Every year I promise myself that I will get my act together for Halloween well in advance. And then every year I don’t do it. I’m not sure if it is because it is not a “real” holiday. I mean, I am all prepared for Thanksgiving and Christmas every year. Sure I might be up until sunrise Christmas Eve wrapping presents, but at least I have bought them. Or is it because I just don’t feel like lugging home a bunch of pumpkins and candy?
Halloween is different though. I never want to buy the pumpkins too far in advance because then they might get ruined. I don’t want to buy the candy too far in advance because then I will eat it all. I don’t get the costumes too far in advance because my children are notorious for changing their minds at the very last minute. Two weeks ago we were in target and there were hardly any costumes. I thought it meant that they hadn’t come in yet. Turns out all the “good” parents had bought the costumes all up.
What next? Are we going to be shopping for Halloween costumes in July? Because right now in the stores all the Christmas stuff is out. Just where the Thanksgiving stuff went I have no idea, perhaps that was in the store Labor Day weekend.
I tell you all of this as a way of explaining why it is that three days before Halloween I find myself with not one Halloween item.
My plans for this week include: forcing children to decide on costumes. Hopefully costumes we already own. Buy pumpkins. Carve pumpkins. Buy candy. Find flashlights. Find batteries for said flashlights. Find trick-or-treat bags. It doesn’t sound like much. I still have a few days, right?
Ah, make ‘em use pillowcases like in the good ol’ days!
Comment by Brigitte — October 28, 2008 @ 9:37 am
I had to go shopping for costumes in September when my kids decided they wanted Star wars characters. I had to walk past the Christmas trees to get to them!
However, mu kids were able to “recycle” old costumes for ones that they had, or friends costumes. It wokded well for everyone, and I ended up buying 2 costumes for 5 kids. See what their friends have that they may use this year. You never know.
Comment by Claire — October 28, 2008 @ 11:12 am
Halloween is my favorite holiday!!! I could do without Thanksgiving and Christmas. I don’t get presents and I’m a vegetarian (I don’t do Turkey). My son got his costume in September. He had to if he wanted a good one and not the crappy leftovers. We also bought are candy about three weeks ago, again, because we had to if we wanted to have the good candy. It’s hidden so we don’t eat it. Um, yeah same thing with the pumpkins. Want good ones? Buy them early and store them in the garage. Then bring them out the day before Halloween and carve them. Popcorn balls, candy corn, caramel apples, haunted houses, hayrides the best parties. I LOVE HALLOWEEN. How dare you say it’s not a real holiday.
Comment by Marti — October 28, 2008 @ 11:37 am
We were fortunate this year. Daughter wanted a fairy birthday party in September. So her fairy costume is her Halloween costume. Son was predictable (for once) and we were able to get his on ebay. He was told he couldn’t change his mind once it was purchased. I find there is a sweet spot between when the costumes are available and when they are sold out that is difficult to predict. It is ridiculous how soon they start selling stuff.
Comment by Lucinda — October 28, 2008 @ 1:27 pm
Don’t feel too badly. I’m a bad Mom too, because I am not willing to let my kids pick their own costumes.
The one year I let my oldest choose, he selected Spiderman and we spent the whole night putting on and taking off his mask. Drove me nuts.
We have four kids, so now I make them coordinate. We can decide together how they’ll go, but it has to be something that will accommodate all three boys and one girl, or forget it.
Last year they were knights and a princess and a dragon. This year they’re going as Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Yoshi. Next year they want to go as characters from Zelda. Not sure how we’ll pull that one off. o_o
Comment by Jennifer — October 29, 2008 @ 3:25 pm
My 13 yo old helped her sisters (12 and
and they made their own costumes from cloths out of the bag to good will!! we are going to have and dead rock star, a dead cheerleader and a dead…something, LOL! The sad part is they did this because they know that with dad being out of work that we don’t have any money to buy them any! But for the first time in a long time they have actually been nice to each other!! i wanted to post something of my own but i can figure out how to do it, so I am getting my rant out here! (sorry). I am step-mom (and i’m 26) to yes 3 girls 13, 12 & 8. it has been almost three years that i have been in their lives and it has not been and easy road. now that dad and i are looking at the same page, it was time for things to change. i set up handipoints for my girls a month ago and printed out charts. well then they sat on the table for a couple of weeks. then one day they asked, “what’s in the folder?” which means they already knew!! so i told them that they were chore charts but that we can’t start them yet because i wasn’t done making them yet! honestly, they were all grounded and i was enjoying my peace! well then i noticed that things were getiing done. so i decided to start them this week. rule is homework, chores, play (as for most i’m sure) the two older girls switch off during the week and the yougnest is the daily helper and then gets her chance at somethings on the weekends when we can really supervise!! it’s been three days and we are already seeing a difference. all going back to the begining when they were making their own costumes and they were being loud but because they were laughing!!!!!!!!
Comment by Kelly — October 29, 2008 @ 11:35 pm
I know exactly what you’re talking about. And not be a Grinch, but Halloween is just not my favorite holiday. Here’s a funny one though, my 15 year old daughter wanted to do something on October 31 that involved a store or a business, I don’t remember what. However, she was concerned, “Do you think they will be open because it’s a holiday?” Oh, to be so innocent.
Chris, I say hello, I work at Butterball Turkey Talk Line.
Comment by Donna Scheppe — November 6, 2008 @ 4:43 pm