Dragons, LadyBug Girls, and BumbleBees, Oh My!
Posted October 26, 2011 by
We’ve been busy getting ready for Halloween around our house.
Last week I took Vera to Old Navy where she tried on EVERY single costume. I’m serious — every, single one. (I think I decided right away when I became a mom that I was never going to the kind who makes costumes for her kids. I just don’t have it in me.) We just made a morning of it. It was actually a blast.
It was hard to decide, but luckily there was a sale going on and we ended up coming home with the green dragon costume AND the ladybug girl. Our neighborhood is going to be great for Halloween and Vera’s best friend Zoe is coming over to go trick-or-treating with her. Ever since I explained trick-or-treating to her a few days ago, she has woken up every day asking if it’s time to go.
There are so many things I don’t like about motherhood (diaper bags, sleepless nights, no time to myself, poop everywhere), but there are lots of things I do like too. Halloween is definitely one of them. Actually, what I really love is seeing Vera’s imagination develop. Her ability to pretend is so uninhibited and it’s a nice reminder that we’re all capable of dissolving the boundaries between what’s real and what isn’t.
I think about my mom all the time these days — wondering what motherhood was like for her. I wonder if she liked it or if it frustrated her sometimes, like it does me. I wonder if she ever tried for another kid and if her relationship changed with my dad after they became parents together. I wonder a lot about what it would be like to talk to her today about all of this.
One thing I know for certain — if she were around she’d be busy making a costume for Vera this week. Ah, well.
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11 Comments
There is nothing like that first Halloween where they “get” it. The year Cooper was three, he was excited and really in to it. He walked up to the first house, graciously held out his plastic pumpkin to receive the candy, said thank you, and turned around and sat down on their porch, dug out the candy and started opening and eating it. Everyone was cracking up – and it took us quite a while to convince him that we gather the candy first and then go home and eat it!
Comment by Lisa Lilienthal on October 26, 2011 at 10:45 am
Wait, you don’t like poop everywhere? I can’t imagine why.
I love her costume extravaganza!
Comment by Liz on October 26, 2011 at 1:42 pm
Oh, look at what a gorgeous little girl she’s turning into. What a great series of photos — she looks like she’s having an awful lot of fun (and that you are too!). We don’t really have Halloween in Australia, so I’m always fascinated by it.
Comment by Sophie on October 26, 2011 at 4:18 pm
What a beautiful face! Oy! I can understand why in the wild mother’s eat their young! The witch picture makes me think she knows a secret that I don’t. I’m sure your mom would be so proud of you–motherhood-wise and otherwise. xoxo
Comment by Ron Stempkowski on October 26, 2011 at 5:14 pm
There is great value in trying on every costume. I’m glad you had the patience for it. The parents should not characterize their kids, but to allow every possibility for them to play any role. I see so many kids confined by parental stereotypes.
The “witch girl” photo is stunning and tells me so much about the confidence she has in herself.
Comment by Paul Tredgett on October 27, 2011 at 11:22 pm
Paul– you’re right. She definitely has confidence. And yes, she had a blast trying on all those costumes!
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on October 29, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Aw, thanks Ron! And yes, sometimes I take a little nibble from her.
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on October 29, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Thanks, Sophie! You’ll have to come over here sometime for Halloween. It’s really so much fun.
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on October 29, 2011 at 12:04 pm
No, Liz. I don’t like poop everywhere.
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on October 29, 2011 at 12:04 pm
This is beyond delightful. She has such an energy in her face. It reminds me of the first time we dressed our munchkins up and took them around the neighborhood. The world was their oyster, and they knew it. So, apparently, does Vera. What a lovely moment you’ve made for her!
Comment by Carmi on October 29, 2011 at 1:13 pm
This child and this photo are priceless!
Comment by Wendy Sherman on November 2, 2011 at 5:40 am
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