The girls and I got the Halloween season started off right this weekend and stepped out
to my cousin's annual Halloween bash. This is by far one of Isabelle's most favorite
holidays and she plans her costume for months, pouring over the costume catalogues
that arrive in our mailbox starting in August. This year, she decided we would be a family
of kitty cats and Brees and I happily jumped on the feline bandwagon. Brees wore one
of Belle's old costumes and, for once, kept it on the entire night without trying to strip
and claw her way out of it. I wore one of my cardigans and my old faithful Mardi Gras
tutu with ears and a tail found in the girls' dress up box. We purchased Isabelle's costume
at a local Halloween store and I was elated that it was not only reasonably priced but
very well made. At 8 years old, the costume selection for her age group is already
making me nervous. Why are Halloween costumes so scandalous and oversexualized?
When did this fun, kooky, scary holiday become an excuse for girls and grown women
to dress up as hookers and call it a costume? It's infuriating. But it's reality and so we do
our best to set the example and empower our girls to be strong, confident, self
respecting young ladies. We remind them to have fun and celebrate their innocence.
And when Halloween comes around, we encourage them to be as silly and free spirited as
can be, just as long as they share their candy with their parents...
