I am not pinteresty, crafty or able to create something magical with a few pipe cleaners and some egg shells. My kids know this, they understand my strengths and my “incompetencies” , which means they are prepared for birthday presents with christmas wrapping, and rushed attempts at delicious, yet poorly decorated birthday cakes.
I fail my kids on easter eggs, and birthday cakes, and while I have a pretty big “stash” of crafting supplies, it is torture for me to sit down with them to “create” masterpieces.
Our holiday decor is a wreath on the door and a tree in the living room. Birthday parties are held “out of the home” and somewhere someone else can plan the activities.
But when it comes to Halloween I TRY to do better.
I grew up wrapping myself in toilet paper, or wearing that “musty dog costume” from the closet for the 3rd year in a row. Walking the streets with friends who had dramatic and detailed costumes always left me feeling a bit wanting. . . even if my bag was filled with treats.
I know we will never be that awesome, creative and crafty family, but at least I can make my KIDS feel like they are wearing something to be proud of.
So, when we sit down to have that conversation, I let their minds wander and dream up the impossible of what they want to be.
I nod and smile and say, “Yes, Willy Wonka WOULD be an awesome costume”, or “really, you want to be Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon? Neat” (as I madly wonder where we are going to get a peg leg from) I want them to toss those costumes on and feel amazing about it. I know too well what it is like to show up wearing the worst costume in the house.
So, we talk it through, and then I order what we need, and trust that this small investment will make up for lacking in seasonal decor for the rest of the year. And we stick a few fake bones in the front yard, and carve up some pumpkins and call ourselves Halloween Pro’s as we sit back munching wunderbars. The kids walk the streets, happy with their choices and I get to feel like I delivered something great to them. . . and then I go home and try to remind myself to buy birthday wrapping for my little dudes presents!
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