DIY Halloween costumes to be proud of
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Admittedly uncrafty, single working mother (and guest blogger) Carmen Spagnola reclaims Halloween for her kids... Check out her ideas for DIY costumes
My mom was the least crafty of all the moms I knew growing up. She was also often the only single working mother in my class, so I don’t remember her ever attending a Sports Day. There were no homemade desserts sent for the Last Day of School Potluck. And I’m sure the thought of Halloween sent chills up her spine as she tried to imagine how to muddle through another year of my fanciful ideas for a unique, original, intricately designed and hand-crafted costume.
The Halloween guilt-trip
Flash forward through two more waves of feminism and here I am. I, too, am a totally uncrafty single working mother but a new and improved version: now with more guilt! Eco-guilt! Sweatshop guilt! Celebrity-worship, plastic, sugar and over-packaging guilt, too! Halloween makes me cringe on so many levels that it makes Christmas look downright wholesome. At least then you can focus on the spirit of giving, charity and family time.
Like many kids, Halloween was my favourite holiday growing up. And it wasn’t just about the candy. A big part of the reason was because my mom was so hapless I got to make my costumes mostly all by myself.
I do remember her sewing the red yarn onto my Strawberry Shortcake hat-wig one year. And she also made a brave attempt at tie-dying a t-shirt when I went as a Woodstock hippie. But concept, design and a large part of execution were my departments. I would be up until the wee hours the night before so it would be ready for the big reveal at school on Halloween Day.
Some ideas were more obscure than others (people had to do a lot of guessing before they arrived at “Zombie Dorothy with Taxidermied Toto from the Wizard of Oz”). But answering the question, “And what are you supposed to be, sweetheart?” was always so satisfying.
Take back Halloween
I know I’m not alone with this feeling that we need to take back Halloween. To move away from flimsy store-bought costumes and dismantle the armies of synthetic-clad Spidermen and Princess Jasmines that clog the street on Halloween only to litter the Goodwill donation bins on November 1.
But I am sympathetic to the feeling of overwhelm that most parents experience. I know my daughter usually sticks to one idea for most of September and October—“I want to be a goldfish!”—and then changes her mind on October 30—“no, I want to be a ghost mermaid!” Once again, history repeats itself and there we are together until midnight the night before. Me trying to encourage her to choose the “no sew” route, she impatiently instructing me on artistic direction. Did I mention she’s five?
And for those who think only mega-corporations are capable of keeping cookies from becoming linty--how about wrapping them with waxed paper? Or submit to the petroleum and use saran wrap--at least your cookies will be fresh, moist and expressive of your personality. Or hey, maybe your personality is best expressed by dry and crumbly Old Fashionedes. Your call.
The tiny chocolates treats and little bags of chips that you are so concerned are slowly destroying our children from the inside out are more exciting to kids and really not that big of a deal preciesly because they are treats. Hopefully you're not feeding your kids a steady diet of these "scary objects", so why deny them such on Halloween? It's one night a year. Let the kids eat the candy, use your own best judgement as to whether they can eat the unwrapped cookies, and have fun.
Besides, you can't tell me you're not swiping at those Reese's cups when the kids are asleep!
You mention "scary objects", but scary objects to me are the majority of packaged items in our stores. Treats, microwaveable "foods", high sugar or high salt items, and foods that are mostly "filler".
Take back Halloween!
It has been shown that the "razor blade in apple threat" is nothing more than an urban myth (the only recorded case involved a premeditated murder by the victim's father). And it has been very effective in making it necessary that we all distribute over-packaged high-fructose corn syrup in various shapes and colours to our children on Halloween. Our children who are increasingly fighting obesity, diabetes and malnutrition.
Trust is the first step toward transforming our communities. Choose your trick-or-treating route carefully and escort your kids along; talk to your neighbours when you knock on their door. Then decide if you want to trash the treats members of your community spent time to make. Then decide if you'd prefer your kids eat the stuff churned out at a factory instead.
Tell me if I'm off base here. I want to hear your thoughts. —Hilary Henegar, Granville Online editor
I know it is kind of sad, especially when we had to throw away treats that were obviously homemade. We should be more trusting of each other, but I'm pretty sure that most of your unwrapped cookies would go to waste anyway, negating your attempt to cut down on Halloween garbage.
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