Stage 1: Awakening
This phase usually kicks off around late August when you stroll into your local CVS and see candy corn taking over the aisles. Oh, how delightful, CVS! You’ve officially turned September and October into a countdown to Halloween, complete with daily questions about “How many days until Halloween?” for the next 57 days. Awesome. (No pun intended.)
Stage 2: Exploration
With the sugar rush officially in the air (thanks again, CVS), your child starts exploring their costume options. No, that’s not an old term paper they’re digging up; it’s the latest Halloween costume catalog, now decorated with red ink from their enthusiastic annotations. After a flurry of circling, starring, and crossing out, you can find solace knowing they’ve narrowed it down to about 27 possibilities.
Stage 3: Declaration
The commitment moment usually happens at the bus stop or during playtime when your child announces, “Hey everyone! I’m going to be a DRAGON for Halloween! Roar!” When met with blank stares from friends who are opting for superheroes, they quickly transition to Stage 4.
Stage 4: Reversal
Ha! Just kidding about that dragon. His little sister is going to be the dragon instead. He leans in to whisper to you, asking if you can stream the latest superhero movie to see what’s trending.
Stage 5: Chaos
After seeing their older cousins or friends go for a “practical” choice by dressing as athletes, panic ensues. Should they conform to their peers or stick with their original idea? Decisions, decisions!
Stage 6: Comfort
At this stage, parental intervention becomes crucial before your child spirals into a Halloween costume crisis. You’ll probably discuss themes of independence, personal choice, and practicality—because let’s face it, not every parent can whip up a superhero cape in three days.
Stage 7: Resolution
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s official! He’s settled on being a PIRATE! Hallelujah. A decision has finally been made! Until…
Stage 8: Regret
After the in-school Halloween parade, he starts to think maybe he wants to be something else for the actual Halloween night since the pirate costume wasn’t as spectacular as he imagined.
Stage 9: Persuasion
As parental guidance is needed once more, it’s now 5:30 PM on October 31, and your child refuses to wear the agreed costume because, during the parade, a kid was dressed as a “social media influencer,” and why couldn’t you have crafted something equally cool? At this point, you have no choice but to drop the ultimatum: “No costume, no candy.”
Stage 10: Candy Time!
Your child dashes down to the basement, retrieves the firefighter costume they’ve been playing dress-up with for years, and bolts outside with an empty pillowcase flapping behind them in the breeze. Really? Really.
This article was originally published on Oct. 29, 2016.
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Summary:
Choosing a Halloween costume for kids is a humorous journey filled with stages of realization, panic, and ultimately, candy-driven motivation. From the initial excitement of costume catalogs to the last-minute scramble for a suitable outfit, parents often find themselves guiding their kids through indecisiveness and external pressures. By the end of the process, the ideal costume may end up being something entirely unexpected, proving that the quest for the perfect Halloween disguise is both chaotic and entertaining.