Halloween Recap

My love/hate relationship with Halloween started when I became a teacher. Because while there's a certain joy in watching the kids have fun, organizing the party and the parents and the changes in routine and dealing with the sugar rushes. . .well, it's a lot of work. Of course, for most of the years I taught I was able to recover from the day by going out and getting drunk or by curling up with a book.

Stupidly, I somehow thought that Halloween as a parent would be easier. Or, at least less stressful. It was, until last year. And this year? We had school celebrations on two different days, one indecisive about costumes, one still having a hard time wearing his, sugar highs, trick or treat demands. . .oy. (I'm sure being freaking full term pregnant also had something to do with this year's stress)

By the time I got them to bed last night - yes, I, Hot Guy and his just briefly in town brother had escaped to the city an hour before - I thought I was going to become a parent who spanks. I would give them a direction and it was like I was speaking to them in Chinese. Or like I was actually mute. Or that they were deaf. Or. . .er, you probably understand what I'm saying. Anyway, I have seen my children hyper and over-tired before, but never that far gone. I seriously thought I was going to have to tie them down to get their pajamas on.

It's a good thing that they're so cute.

I think this was the first time Lovebug really got Halloween. We actually got him to wear his costume this year - even if it required many, many reminders of the "no costume, no celebration" variety. (Something that the trio of middle schoolers who showed up at my door at 9:30 last night need to hear as well, I think) And he went along with his class quite well. But when his class sang for all the adoring parents? Lovebug seemed to think his job was to observe. Ironflower did the same thing the next day when her class sang. It's so weird. My kids are not shy. They love to sing and get attention. But while their respective classes were performing, they just stood there. We couldn't even get them to smile.

Oh well, at least they had fun otherwise. And I'm sure my back and feet will recover soon. Probably after Tuesday (when my c-section is scheduled, thankyougod). I told everyone that my costume was that I was pregnant with triplets. Hot Guy wore his pirate hat, Ironflower was Cinderella and Lovebug was Thomas the Tank Engine.

What were you and yours for Halloween?