When Childhood Manipulation Goes Wrong

It feels like fall is right around the corner.

Our weather has been strange lately. We went from temps in the nineties and hundreds to suddenly dropping into the sixties and seventies. While the break from the intense heat was lovely, I am more of an eighty-degree girl. I like my summers slightly hot, where shorts and tank tops are customary and we don't get too cold at night. This strange shift has confused a lot of things, not just me.

The leaves are starting to turn slightly already, have you noticed that? It's mid-August, for crying out loud! But it really feels like fall is coming soon. And when the first signs of fall arrive, my brain starts going in fall-and-winter directions.

I love Halloween. I love dressing up the kids, and I love themes. Some of you long time blog followers will remember that last year, Emma was Tinkerbell, Ben was Captain Hook and Grant was Peter Pan. The year before, Emma was Snow White and the twins were Dwarfs. I am thinking that this year is the last year I will be able to get away with a family theme, as the twins are getting older and will not be so easily swayed next year. I knew what I wanted, it was just a matter of getting everything lined up just so so that the kids would want it too, and most importantly, think that it was their idea. I want a Wizard of Oz theme this year.

Part one of my plan was put into action this week. Emma was very sad to realize that her fancy, sparkly dress shoes from last year are too small and need to go to other kids. Perfect timing. I got a copy of the movie from my Mom (who I think got it from my Auntie Helen, thank you, Auntie Helen!) and let the kids watch it. Emma was enthralled, as I expected her to be. She was talking about Dorothy and Toto and being able to sing like her, and I casually mentioned the ruby slippers. "Mommy, they are beautiful! Can I have some like them someday?"

And the trap is set.

"You know sweetie, if you wanted, you could be Dorothy for Halloween, and then you would get to wear ruby slippers just like her."

"YEAH!!!!! Mommy, I want to be her for Halloween! Please, Mommy, can I, can I?" (Insert big, brown, pleading eyes here.)

"Sure, Emms, if you want to, you could. But who would be the tin man?"

"Grant could! Hey Grant, do you want to be the tin man?"

Grant, who gets excited about everything, "Yeah!" And on and on.

That's game, folks.

Did I mention that I always make the kids' costumes? Now I am on the hunt for ruby slippers (Target) and some silvery-type fabric. Ben has not yet decided if he wants to be the scarecrow or the lion, and Drew will either be the one that Ben does not choose or Toto, I haven't decided yet. But the idea is decided upon, and there is no going back now.

Or so I thought.

This morning, I was on the phone with Holly and I was telling her about the Halloween plan. Grant ran over, so I asked him, "Grant, what are you going to be for Halloween?" He responded, "the witch!"

Drat.

My two and a half year old son has decided that it would be sooooo much better to be Glenda, the Good Witch of the North. Because she's pretty, and she wears orange.

Time for plan B.