Really?

Halloween is not my favorite holiday. It's in the same league as pranks. In my mind, they are a lot of work to do something mildly wild, which in the end makes more work for me to clean-up. Every party needs a pooper.

I do like the excuse to buy all the Junior Mints and Skittles I desire. I'm not much of a candy person, but those are my definite weakness.

We did carve pumpkins, or I should say the kids and Kirt carved pumpkins while I sang along to Monster Mash and drank cider. My pumpkins have had triangle eyes and jagged teeth since I was first trusted with a sharp object. Since neither creative design nor sharp objects are my forte, we're all a lot safer with me singing along to songs off my first album ever purchased with my own money - Goofy Gold. Loved that record.

Locked and Loaded  Cop
costume for Teens 

And costumes. I'm pretty sure I was Paul Bunyan every year. I love flannel.  Elijah wants to be someone scary who carries a chainsaw. Not a pretend chainsaw but a real one.

Okay, we settled for an outlandishly overpriced zombie jester costume with a scary staff. While looking for his costume, I also checked out possibilities for the girls.

Wow. Teen girl costumes. Not okay.

I'm all about expressing yourself through your clothes and awareness of your body. I love exploring how different clothes bring out different aspects of my personality. There are times I like to wear clothes that make me feel sexy. Kirt did nix the cute little police outfit I wanted because it looked too much like work and it was expensive. Holy.

But, I struggle with marketing Halloween costumes that look like porn stars to teen girls while guys get to wear outfits that look warm. So maybe part of my indignation is the thought of my girls freezing their exposed flesh off since it is normally a bitterly cold rain for Halloween.

And part of my indignation is the blatant over-sexing of my daughters. They can express themselves and their beauty without showing half a butt cheek. I'm not a purity fanatic, but a little modesty is helpful. Or a sense that we can get attention as women without being scantily clad.

At least, I think we can. Then I remember reality. It is actually hard to get attention unless you pull the drama queen act, or the sickly take care of me role, or the big boobs and short skirt schtick.

I know showing respect for women has come a long way. I've noticed huge changes in the way female pastors are treated. And then I walk into a room and get ignored, dismissed or shunned and I remember. . . I should have worn my Wonder Woman costume.