When I was a kid, my Dad was away a lot. As a good Navy family, my Mom, Grandmother, brother, and I would adapt our holidays as needed to when Dad was around. Celebrate a birthday a few months late. Hunt for eggs on an odd day. The calendar was secondary to us being able to be together as a family.
So now I am a Mother of two and it’s the day before Halloween and I am sick. Like, had to go and suck down medicine in a tube in an Urgent Care sick. It’s a head cold turned bronchitis with some sort of nasty sit-on-your-chest-til-ya-wheeze side effect. I’m hawked up on a bunch of steroids and antibiotics and inhalers, weak in the knees and in bed while Paul — poor Paul — handles his job, our kids, and a whole house of cards just tumbling down, one by one, on his hurting head.
Halloween could not come at a worse time. The spider costume isn’t made (I bought the toilet seat covers for the spider body and have the black tights for legs). Will is going to wear his Batman pajamas to school tomorrow — at his request, chosen over my initial offer of his last-year’s Peter Pan — and Kate? Well, she was suppose to be the Little Miss Moffett to Will’s spider, wearing a simple blue dress that is in no way costume-y, but paired with a bonnet (this woman is amazing), and a little sign about ‘curds and whey,’ I figured we could make work. But for school tomorrow? I didn’t think about this. I wonder if last year’s Tinkerbell still fits her? (It’s 12 months size… unlikely.)
Are we the world’s worst parents if we forgo Halloween?
Can we turn it into a belated punishment for all that not-listening in weeks past? (Okay, I admit, this seems unduly evil.)
But what if we just can’t do it? What other options do we have?
liprap | 31-Oct-08 at 9:16 am | Permalink
Are the kids well? If so, call me, and we can trick or treat with ’em in your ‘hood or ours.
Please take the time to get well otherwise…and soon!
eli | 31-Oct-08 at 12:08 pm | Permalink
I’ll make a tricks or treats bag for each and send your way.
I have to say I’m really liking that Wylie’s school does not allow halloween celebrations. No costumes, no party, no nothing. We have a harvest celebration a few weeks prior that involves pumpkins, apples and parents showing up at pick up time for a photo.
I think Halloween has gotten out of control. We picked up Wylie’s costume in a consignment shop. It fit, it’s cute, it’s done. If he wears it tonight I’m happy. If he totally goes bonkers wearing it and is upset No big deal.
I guess it’s also that many kids here in our “hood” can’t afford costumes so they come in homemade ones from things found in the house. Usually pretty good.
alejna | 31-Oct-08 at 8:56 pm | Permalink
Oh, poor you! I hope that you are feeling better. And that Halloween didn’t turn out too traumatic for any of you. Can the candy provide any solace?
admin | 01-Nov-08 at 8:02 pm | Permalink
Liprap: THANK YOU! I’m sorry that I saw your offer late. Rain check for a non-trick-or-treating outing with the munchkins!
Eli: You are too sweet — but I PROMISE — the kids are totally goodie-bagged! I managed to whip up costumes from the stuff they had (New Orleans’ kids… they’ve got costumes EVERYWHERE.)
Alejna: Thank you for the well-wishes! A good s’more helped the healing!