October, I love you. I really do.
I mean, it may not seem like it when I’m lamenting the fact that I can’t wear flip-flops anymore or that beach days are long gone. It’s true, I’m going to miss the impromptu barbecues and that rainforest-like smell right after a downpour on a steamy morning. And I’m really going to miss not having to wrangle my kids into coats and then removing said coats before loading them into their car seats.
But now that you’re here, I don’t have to worry about frizzy hair. I get to break out the comfiest of comfy sweaters and the most adorable boots. And have you seen fall outfits for little girls? Squee! There’s also that crisp feel in the air, and I’m not sweating when I strap my baby daughter to me in a carrier. The leaves are turning the most gorgeous shades of blazing red and yellow, and for a while, the weather is absolutely perfect.
And then there’s Halloween, which truly makes this the most wonderful time of the year. (Sorry, Santa.) The vicarious chills and thrills? I love ’em, and the exhibitionist in me loves playing dress-up in public. Now that I have two little monsters to join me in the fun, I’m in heaven.
But here’s where it gets tricky. Because there’s just so much fun stuff to do. Maybe too much.
There’s Halloween itself, of course. And a parade at my son’s preschool. And another one at the zoo. A pajama party at the kids’ club where he takes classes. An event at the daycare in our gym. Dress-up events at every museum in town. Themed events at the two botanic gardens nearby. The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, an insane pumpkin display that features more than 7,000 pumpkins. Concerts featuring spooky music that I’m dying to get tickets for and ghost-stories-around-the-campfire-type gatherings. Plus, a haunted house, a spooky scarecrow walk and a freaking dog parade! (Yes, that would be dogs in costumes in a parade. I know, I know.)
And those are only the events I want to go to, are within an hour of my apartment and that I’ve heard about so far. That doesn’t include the apple picking, the trips to the pumpkin patch and the various fall festivals that could easily pack every single weekend (and some weekdays) this month.
I’m exhausted just writing about all of this.
No, no one is forcing me to attend all or any of these events, and I’m not trying to keep up with the Joneses or anything ridiculous like that.
The thing is, I love this stuff. Who needs another Halloween event? Mommy does! It’s like me and Cheetos. I can’t stop at just one. Or two. Or 20, apparently.
Activities like these have provided wonderful bonding time with my son. We’ve had a blast, made some amazing memories, and they’ve exposed him to so much. Each year, though, there seems to be more and more and more, and this year, I’m worried that his costume will be trashed and that we’ll both be all Halloweened out by the time Halloween actually rolls around.
We didn’t have this when we were kids. We had Halloween and our one dinky little elementary school parade and we liked it. End of story.
This is overload, and as much as I say that I don’t feel any pressure to do it all, I kind of do. I don’t know if this is Gen X crazy parenting or just me, but I don’t want either of us to miss out. I know that so many wonderful memories happen while we’re in our pajamas, at home, at the most unexpected times, but alas…I’m really having a hard time to say no to all of the manufactured fun.
So, October, could you cool it just a little? Or at least wait till the second half of the month to get your creepy-crawlies on next year? Because obviously I have the self-control of a 3-year-old.
Tell Us: What fall activities do you have planned for this month?
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