You want to wear what for Halloween?

Today I met my friend Rachael at Party City to shop for Halloween stuff. I took the Pigweed with me because she was just dying to buy a Halloween costume and she needed new tennis shoes, her other ones – WHEW, very stinky!

Megan was super excited at this chance to get a jump on her friends in picking out a Halloween costume. Never one to spoil the excitement, I encouraged her to check out every costume on our drive up to Party City. My encouragement quickly changed however when we got to the costume aisle. What an array of junk was there and hardly anything appropriate for an 8 year old girl.

Pigweed hemmed and hawed for about 15 minutes over costumes before I finally said “Okay, I’ll help you narrow it down. You can choose from these two rows in this one column. Anything outside of that, forget about it!” I am not a prude, I have worn some racy Halloween outfits but I was over the age of 18 and supporting myself. I don’t think my 8 year old child needs to wear a sexy cheerleader’s outfit. Nor does she need to dress up like a nun, naughty schoolteacher, etc. We finally settled on a bee, Megan thinks it’s a yellow jacket so she can represent Georgia Tech (as if we watch football in our house)!

My biggest surprise of the afternoon was when another mom approached me in the store and said “Thank you! Thank you for taking this stance. I wish more parents would react this way to the trash that is out there.” I was floored! But when I stood back and thought about it, it’s true. These costumes are out there for a reason. I think the reason is that society is so numb to what is appropriate, that parents just throw up their hands and don’t listen to that inner voice of reason saying that their child doesn’t need to dress up like Debbie in Debbie Does Dallas.

So tonight, with a plate full of brownies by my side (thank you PMS), I’m making my declaration! No matter how much the Pigweed fusses, throws a tantrum, whatever, I’m going to be a bit straitlaced on the things she wears. It’s a war out there and I know that my child(ren) are not equipped to deal with most of that stuff, nor should they be. I don’t want her to walk by a crowd of boys who does a double take based on what she is wearing. That’s too much temptation for them and too much pressure for her. They are children, not mini adults! They don’t know how to control themselves, their minds, their eyes, their imaginations. So, the Wilson house won’t be adding to that confusion.

I want to do right by my daughter, give her a good foundation on which to build when she begins making decisions that are funded by her! I want her to know that first she is a child of God, that her body is a temple and to be respected. Second that she knows that as our child we love her dearly and only want the best for her. I want her to respect herself and to expect respect from everyone that she meets, male and female. And that that respect extend to the basest of respects, if you know what I mean?

So, if you are a mom out there of a young girl OR boy, please know that you are not alone! You don’t have to dress your child in the outfits that 95% of the population is wearing. Our children are our treasures and it is up to us, not society, to let them know what is and isn't acceptable.