This year, Hanna said she wanted to be a witch for Halloween and Ellie said she wanted to be a princess. Surely, we have things around the house to pull both of these costumes together but I knew they would turn their noses up at a homemade tin-foil witch hat or use of one of the many, MANY sparkly tiaras we already have kicking around so off I went to source their outfits.
Deep down, no mother wants their daughter to dress like a witch. It simply isn’t cute. They want to wear black make-up, a curly, grey wig and be draped in crappy, black fabric made of a combination of thinned-out lycra and cheese cloth, with less staying power than any homemade tin-foil garment. It’s neither cozy nor cute but this is the first year a request to be a witch has been tabled so I had to be on board. Also, we can strain veggies with it before throwing it out the day after Halloween.
When kids are bigger than a size 4T, manufacturers no longer make the cuddly, warm, fuzzy tiger costumes. I guess size fivers don’t get cold? Or is it because when you’re older than five you have more decision making power over your costume and can finally choose something a little more provocative? I saw some pretty shameful costumes on my travels. The slutty nurse costume with the large breasted woman in a low-cut white uniform in a size 6X. In retrospect, maybe the X meant something entirely different than sizing. I also saw several versions of the “Dead Cheerleader.” Why do they have to be dead? Maybe I will consider posting that “candy is for the living” sign on the front door after all.
Ellie’s princess costume is white with gold detailing and her eyes lit up with delight when she first saw it.
Ellie: Mommy, is this a bride princess costume?
Me: Why yes it is
Ellie: I SAID I WANTED TO BE A PRINCESS NOT A BRIDE!!!
Duped.
I spent the next several days convincing her that just because the dress is white, it does not necessarily mean it must be worn by a bride exclusively.
She finally agreed to wear the dress today and things were going fine until a neighbour asked her on the driveway if she was a bride and she glared at me with more hatred than the black make-up and grey straggles dangling from the x-rated, “rehab” wig on the dead witch costume.
The good news is, finding the costumes at Liquidation World on a day they were selling all Hallowe’en related items for 90% off made my purchase less than $1 per costume.
That’s an entire roll of tin-foil on reserve for next year: look out Tin Surfer 2011.
