Monkey doesn’t like Halloween. He never has. He tolerated costumes long enough for photos when he was younger but he would never go door to door. Now that he’s older, he doesn’t even tolerate the costume. Somehow his teacher convinced him to dress up last year and she sent us a photo of that event but he wouldn’t wear it at home, not even to pass out candy.
Last night, I made Monkey cry. I coerced him into wearing the costume I picked out this year despite his repeated declarations that he didn’t want one. I finagled him into that costume, had him look in the mirror and then helped the poor crying boy out of it. What is wrong with me? Why can’t I just stop this? I felt, and still feel, like an utter asshole for forcing such a non-issue.
Honestly, who cares if he doesn’t want to dress up for Halloween? Who cares if he never runs down the sidewalk while Duhdee and I stroll behind greeting all the other parents out and about on Halloween? Who cares if he’ll never go door to door with a pack of kids when he’s older?
Me, it turns out. Sometimes I hate Fragile X and what it’s done to even the smallest, pointless dreams I had…
I hear ya.
You are not an asshole for trying it. We all want the things we thought were going to happen when we had kids. We have all done something that we just hoped would turn out okay and in hindsight shouldn’t have mattered, only it does. It matters all too much sometimes and we are allowed to make mistakes along the way. Also, sometimes we dismiss things thinking there is no way our kids will ever enjoy them, to only be incredibly surprised when things go smoothly. If you want to put that damn costume on him every year because you feel you need to, then do it. You are a great mom, give yourself some slack. My daughter hated Halloween for years, then she liked it as an idea, to only become upset because of the strangers and having to go to the door. Now, she doesn’t even want me around for it. You just never know. Oh yeah…I hate Fragile X too!!