October 31, 2009

The First Grade Halloween Party

Yesterday was my daughter's first grade Halloween party. As a room parent, I had the privilege of assisting 20 six-year-olds change into their Halloween costumes in preparation for a thirty second parade around the parking lot. Two other mothers, including my co-chair, were supposed to assist with the dirty work, but both were conveniently delayed by a traffic jam caused by a scary clown holding a picket sign outside of the grocery store. That left me and the substitute (my daughter's teacher was out sick with the flu) to prepare the troops for battle.

Two of our soldiers refused to put on their costumes. Two others didn't celebrate Halloween. The remaining sixteen could be divided roughly into two groups: Autobots and characters from Disney made-for-TV movies. One little boy seemed embarrassed by his Halloween costume and refused to take it out of his backpack. When I saw what it was, I started hyperventilating.

"You are going to be a Franciscan friar from the Middle Ages?" I asked incredulously. "That is the coolest costume on the planet!"

The mention of the word "planet" sparked the interest of three Transformers, and they came over to investigate.

"Where did you get this?" I asked desperately, marveling at the authenticity of the period costume. "And what do your parents do for a living? And can I have their phone number? And do you know if this costume comes in adult sizes? And do you think your parents would want to come over for dinner sometime in the near future?"

As my interest in his costume and extended family grew, the boy began to wiggle uncomfortably in his seat. Finally he agreed to put the outfit on.

I made the mistake of clapping when the boy came out of the bathroom. I might have even jumped up in down in place a couple of times too, but I don't remember.

My enthusiasum was all the boy needed to change his mind. Eyes wide as saucers, he retreated slowly back into the bathroom. With a loud thud, he slammed the door.

Happy Halloween!

16 comments

Hillori said...

Perhaps he would be willing to make a fair trade then? And thanks for the great early morning laugh! You rock. Happy Halloween!

Amy E said...

For some reason, I envision this as a Saturday Night Live skit...haha...too funny!!

Our school doesn't have Halloween parties anymore...they are "fall parties" and they are the week before Halloween. Fall break conveniently happens at Halloween time...

Jen@Scrapingirl said...

You crack me up. Happy Halloween.

Anonymous said...

What happened to the kids not in costume? Did they not do the parade? Anyway, I myself am in a debate whether to be Mr. Bean (But I'll need to borrow a male suit from one of my family members, who are unwilling), Big Brother (But how do I keep the mustache from falling off?), or Ivy (Anyone else read the Ivy Cottage picture book series? No? Thought so.)

Karen said...

Sounds like you were the scariest thing at that party!

feefifoto said...

The coolest costume I saw at school yesterday (aside from my daughter's because she's sitting next to me reading as I type this) was a St. Louis Cardinals baseball jersey with a cardinal's mitre rather than a baseball cap.

Sarah said...

We have an adult sized costume that sounds exactly like what you described. This is what comes of having a spouse with a masters degree in english with an emphasis in in mid evil (I know that isn't right but I couldn't figure out how to spell it!) studies. My husband wears it all the time and mostly he gets good responses. Occasionally someone asks what he is suppose to be though. DUH!

Kami said...

Jana, you certainly have a way with kids. Kind of like the guy teaching the finance class to the Boy Scouts today. ;) I love you!!

Anonymous said...

Jana,
I like your style. I YELLED at the children in our group tonight b/c they were getting too far ahead and it was wrecking my trick/treating mojo. Also, I was wearing a giant feathery chicken hat.
Deb

The Novelist said...

I would hope that someone would care as much about my child as you have done for that poor boy!!! Although it backfired, he will never forget the effort!!!

Bouchard Family said...

Sounds like it really was a cool costume but in all realitity who does that to their kid. My 15 month old was a fisherman and that's only cause he can't give me his opinion yet.

Angie White said...

I'm a substitute teacher and also was in a similar position for the 30th: several kids forgot pieces to their costumes and were asking to call home, several kids forgot to bring clothes to change into after the parade and were asking to call home, one kid burst into tears (4th grade class, mind you) because someone teased him for wearing a "Jason" costume (hockey mask)... It's tough on subs for those holiday celebration days!

Malea said...

I love it! You have found your kindred parental spirits. Yeah.

Anonymous said...

My fiance dressed up as Martin Luther, complete with a haircut that left a ring of un-shorn hair around his forehead and ears until today, when he cut the whole thing...whew.

Confessions of a Mother, Lawyer & Crazy Woman said...

On Halloween I had this task too ... transformed two Dorothys (Wizard of Oz), one football player and one black kitten who would only answer to "Mittens" and insisted on crawling on hands and knees and fetching things with her mouth for the rest of the day. Happy (belated) Halloween!

Mae said...

Hahah! This is so hilarious! I don't have any kids... but I'm definitely going to be following this blog!

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