When my 3-year-old told me she wanted to be a pumpkin for Halloween, I was pleasantly surprised. I had assumed she would want some type of princess or fairy costume — the kind of thing it’s hard to dress warmly
When my 3-year-old told me she wanted to be a pumpkin for Halloween, I was pleasantly surprised. I had assumed she would want some type of princess or fairy costume — the kind of thing it’s hard to dress warmly in.
But she was set on a pumpkin.
I envisioned finding a fuzzy, comfy pumpkin outfit that could be slipped over leggings, a turtleneck and a coat if necessary.
Several weeks ago, our family headed out to go costume-shopping. My boys were pretty easy. They both wanted to be karate guys. With two ninja costumes in the bag after the first store, I was still optimistic about the pumpkin costume.
By the fifth store, I was not.
It seems that costume-makers think that once a child turns 2 they only want smaller versions of the hootchie momma getups sold in the adult section.
My daughter is 3. She didn’t want to be a fairy or a Disney princess or Dora the Explorer or a witch. For crying out loud, even the Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz” costume wasn’t age-appropriate.
Our final stop in our costume quest was Walmart. Again, no pumpkin costume for a child who is larger than 18 to 24 months.
What we did find was a pumpkin fairy costume. It’s a shiny bubble dress with puffy sleeves and detachable green wings. The picture on the costume box shows a little girl wearing the dress with nude panty hose.
On my daughter, the top is really low cut and if she bends over, you can see her underwear.
I fixed it with green leggings and a white turtleneck.
It’s not exactly what my daughter wanted, but she seems happy enough with it.
I, on the other hand, just cringe every time she tells people what she’s going to be for Halloween.
“I’m pumpkin pie,” she says with a smile.
Yes, the pumpkin fairy costume actually had the name “pumpkin pie” on it. Gross.
“You’re a pumpkin fairy,” I tell her.
While I, along with every other parent in the area was probably shivering and cringing last week when temperatures dipped into the 30s, just in time for trick or treat — I must admit being a little relieved. In addition to the turtleneck and leggings, my daughter may just have to wear a winter coat, hat and mittens over her tragically too-old-for-her ensemble.
As for next year, I’m going to scour websites a month ahead of time to find something appropriate for her to dress up in for Halloween. I know I can’t be the only parent who wants a warm and fuzzy tiger costume instead of a preschool-age hootchie costume for their kid.
Heck, maybe I’ll even get adventurous and attempt to make her costume. I can sew well enough and it can’t take any more time than traipsing to store after store like we did this year.
But then, wait and see, next year she’ll want to be Dorothy.
• Mommy Talk is written by Racine, Wis. Journal Times reporters Janine Anderson and Marci Laehr Tenuta. Daddy Talk is written by reporter Mike Moore. The columns appear on alternating Sundays in The Journal Times. Find the columns online at: www.journaltimes.com/mom
