Monday, October 19, 2009

Why Does One Mom Always Have to Ruin it for the Rest of Us!

Since one or two over-involved moms (or maybe dads) made a big deal about children celebrating Halloween in our public school system, it is banned. The kids can not dress up in costumes on (or this year, the day before) Halloween in any schools, including Mateo's preschool. So, the school tried to get around this by instead having a storybook character parade where the kids can dress up as their favorite storybook character and bring the book in to class. Well, to me, this means having to buy two costumes, since he already picked out a lovely over priced skeleton costume. So Dave and I naturally, being the slacker parents we are, tried to figure out a way around this.

First, I combed the book store for a book about skeletons. No luck. Dave wanted me to order one online just for the socio-political statement it makes but that's just as much work as buying or making a new one. So it cancels itself out. You're following my logic here, right?

So, we brainstormed at dinner tonight. Since Mateo doesn't really have a favorite book, we're a blank slate. Here were some of our best ideas. Okay, maybe "best" is the wrong word. Here are some of our...ideas.

* the Bible - Draw on a beard and dress him in robes and bare feet. (Jesus)

* "Hope" (the Obama book) - dress him in a blue suit with a red tie and a "change" pin. (Obama)

Those were the more expensive ones. Here are the free ones.

* "I'm a Big Brother" - self-explanatory.

* "Mr. Brown Can Moo Can You?" - dress him in all brown.

* Any of the millions of car books we have - use his costume from last year of a race car driver.

The only problem with all of these ideas is that there is very little chance that Mateo will actually wear any of these costumes. I don't even know if he'll wear the skeleton one on Halloween even for candy. I pretty much had to force his on him last year. If it feels like a costume and not regular clothes, he won't wear it. I want to at least attempt to send him dressed up because I don't want him to be the only one without a costume. I don't know if he would care or not, or if he would even notice. But in case he does notice, I don't want him to feel left out because of me. So....

What do you think? Any ideas for a costume that is cheap or free and doesn't feel like a costume but looks like one and that also goes along with a children's book?

6 comments:

Molly said...

Get or make him a "thing 1" tee shirt! Or he could be the little boy from everybody poops. That kid just runs around to the bathroom on random occasions. and I think he wears an orange tee shirt? Or the little boy from the carrot seed. or a kid from any of the robert munsch books?

Anonymous said...

I like the "thing 1" t-shirt idea. Also, you used the idea of 'drink milk" for a costume before and he could bring in cowie.

J-momma said...

first of all, devan, it was "got milk?". second of all, it's supposed to be a children's book, not a toy. obviously you didn't read the whole post. but it's ok. i forgive you. ;) (i can say that to her in jest because she is my best friend and doesn't take anything personally).

molly, i don't know if you'll come back to read this, but i love your "thing 1" idea. i'm totally using that. thank you.

JonesEthiopia said...

Yeah, Thing 1 is a great idea... and so easy. Thank goodness! I also posted on the other blog, too. Somehow I missed that post. She is soooo adorable!

Adopting1Soon said...

Finding Elmo?
Where's Nemo?

You know, that book where you have to spot the guy in the striped shirt. What's that called again???

Then he only has to wear a striped shirt. Not much fun, but hey, that's what those parents did... much like the Grinch Who Stole Christmas... those are the Parents Who Stole Halloween.

HEY! Just got an idea! Maybe he could be the grinch-like parent who stole halloween!

Unknown said...

the thing 1 idea is cute.

i was thinking your mr brown idea would probably work since you said he doesn't like costumes. then he'd just be wearing clothes that happened to all be the same color.

it's terrible that a couple of parents ruined it for the kids. i think it's good the school did manage to find a way around it though. for us it would be easy since meechi wants to be a puppy, we could just get a copy of The Pokey Little Puppy. Little Golden Books are the cheapest ones you can buy anyway.