll admit it, I've worn it on nights other than October 31st.;-)But the really cool costume was the velvet and organza Snow White number. Snow White stays in the closet the rest of the year though. That would be too kinky even for me.
Posted by: Janina at October 16, 2006 7:55 PM
Oh, thank goodness that I'm not the only parent who doesn't make their kids costumes! And as for taking them trick-or-treating, not me! My Dh takes them and half the kids on the street as well!! I get to sit home and hand out the candy. The little ones are sooooo cute to see in their costumes.
Posted by: Brandy at October 16, 2006 7:56 PM
I haven't made a costume for Trouble yet because he is set on having things like Spiderman (2 years running) and now Darth Vader (which he actually calls Dark Vader). I think it would be so much more fun (and cheaper) to make a costume for him. That way he doesn't look like every tenth kid that is wearing a Dark Vader costume :)
Posted by: Jo at October 17, 2006 2:13 PM
I'll miss seeing all the little ones in their costumes! (Hmm, maybe one year I'll have to coincide a trip to America with Halloween.)
When The Teenagers were younger, we tended to have Mediaeval Princess and Power Ranger costume themes.
Posted by: Michelle C at October 18, 2006 4:07 AM
