If you walk by our home on October 31, you’ll see jack-o’-lanterns, eerie lights, and my 10-year-old dressed as his latest hero handing out candy. All this alerts you to the fact that we’re a family that loves Halloween. What you won’t find is me in an adult-sized costume at any point during the festivities. It’s true. I don’t like dressing up with my kid on Halloween, and I think I might be the only one.
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“I understand how it can be a memorable family moment,” I reassured my husband, “but I want this holiday to be all about him.” I went on to say that there are so few moments where our little guy can feel independent from us. Picking out his very own costume (when he was old enough) could give him some big feels in the self-reliance department, but in a fun and not super-scaaaaary way. My husband was quiet. He nodded that he heard me, even though he was still processing everything I’d said.
As my son has grown, the thought of wearing a grown-up Halloween costume has not grown on me. However, there have been a couple of years where my plan to keep my son front and center (and myself costume-free) didn’t always play out. This was only because my son asked us to dress up together. For the most part, my grade-schooler is exploring his independence in this kid-focused holiday all on his own. I love standing back and encouraging him to be the creator of his own destiny, even when he’s Indiana Jones for five years running.
