Want to guess what my 3 year old chose to be for Halloween this year?
I’ll give you a hint…
I’ll give you a hint…
…she isn’t a KISS groupie.
(Don’t be ridiculous. She doesn’t even know who Gene Simmons is. MC Hammer, maybe but Gene Simmons…like I said, don’t be ridiculous.)
No idea? You give up?
That’s what I thought. That’s why I made the sign.
And the sign doesn’t lie.
That’s right my beautiful little girl chose to be a shrieking eel for Halloween.
(You know, “Those are the shrieking eels your highness…..and they only grow louder when they are about to feed on human flesh.”)
(Don’t be ridiculous. She doesn’t even know who Gene Simmons is. MC Hammer, maybe but Gene Simmons…like I said, don’t be ridiculous.)
No idea? You give up?
That’s what I thought. That’s why I made the sign.
And the sign doesn’t lie.
That’s right my beautiful little girl chose to be a shrieking eel for Halloween.
(You know, “Those are the shrieking eels your highness…..and they only grow louder when they are about to feed on human flesh.”)
She is a major fan of the movie Princess Bride and although the movie is called PRINCESS BRIDE she wanted to be neither a princess or a bride and instead wanted to be one of the shrieking eels.
Yep, that’s my girl.
While 90% of the girls in our neighborhood paraded around in Tangled costumes (and the other 10% were various other princesses) my daughter rode around in a wagon wearing her fireman boots shrieking and laughing and “scaring ALL the kids”.
And loving every minute of it.
So much for the Belle dress, the Tangled wig, and the sparkly little ghost dress (all options for that night). They’ll all have to wait for another occasion.
I have to admit part of me wanted to be sad that she didn’t join in the princess fest. My minds eye could see what a lovely picture that would have made. But she knew what she wanted, was very specific and it was Halloween after all. The one night you can be whoever you want. So who was I to tell her what she had to be (even if the princess gear cost a small fortune)?
And with that out came the make up and I kissed my little princess goodbye and set about making a sea monster.
And what was Simon you ask?
Ohhhhhhhhhh, I’d rather not talk about it.
(He chose his own costume as well and was a “Green Monster Zombie Man”.)
Gone are the days I can dress him up as a lobster, a robot and spaghetti.
(Which is really unfortunate because my spaghetti making skills are much better than my monster zombie ones.)
Sending my kids out to trick or treat in costumes like this I felt like the lamest mom in town. People would think I didn’t own a sewing machine or even know the way to Wal-Mart.
Oh the shame.
As I watched them leave full of pride I smiled but as I saw them come home triumphant I knew that even though I didn’t make a princess I still got to be a fairy godmother (of sorts). And I was pleased with myself for letting them choose for themselves and not making them be what I invisioned for them.
But it got me to thinking…am I the only mom who struggles with dumb things like this?
So I’m asking you…
Do you have a hard time giving up things like what Halloween costumes you want your kids to wear? Or am I just a control freak?
Or do you think I should have just made them be the costumes I had envisioned for them. (Really those costumes would have been much MUCH cuter.)
I really am interested in what you think. I need to know if I’m the only one who struggles with handing over agency even if it’s only for the small stuff like shrieking eels.
I LOVE that she chose a shrieking eel! Just had the biggest giggle ever – she’s got spunk!
ha! too funny. i feel the same way. i tried talking them out of being purple people eaters for the longest time until i realized i had to make them, thus me being in control again. what i realized was that even though i had the control to make them, they had more fun being what they really wanted to be, making it the best halloween yet. they were so proud to tell everyone what they were. and to tell them that their momma made them:) some times we need to let go and let them choose…as much as i dont like it. but really, that make-up is amazing! what can’t you do?! amazing!
My 2-year old daughter is really into ‘The Wizard of Oz’ right now. I gave her the option of being Dorothy (already had costume) or the princess, Glenda the Good witch. She paused, thought about it, and said “No, Mommy. I want to be the wicked witch.” Green face paint and all.
I can’t contribute much since I still get to be in charge of picking costumes for a few years, but I definitely appreciate a kid who can choose him/herself an awesome costume. If I had seen that shrieking eel in MY neighborhood, she would have gotten all of our candy and we would have just turned off our lights, because who can top that? I got tired of seeing all the Rapunzels and princesses and fairies–I like a girl with a little creativity 🙂
I understand your feelings. I love seeing my little one get so excited about her costume, though. I was lucky though that she wanted to be a little bumblebee. I honestly can’t say what my reaction will be when she asks to be a zombie. You’re a great mom for letting your little one’s enjoy their evening by being exactly what they wanted to be.
Last year my daughter (age 7) told me she wanted to be Alice from Alice in Wonderland. I told her that would be a great costume for her! She has long blonde hair and is cute as a button. So I started listing off the blue dress, black shoes, white tights… and then I heard “No mom! Not that Alice!” I was fairly confused but then she explained, “I want to be the Alice dressed in armor with the Vorpal sword to slay the Jabberwocky” o.0 (have you seen the Tim Burton version of Alice? It’s from there) This was followed with a lot of “But are you sure?” from me. Everyone would just think she was a knight… and what beautiful little girl dresses up like a knight for Halloween?? But I did it. Pulled the costume together and you know what? I think we both ended up really loving it! (I blogged about the costume in a mega post here… towards the bottom of the page if you’d like to see) It was unique and when people understood what she was they all thought it was awesome…kind of like your little Shrieking Eel! That is such a cool costume!! So creative and just fun! And I love the green zombie monster! I’m super impressed with your mad face painting skills! I kind of refuse to paint my kids faces because they always end up looking a lot worse than without it!
Our kids don’t have a lot of control over most of what happens to them. I think it’s fantastic that you let them decide what they really wanted!
I should start this by saying that I’m a part-time Mommy for my nieces. My Mom and I take care of them while their parents work, and I do a lot of sewing for them, because my SIL can’t sew on a button. So I was the one who got the request when the three-year-old wanted to be a, “nice pumpkin, not a scary pumpkin, but with big teef and fangs.” And the second request for baby sister, “Penny wants to be a pumpkin just like me.” So, we got to have two vampire pumpkins this year! Due to frequent requests for a “cape an’ outfit like Superman’s”, I was fully prepared to make her a Supergirl outfit, too, and we’d honestly planned on dressing her as a Georgia Tech cheerleader and her sister as a buzzy bee!
You are so awesome for letting them choose their own costumes. They need to be able to do that. And the shrieking eel may be the coolest idea I’ve heard of yet!
Love LOVE LOOOOVE the shrieking eel! Everyone probably got a good laugh! Personally I’m so sick of these off the rack stock costumes…I always give a little extra something to the kids whose costumes take imagination and creativity. I was stuck with 2 pirates, since Grandma had lots of pirate stuff on hand from their pirate themed car rally this summer. All I got to do was make some boring pirate pants and alter a puffy pirate shirt 🙁 Hopefully next year mr.man decides to go for something more challenging.
My six year old was Link, from Zelda, and my four year old was Princess Zelda. Their baby sister was the fairy from the same video game (easy to do because you never really see what the fairy looks like). They came up with the idea themselves and were very committed! I should have made signs too. They looked great but did have to explain their costumes to most people which got a little old to my son. He didn’t like being confused with Peter Pan or Robin Hood.
Same thing happened here! I thought for sure my two-year-old would want to be Shirley Temple, whom she loves, but it turned out she just wanted to wear our old pumpkin costume. So I let her.
I think you did the right thing to let them be their own things. When we force another decisions on our kids, it’s kind of like telling them, “You’re wrong. You’re not smart enough to pick out your own costume.” I think that by giving the kids ownership of whatever we can, we increase their self-esteem and self-confidence and they will be happier.
Time for Mommy to take on a supporting role. I just didn’t think it would already be time to do that with my two-year-old. 🙂
My youngest wanted to be Rapunzel (but she already has blonde hair past her waist, so she identifies with Rapunzel)… I convinced her to be Princess Buttercup. I already had a blue princess dress that I made for my oldest at the same age.
But when she wanted to add “fairy” facepaint, I thought it was great.
I usually let them pick, but this year has been so hectic. Halloween is also my husband’s and my oldest daughter’s birthday, the oldest also had a school trip to DC, etc., etc. I totally copped out and bought the oldest a witch’s costume. But I did paint her face.
*sigh*
I thought it was still the “sparkly ghost”…..it’s a good thing you are creative on the fly!
And Grace’s love of The Princess Bride makes her even more adorable…
It’s elizabeth. I am in the simple simon account.
I thought it was still the “sparkly ghost”…..it’s a good thing you are creative on the fly!
And Grace’s love of The Princess Bride makes her even more adorable…
It’s elizabeth. I am in the simple simon account.
I’m dreading the day I lose control. I made my daughter a tutu at 4 months, just in case she never wants one.
But think about how much street cred your girl’s going to get in high school, college and beyond when she says she was a shrieking eel for Halloween when she was a kid. Instantly she’s the coolest girl in the room.
First of all, cutest eel EVER! Your girl has good taste in movies. Secondly, I am right there with you! I have 4 girls. A couple of years ago, I wanted them to be the Disney fairies. After some begging, I came to the realization that Halloween is all about their little imaginations, not mine. The only part of Halloween I am 100% onboard with is dressing up as anything you want. So this year, when my second oldest HAD to be a rainbow fairy, I spent WAy too long sewing 8 layers of tiller into a rainbow pettiskirt. The best part of the whole day was her giant smile that she she couldn’t wipe off of her face!
What great costumes! You totally did the right thing, even though it was hard for you. Apparently creativity runs in the family. 🙂
I just have to say I think your daughter is one of the coolest girls ever!! LOVE The Princess Bride and I for one NEVER wanted to be a princess either when I was young! ;-D SO cute! I also wanted to thank you for your tutorials and for sharing them with us! I made my first one two nights ago and will make another one tonight! Best part…in my Church I really try to help my Young Women who I teach the importance of being modest and they all want to make one of your Starboard Skirts now after seeing the one I made! You are the best!! ~Kristen
No way. A Shrieking Eel = coolest costume idea ever! Great job with the make-up too.
I don’t have a problem with my girls going their own way, but then I was never a princess-y type kid. My oldest was Ariel when she was 4, but all other years have been a bit more unique. She’s been the Wizard of Oz lion, cleopatra and a zombie. I never know what direction she will go in and I love the suprise.
The youngest, not quite 2, was a cow this year. She has some kind of obsession with cows and no other costume would do. The zombie and the cow were quite a pair!
A shrieking eel! How cool is that? The times when I dressed up aren’t that long gone either. I know I always choose my own costumes. But then again I made them (I only started trick or treating at the age of six or so). The knight Alice and vampire pumpkins are great too! I’m betting you doubled your kids candy-intake 😉
I totally understand your dilemma. My kids dressed up as Red Riding Hood, Grandma, Wolf, and Wood Cutter this year. It was awesome! But we spent a lot of time talking about it and brainstorming the different aspects of their costumes. So they were involved. I don’t know what I would do if one of them expressed a really strong desire to be something I wouldn’t like. I enjoyed reading this discussion.
Hilarious! Your makeup skills are awesome! I have come to grips with the choices my youngest daughter makes when it comes to costumes.This year she chose to be John Lennon from a Hard Day’s Night. Not the easy “Hippie” John Lennon to be clear, but the one when he was younger. *sigh* We spent the day answering “Did your Mommy make you dress like this?”. UGH. No.
I must admit, though, she can really wear a suit well.
~Michelle
I battle this fight with my 4 year old boy, always have. I want to make all there costumes and have all the children be a theme. However, my 4 year old seems to have some store bought obsession. 2 years ago, I wanted the 5 kids to be a circus, everyone costumes were made and he decided to he wanted to be scooby doo, he was only 2 at the time and already adjusting my whole plan! So they were scooby doo and the big top too! This year he is into anything gross, dead or with a weapon is his preference. So his dad ties him out to decide on a costume for mommy to make him, they come home with zombie makeup complete with a decomposing head trick or treat bucket. My husband loves this, I do not have the same zombie love!
three years in a row now, i’ve started planting Red Riding hood and teh wolf to my little girl and her big brother but it’s never happened. this year they wanted to be “boring” and be a black cat and bat. Also, I’m trying to talk my three year old princess into having a puppy party instead of Dora. not sure what will happen yet!
I’m so impressed that your kids were excited to be something so unique! They’ve got a lot of spunk! It must have taken courage for your daughter to choose that costume when all her friends were beautiful princesses, so you’re doing something right. She obviously knows who she is and doesn’t worry about what others think. Don’t we want that for all of our children?
It’s definitely hard to relinquish control but I think you did the right thing. 🙂
My little girl wanted “a beautiful pumpkin dress – no face”. So that’s what she got. She said next year she wants to be a snowman! ha!
totally struggle like that, too! Way to let them demonstrate their creativity and enjoy themselves. I struggle with the fact that my 3 year old purposely mismatches her pajamas at night…
Last year, she wanted to be a dog. After I already bought the bumble bee costume. So, she was a dog for her school’s ‘harvest day parade’ and a bumble bee for Halloween.
This year she wanted to be Ariel. The Disney princess with the ugliest (most skin showing) costume. So I made one myself out of a ballet leotard, some felt seashells, a blue tutu and a green tail from a random mermaid pattern. Darn costume had to have cost triple what the Disney store one did. Oh, and she had to have the wig (or as she said, “my hair on fire like Ariel”)
Not a mom, but if I had a daughter and she decided to be a shrieking eel for halloween, I’d burst into tears of joy. Not even kidding. A Disney princess? Lame. (Sorry, I love Disney movies {most} and loved Tangled, but that is PLAYED OUT and totally unimaginative.) The fact that she picked something so unique is awesome. Shows she’s not one to just go along with the crowd. LOVE IT. Seriously. Best. Costume. Ever.
And also? She’s so stinkin’ cute that even as a Shrieking Eel she’s adorable, no princess costume required.
Yes it’s hard, but major props for letting her do her thing! I’m a therapist who specializes in eating disorders and I cannot tell you how upset I get that so many little girls are pushed to embrace the whole princess, helpless/damsel in distress thing. If it’s your girl’s thing, great. But why shove it down their throats? The fact that your little girl picked a fun, unique costume and that you went with it says a lot about both of you.