5 Things Every Mom Should Do for Herself this Halloween

I’m basic.

Yep, I’m one of those girls that people make fun of who starts rockin’ her Ugg boots and long sweater around mid-August, or the first time I hear Dunkin’ donuts mention the word pumpkin.

I am a fall-lovin’ Mom.

I love everything about the season — the clothes, the cooler air, the soup recipes, and of course, when my kids go back to school.

While my friends that are true girls of summer always rag on me, I think there is one part of fall that we can all agree is awesome…

That’s Halloween.

Like all areas of life, moms get lost in the Halloween shuffle. But, don’t let yourself lose out this Halloween! Make it a family affair!

Don’t Make Your Kid’s Costume

I have one mom friend that makes her kids costume’s every year. Every. Single. Year.

I love her, and she is a crafty, talented and hard-driving mom in all areas of motherhood, but she is nuts. Why do you have to make your child’s Halloween costume? Why?

Take the kids down to Target or check out Amazon and get it done! Don’t weigh yourself down by taking on a tedious amount of shopping, stitching and sewing of something you can probably find cheaper online. And hey, there’s always Etsy should they want homemade!

Go to Your Friend’s Halloween Party (Without the Kids)

Does your work bestie always invite you to her kick ass Halloween party, but you always find an excuse to skip? Well, don’t do that this year!

Hire a sitter and drag your partner to that dang party this year! Even if the party is on Halloween night, make it work. Take the kids out trick-or-treating early or to other area events leading up to the big day, and give yourself the rest of the night off.

Halloween parties are so much fun! Plus, you don’t want to be the only one at work the next day that didn’t go, do you?

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Get Dolled Up

The other night, I put on a long black wig and watched a Youtube video on how to do my makeup to look like Morticia Addams. I found a black dress out of the back of my closet, and came downstairs to show my husband and two kids. The kids didn’t really know what to think, but my husband praised my new look.

Halloween is the perfect time for moms to try out something new. Maybe Morticia isn’t a look you want to rock all-year long, but why not try on that blonde wig you saw at Spirit Halloween? Think outside of the box and experiment with new looks! You just might find something you love that you can carry over into the off season.

Buy Candy You Enjoy

Do you remember the bowl of candy your mom had posted by the door for all of the little girls and boys? What was in it? Was it Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups or Hershey Kisses? Or was it something odd?

If your mom was like mine, it took you years to figure out that she just bought candy that she liked. Now I know she did that in case we didn’t get any trick-or-treaters and so she didn’t have to rifle through our loot to find the candy she liked.

Smart move, Mom! Smart. Move.

Get Your Kids Excited About It

One of my favorite things to do leading up to Halloween, is to watch all of my favorite childhood movies related to the holiday with my kids. This is something I’ve done since they were babies. Now I have two kids that can sing every song from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and request “Hocus Pocus” loot for Christmas.

If Halloween is your jam, show that side of yourself to your kids! Half of the fun is watching them get excited for the big day. I often equate watching my kids go trick-or-treating as happy of a parenting moment as watching them open gifts on Christmas morning.

There is just something special about sharing a holiday you love as a family. But, it is also okay to be a little selfish on this super fun holiday. For a holiday that celebrates being something different, it is okay for moms to enjoy a little bit of that for themselves.

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This post was previously published on medium.com.

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