Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Pondering Halloweens - Past, Present & Future

I was thinking today about Halloween when I was a child. 

Then, I was thinking about the Halloween's with my kids. 

Something struck me as odd, and worth pondering some more.

When I was a child, when I dressed up for Halloween, I wanted to be pretty and never, ever, scary or (gasp) funny.  I, of course, I was the Princess, the gyspsy, the kitten, the fifties girl, the hippie, I Dream of Jeannie, or what ever...as long as I looked the requisite "pretty" and/or "cute".

There was no negotiating this desire.  Not that my mother didn't try.  One year she was given a beautiful handmade costume.  It looked like a professional one, it was done so well.  I was 5, and told I would be wearing it, much to my chagrin.

It was a clown.  A white satin, big red polka dotted, big ruffled red and white collared, clown costume!  I was not happy.  Did I mention the matching hat?  No, not happy at all.

I wore it and pouted all day.  I was definitely channeling old Emmett Kelly and the whole sad clown thing.  It didn't stop my mom from taking pictures though; we have the whole fiasco preserved for generations to come.

My mom didn't force me to be "funny" or "scary" after that fateful year.  She did ask and try to cajole me each year to deviate from the "pretty" and "cute" thing, but I was not to be convinced; "pretty" was the thing for me.

In fact, even as a teen and adult, I have stayed with the "pretty" or "cute" theme, as a Southern Belle, a toddler in pink feetie jammies, a french maid, a prisoner (my hair & face were done up pretty!) a hooker and a doctor!

I have been teased about it for years, by family and friends.  I have no idea what it says about my psyche, but I justdon't like things on my face or head, and I don't like scary costumes!  I like to believe it is that simple, although I am sure that a therapist would have field day.  C'est la vie!

Fast forward to having my own little girl.  I am thinking this is great!  Just LOOK at those costumes in the Disney catalog!  I couldn't be the "perfect" Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty, to those who don't know), but my daughter can look like she stepped out of the movie!  YES!

The toddler years were the usual fluffy cute costumes and then finally, at age four, Pumpkin Muffin asked to be a princess.  Be still my heart!!!  She wanted to be a "pink" Princess Aurora, and although the blue was my favorite, I was ecstatic.  I couldn't wait until the next year, thinking the road to "pretty" had just begun. 

AND, just look at all the Princesses there are to choose from now!!!

Nope.  It was not to be.  At age 5, Pumpkin wanted to be a witch.  I cajoled, she insisted.  Okay, fine, I am not my mother (stop snickering all of you), I will not force her.  At the costume store there were only "pretty" and "cute" witch costumes for her age so I was fairly happy. 

As we get the costume and turn to walk to the front to pay, Pumpkin spots something, and runs over to a rack off to the side.  A second later, she turns around and has pulled over her face a green rubber mask witches face, wart and all, with wild black and gray hair! 

She screams, "This is perfect!  Just like the evil witch with the apple in Snow White!  I want it!"

Hubby says, "Yeah, sure!"  The boys scream with delight that their sister will be so cool looking.  I want to drop dead on the spot. 

I know what this means.  Payback is a bitch. 

Age 6 - Wonder Woman.  Okay, not scary, kinda "cute", but she would put on this fierce serious look and face off with the bullets every two seconds with her bracelets.  She was very into the "kick bad guy butt" Super Hero part of the fantasy.

Age 7 - A cat.  Again, kind of cute, but Pumpkin did take it to extremes that I never would do.  I would wear the ears and collar and tail, but wouldn't do my face with all the black stuff.  She did.  The nose, and the whiskers.  We had to keep re-applying the make-up all day.

And now, this year, Age 8 - Female Vampire.

Pumpkin wants blood dripping from her fangs and all over her face.  Joy.

What did I ever do to deserve this?  I know, I know, I shouldn't have pouted all day in the damn clown costume.  This is karma, what goes around comes around, right?  UGH.

And, when we discussed possibly going to Disney again, Pumpkin told us during the same weekend that we bought the vampire costume, - and I quote - "Oh pu-lease, I would rather cruise, I am sooooo over those princesses!"  Emphasis hers, not mine.

There will be no 'perfect-blue-Princess Aurora-gown-costume-like-she-just-stepped-out-of-the-movie-from-the-Disney Catalog' for my daughter or me.

However, I am sure that my mother is thrilled, and is enjoying all of this from the sidelines as the all too happy-to-encourage-her Grandma.  <sigh>  The scary truth is that she needed no encouragement.

So, what's the moral of these stories, one from many years past, and the others from not so long ago, and the present? 

I don't know, but I'll take a stab at it anyhow. (Halloween humor, I know, don't quit my day job)

I am happy that my daughter is so much like my mother, though.  It is actually pretty funny and nice.  I don't know what that will mean for us during the tumultuous teen years, but I do know, that once they are over with, I will have a great friend in my daughter, like I do in my mom.

I think it all indicates that my Pumpkin Muffin will be fearless and strong, like her grandma, and ready for action in the scary world that is ours today.  I think she has some of my sensitivity and optimism though, just not as much, but overall, it will serve her well in the 21st Century. 

Or I am just pondering way too much about Halloween costumes!  LOL

Be well,
Dawn     
  

 

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

lol you're pondering too much over Halloween costumes lol

Although they say it does represent that time in our life. Don't ask me why, but if your daughter ever wants to be a zombie with a bullet hole in her forehead, worry lol I did that one year and looking back... yeah that was very reflective of me lol

~Lily

Anonymous said...

oh such a "cute" entry.  You should know by now that kids always do the opposite of what we think they will. Doesn't help that your Mom probably said something to the effect "Just you wait, until you have kids!" Karma indeed....Sandi

Anonymous said...

LMAO, Karma! Brandie

Anonymous said...

LOL  I feel your pain!  My son wants to be gory, my diva...well, that says it all, and my sweet baby girl (TG!) wants to be sometihng pretty.  Oh my...;)  C.  http://journals.aol.com/gdireneoe/thedailies

Anonymous said...

I don't know why kids want to be scary things today.  I always wanted to be cute girl things growing up too.

Krissy
http://journals.aol.com/fisherkristina/SometimesIThink

Anonymous said...

What a great and funny story
Made my morning thank you still laughing over here
Hugs, Marina

Anonymous said...

You CRACK me up !! Just hope you have a GRANDDAUGHTER that someday will be your little Halloween Princess !
PS - My daughter is nothing but cuteness on this holiday ! I'll share her with you on that day !

Ellen

Anonymous said...

Hi Dawn Ü

My name is Donna and I come by way of "Tillys" Journal. I loved this posting. Your daughter sounds like she has a wonderful mix of you and your Mom. But it did make me laugh...your Mom is probably thinking lol this is payback time!

I noticed you mentioned you had RA and Lupus. There is the wonderful messageboard that I am a part of. It's called "But You Don't Look Sick." It has been a God send to me! I suffer very much from chronic pain and this place is my life line. They also have a wonderful lupus board there as well as an RA one. Here is the url if you'd like to visit.   http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/boards/

Then click on messageboards. My name there is Donnathomas42. You can read all about me & others on the introduction page of the messageboard.

Hugs, Donna

Anonymous said...

LOL what a great entry!  I always wanted to be the scary, mean one and not the cute one so I can totally relate to your daughter.  My mom had already had three girls before I came along so she really didn't force me to wear anything, but from what I hear my sisters she sure made them!  Lelly

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you are feeling at least better enough to write such a great entry like this! I've missed these in your sickness and hope you are recovered!

This was so funny; I enjoyed it all. You have hope; you might have a grand-daughter some day who enjoys princesses and fluff.

betty

Anonymous said...

Hello just passing thru..wishing you some J-LAND LOVE!!!

Anonymous said...

Ah yes, I remember this feeling so well lol!  I grew up loving dolls, playing with dolls and making doll clothes for my three younger sisters; I could hardly wait to do the same for a daughter.
Guess what my daughter didn't like????? You guessed it --- no dolls for her lol!
Dolls laungished untouched in her toy box.  When she was two, she briefly fell in love with an enormous old baby doll from a garage sale.  It was so old it had the hair that was sort of oddly grizzled in texture.  Someone before us had cut it off into a sort of weird 'buzz' cut lol.
Our daughter named it "tonto" of all things.  The Lone Ranger reruns were being shown daily at the time.
She used to set Tonto in a chair next to hers to watch the Lone Ranger lol.  That was her all-too-brief foray into dolls, much to my chagrine lol!
loving you
karyl

Anonymous said...

Dear Dawn
What an entertaining story! very cute..yup the kids are all so unique and perhaps they do get it from their grandparents! thanks!
love,natalie

Anonymous said...

Dear Dawn
What an entertaining story! very cute..yup the kids are all so unique and perhaps they do get it from their grandparents! thanks!
love,natalie

Anonymous said...

WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND. YOUR CHILDHOOD WAS AS NEAR TO PERFECT AS I COULD HAVE ASKED FOR, SAVE YOUR ALSO LOVING BLUE INSTEAD OF MY FAVORITE PINK. PUMPKIN MUFFIN IS MORE LIKE ME THAN I CARE TO SAY. HOPE THE TEENAGE YEARS ARE NOT TOO HARD ON ME EITHER.
LOVE YOUR MOMMY.......

Anonymous said...

I am soooooooo like you! I don't like the scary costumes or masks. I don't like people's faces to be covered. I want to see what you look like. It scares me to see people in masks. DH, of course, thinks the masks are so "COOL!" *rolls eyes*

Hugs,
Susan

Anonymous said...

costumes are cool even if its not what you wanted to be:)

Deb

Anonymous said...

That's too funny!  Of course, I only have a boy so far...but I dream about dressing my little girl in frilly ballerina tutus and princess gowns too. I leaned toward "pretty" and "cute" in my costume choices as a kid. Most of the time. There were a few times where I went the scary witch or ghost route too. But I do know what you mean about letting go of those "cute" costumes. My boy was an adorable frog the first year, a sweet little skunk the second year...and then SpiderMan arrived on the scene. *sigh* I really wanted him to be the cowboy...it was so cute! LOL

Anonymous said...

"Or I am just pondering way too much about Halloween costumes!  LOL.."

oh Dawn..you're pondering of these were well worth reading!
Thank you for writing and sharing this story.
Gem :-)