Halloween is my favorite holiday.  I love everything about it from pumpkin picking to costumes to fun cupcakes and desserts for the kids.  And, if I can get out for an adult Halloween party once in a while it always proves to be the most fun all year.

That said, now that I am a mom of three small children, I will say that Halloween is utterly exhausting.  This year, I have decided to lower my expectations so that I am not rushing around and fighting with these kids before we even leave the house!  So, I have created a roadmap to success.  This year, I will continue Halloween a success IF:

At least one child wears the actual costume we purchased

Every year we put a great deal of thought and money towards Halloween costumes.  Adorable ones that represent whatever the kids are in to that year whether it  be princesses, cowboys or animals.  The kids pick these costumes, I do not.  But, sure enough, when it comes time to put the costume on, at least one child (sometimes two) decides that he or she no longer wants to be what was selected.  This usually happens not long before we have somewhere so I either have to force them to wear what we bought (apparently this is the right time to teach some sort of lesson about keeping a commitment and being mindful of the money we spent on the costume)  OR run around trying to throw together some spur of the moment costume.  It is infuriating and often results in children crying and me sweating profusely as I sit on children and force them in to costume.

Caroline keeps her hat on at least for some pictures

Anyone who ever had kids knows that asking a fifteen month old to wear a costume for an extended period of time is like asking a jar of peanut butter to sing you the national anthem.  It is never going to happen.  My only hope is that I get a few nice pictures of all three kids in costume.

The kids eat all of their candy that night

That’s right, I said it.  I would prefer that candy is gone before the next day.  There is nothing more annoying than listening to the kids ask for their candy every minute of every day for the two weeks after Halloween.  As soon as they wake up they want it.  They want it in their lunch boxes for school.  They come in from school/daycare and are asking for it.  Then they begin using it as a bartering tool which really pisses me off.  I ask someone to set the table or do their homework and I hear “if I do, can I have a piece of my Halloween candy?”  Um, no.  Just eat the damn candy when we get home, get a sugar high, puke if you have to and let’s move on to business as usual the next day.

We make it to school and work on time the next day

Perhaps it is because of all the stimulation and the late night.  Perhaps it’s because – as noted above – I encourage them to eat all the candy in one sitting.  But we never get anywhere on time the next day!   

So there you have it.  My plan for success.  Good luck to all of you and your little monsters this Halloween!