Halloween

Halloween is the best. Not only does it coincide with my favorite season, but I love scary movies, pumpkin carving, dressing up and the like. When I was young, I would create of list of objects or people I wanted to be. We spent several weeks shortening down that list and then finalizing a selection based on what was most feasible to create. We proudly paraded around town in our costumes, and raced around on said night to get as much candy as possible like chipmunks hoarding nuts for the winter. We snubbed our noses at costumes that weren’t homemade and felt bad for those who had to don a plastic store-bought frock that came with the most fragile of masks that somehow always got squashed into several pieces rendering it useless.

I’ve been very impressed by how far Halloween costumes have come since then and no longer look down on store bought costumes (plus the fact that I have little time to carve a pumpkin let alone pull out a needle and thread and start sewing something for my two little lads).

About a month or so ago, the boys and I went into Old Navy where they had this year’s costumes on display. Seamus saw the tiger outfit and decided that was what he wanted to be and began roaring around the store saying, “I’m a tiger…(roar)!…I looked at the monkey outfit and figured that that would be fitting for Thomas as he is into everything at the moment. This year we are again going to my brother Pete’s house to celebrate and see the Park Slope parade. The families in attendance tend to stick to a family-style theme so I decided to be a zoo keeper which is not far from reality. (I’m not sure what Steve has decided to be.)

Unfortunately, that plan was short-lived. Seamus recently decided that he wants to be a bat. I’m not sure why. Figuring he might change his mind again I asked a week or so later…no such luck. He’s still intent on being a bat. I try again with added emphasis on how cool tigers are.

Mom: “Are you going to be a tiger? They’re so fast and scary with big sharp teeth. [Roar!]”

Seamus: “No, I’m going to be a bat!” He says as if pondering the tiger option for a moment.

Mom: “How about the rare bat/tiger?” (Thinking I can improvise and throw a black cape over the costume that no longer has tags.

Seamus: “No, I’m going to be a bat!” He says enthusiastically as if he’s just telling me for the first time.

Think I might give it one more try. If it doesn’t work, we may be pirates and use the costume Aunt Christine gave him (also a favorite character of the moment and theme of his recent 3-year-old birthday party.) If not, I’ll have to find a bat costume and fast.