Let It Go

(I do apologize for a Halloween- related post in December. I forgot I had written this!)

In case you were unaware, preschool age children change their mind about what they want to be for Halloween approximately 850 times before trick or treat night arrives.

I thought we had Rosie's costume all set- she was going to dress up in the Witch costume that had been given to her for her birthday back in August. Silly me. I'm not sure why I thought we were actually sticking with that plan.

About 2 weeks before Halloween, she announces to me that she really wants to be Elsa from Frozen for Halloween. Like really, really wants to. And I thought about it, and thought some more.

Everyone and their sister is going to Elsa for Halloween. Do I really want her doing what everyone else is doing? Don't I want to encourage her to be creative, to be something that might be a little different?

But then I thought about my Halloween costumes growing up. The homemade ones. The ones I was embarrassed about. I thought about how I would have done just about anything to have a store bought costume like most of  my classmates wore.

It was at that moment I made the decision to indulge my daughter, and Let Go of my mom worries (Elsa would be so proud). I went to the store- no Elsa costumes in sight in the Halloween section. But, my mom intuition kicked in, and I thought to look in the Toy Department. There hung two Elsa dresses and several Anna ones (which I am thoroughly confused about- where's the love for Anna? Why is she sorely losing out?) and I took one of the Elsa dresses and laid it in the cart. Blue, sparkly and screaming Ice Queen. Rosie was going to love it.

I was right. She couldn't wait to wear it to school on Halloween. As we opened the door to her classroom, no fewer than 3 other Elsas were on the other side, anxious to see who was coming in. I will never forget the pleased expression on Rosie's face as she did a slow twirl, showing the other girls her Elsa costume, and then comparing notes with them on the amount of sparkles each dress had.

It gave her such joy to be like the other girls, and I was glad I didn't deny her of it. Individuality should be encouraged as much as possible, but there are times when a person just wants to fit in and go with the crowd. That's okay, too.