CHOOSING COSTUMES
As a mom, do you look to Halloween with delight or dread?
It's an opportunity! Once you become a mom, you realize that if your kids are happy, you're happy. And Halloween is something kids love so much ‑- it's always a fun thing to celebrate in my home.
When do you start thinking about costumes?
About a month before. There's sort of a timeline leading up to Halloween. The kids have specific ideas about what they want to be, or, if they're too young to know, you have specific ideas. Either way, you need to think about the costume four to six weeks ahead in order to avoid disappointment. As a working mom, I like to buy online. I just Google the phrase "child costume" along with the name of whatever character my child wants to be. You'll find a million different sites ‑- and that makes it very easy.
What's the most important thing to consider when selecting a costume ‑- and is there anything Mom should avoid at all costs?
It's a kid's holiday and I like my kids to dress up in what they want to be. But I always explain to them that everything they see in the catalog photo doesn't always come with the costume ‑- like the shoes. And some costumes look great in the photo and turn out to be very uncomfortable. Remember that Halloween is in October, and it might still be pretty warm. So think twice about that huge, furry, purple, itchy, hot monster suit!
How much input should the kids have ‑- and what do you do if you hate your child's choice?
Try not to give them all the choices in the world. It helps if I preselect. I'll pick out a few things, and let them choose from that list. That will avoid the fight!
And what do you wear on trick-or-treat night?
I'm not one of those moms who like to get dressed up. It's a kids' holiday, so I just wear what's comfy for me. And I know that eventually I'll end up carrying a lot of stuff ‑- from their candy bags to the parts of their costume they've grown tired of wearing. So all I need are comfy, simple, flat shoes.
Now, for the trick-or-treating ‑- how do you pound the pavement?
I'm an urban mom, and I think it's easier for us. It's fun to trick-or-treat with friends who live in large apartment buildings. You don't have to leave the premises. No weather issues. No coats over costumes. The kids have more freedom to ring bells on their own. But whether you're in the city or the suburbs, getting together in a group always makes it fun. The kids love to show off their costumes and see what their friends are wearing. And your family festivities shouldn't end when they've finished making the rounds. After your kids go out trick-or-treating, it's fun to just be at home and receive trick-or-treaters by answering the door together ‑- and making a night of it.
THE CANDY CONUNDRUM
Should Mom let them eat whatever they want ‑- after all, it is Halloween?
I have such fond memories of trick or treating ‑- and yes, it is just one night. When we get home, I go through the candy. I take out anything that I dislike ‑- perhaps because of the size, or maybe because it's unwrapped. And those decisions are non-negotiable. In fact, I recommend that you don't even do this in front of your child. I do it after mine have gone to sleep. If they don't see it, they won't miss it! But on Halloween night, they always get to eat a small amount ‑- maybe two or three pieces. You're asking for a major meltdown if you deny them that! I always mark each child's bag, so they know what's theirs. And I make a deal that they can eat it all eventually ‑- just not in one sitting. Maybe three pieces after dinner. Or a special treat I'll pop into their lunchboxes.
CELEBRATING AT HOME
What's the smart way for busy moms to decorate without spending too much time and money? There's a lot of fun, easy stuff you can do with the kids. No mom should feel pressure. Holidays with strong themes rein you in, and make decorating pretty straightforward. I go with the colors of Halloween ‑- black and orange. I love to bake, so the kids and I make things like chocolate cupcakes with white icing and orange food coloring, topped with spiderweb designs. I like to bake yummy things from scratch because it takes no more time and tastes so much better.
If we're planning a party, I'll sprinkle candy corn and chocolate kisses on the table. My kids are four and six, and I don't want it to be scary at all. It's great to find fun uses for some of the things you see at the supermarket. I'll pick up white doilies because they look like spider webs. Sometimes I use them as placemats with plastic spiders on them. It's fun to have the kids draw Halloween images. It's fun to carve pumpkins and use them as centerpieces.
We don't go crazy decorating our home. After all, it's one night. Get orange streamers for the hall. Get a cute decal for the front door. When you have young kids, you really don't need that much. Their worlds are smaller. Less is more. And if you're frantic, you can't enjoy the time you're spending at home with them.
How do you celebrate Halloween with your family?
Share your go-to trick-or-treating celebrations below!
Related Links:
Devilish
Halloween Party Foods for Grown-Ups!
Have a Healthy Halloween
Halloween is for Adults too
