Growing up my family didn’t really do Halloween. It just wasn’t a thing for us. We never dressed up or went trick or treating. We lived way out in the country so we didn’t really have kids come by our house for candy, and our church growing up was pretty anti-Halloween. So as a child Halloween just didn’t mean much. And, I never felt like I missed out or anything. I just didn’t think much of it … up until I met my husband.
The first year we were dating, my husband started talking about Halloween and costumes in June. June! At first, I thought he was joking. I mean, what grown man dressed up and still looked forward to Halloween? But he was definitely not joking, and he most definitely expected me to dress up with him.
He was so excited about planning his costume, and he earnestly wanted me to be excited right along with him. So I played along as best as I could. Dressing up was foreign to me, and I didn’t understand the novelty of spending money on a costume I’d probably never wear again.
My costume that year consisted of a sparkly dress I already owned and a random black wig. I was planning to go out as a generic movie star, and I really thought that I was going above and beyond what was expected. I quickly learned that being a generic movie star wasn’t cutting it in his book.
My boyfriend (now my husband) was completely decked out from head to toe in a ninja costume, complete with swords and flying ninja stars. When he came to pick me up to go trick or treating with a bag in hand (we were the chaperones to my younger siblings, but he definitely brought his own candy bag), I knew I was stepping into unknown territory.
Halloween was Tim’s favorite holiday, and I needed to up my game if I was going to be a good girlfriend and future spouse.
It’s been six years since that first Halloween together, and I can honestly say my Halloween game has definitely improved. I have somehow managed each year to do a little bit better than the previous year with my costumes. That even includes being pregnant one of those years, and a month postpartum another year.
Each year our business throws a huge Trunk or Treat and Halloween party for the community. Our entire staff dresses up, and it is by far one of the biggest highlights of the year for our members and our team. Every year our staff picks a theme and we all dress in character with the theme. It’s something we look forward to all year long.
But you know what really makes Halloween something I look forward to every year?
Watching how excited my kids get about it. They definitely got the Halloween bug from their daddy. My son has been asking about costumes since mid-summer. He’s been planning what the whole family will wear, and every day he asks if its almost time to dress up for Halloween.
I love his excitement and wonder. I love watching his eyes light up when he’s helping me decorate. I enjoy watching both of my babies plan their costumes out with their daddy, and how much they bond over a favorite holiday. It brings me joy to listen to my husband plan our trick or treating route, or talk about the annual Halloween party with excited anticipation. I also love how Halloween is the opening mark for the rest of my favorite holidays.
If it wasn’t for my husband, I wouldn’t think twice about Halloween. But he has introduced me to the pure fun of dressing up, of watching horror movies together while snuggled in bed, of trick or treating with friends and family, and of partying hard while dressed as our favorite characters.
I get it now. I get the magic, the wonder, the excitement that surrounds this fun holiday. And this year I’m just as excited for Halloween as the kids are.
