Wait, wait. I am not samhainophobic. I do not fear or dislike Halloween. The title is a result of yesterday’s (October 30, Friday) successful attempt to shop, make, and finish Halloween outfits for my three children. It was my first time.
For the most part of my life, I have had people help me out in a loooot of chores. Hendrix, my brother who in God’s grace and his hard work is now an architect, was for the longest time my all-around slave. He did a lot of things for me: a painting for my art class, my scrapbook for a Science project, illustrations for my storybook, secured door at my previous apartment… Tiba/Eva, who was originally my Grandmother’s househelp, was my nanny since I was five years old until I was about 22; she washed and ironed my clothes. Joy and Elsie were Nick and Toni’s nannies, who changed most of the twins’ dirty diapers until they were about eight months old. As you may have guessed, I had good night sleep then.
I have said in the past that I am very independent. “I can do things on my own most of the time,” declared ME. I was talking about work and “external” responsibilities. At home, except for my above average cooking skills and uncanny ability to boss people around, I am practically useless. Moving to this part of the world, however, has taught me to not only use my head in planning but also my hands in doing. Halloween tested that.
For weeks, Jeff asked me what I will dress the twins with for trunk or treat. I wasn’t really sure. I was taking care of a newborn and didn’t have the luxury of time to spend hours making DIY costumes from Pinterest. But I didn’t want to just go to Wal-mart and pick the most convenient Princess or Superman attire I could find. I felt that doing so will be the gravest form of neglect and irresponsibility that I will commit towards my children.
A week before Halloween, Jeff picked up some silly hats from Smith’s and said that we might as well just have the twins wear those hats come October 31st. I nodded but my mind was trying to think of better outfits. I couldn’t think of any. I also knew that even if I think of something creative, it won’t be made into reality because I don’t have crafty hands – and I don’t know how to use a sewing machine!
Later that night, I was arranging the twins’ clothes when I saw two red shirts I bought at the Dollar Tree store two months ago. I remember telling myself I will work on making something for the twins but that never materialized because I forgot. An idea came to me when I saw the red shirts: “Nick and Toni will be Thing 1 and Thing 2. Hello Dr. Seuss!”
I mostly spent the three-hour ME time (and the shopping allowance) that Jeff gave me that Friday afternoon at the Dollar Tree Store looking for materials that I can use in making my children’s first Halloween experience memorable. My idea was to make “Thing” labels for the shirts. I needed: permanent markers and white poster board. I already have glue and adhesive tape. Back at home, I worked for an hour to finish the labels. I arranged their candy bags, their pants, their silly hats, Toni’s skirt, Toni’s ribbon, their new pairs of mittens, and shoes. Jeff Junior had a matching red onesie which complemented his siblings’ outfits.
I really didn’t do anything revolutionary striking or creatively insane but I did something. Some things actually. I went through the paranoia, the detailed thinking, the preparation that a mother does when her children participate in an event. It was exhausting. It was fun too. I feel like I’m a legitimate mother. Ha!
I survived Halloween.
I think I like it now especially that I got to keep most of my children’s candies and chocolates.
