Close Menu
    What's Hot

    Visit Syracuse Encourages Locals to Discover Nearby ‘Simple Wonders’

    May 30, 2025

    Summer Activities Guide

    May 30, 2025

    Graduation Gifts the Class of 2025 Will Love

    May 29, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • How to Develop ‘Momfidence’
    • Helping Your Child Cope with Seasonal Allergies
    • College Savings 101
    • Fostering Healthy Sibling Relationships
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    Family Times Family Times
    • Community Guide
    • CNY Events Calendar
    • Things to Do in CNY
      1. Activities
      2. Treat Yourself
      Featured

      Visit Syracuse Encourages Locals to Discover Nearby ‘Simple Wonders’

      By Courtney KlessMay 30, 20250
      Recent

      Visit Syracuse Encourages Locals to Discover Nearby ‘Simple Wonders’

      May 30, 2025

      Treat Yourself: Mark your calendar for Disney’s “The Lion King”—and the other Broadway shows coming to Syracuse in 2025

      November 26, 2024

      Ride the Rails: Scenic Train Rides for Families

      October 1, 2024
    • Parenting
      1. Pregnancy
      2. Babies
      3. Kids
      4. Preschoolers/Toddlers
      5. Special Needs
      6. Teens
      7. Pets
      8. View All

      The Power to Save a Life: Cord blood is being used to treat more than 80 diseases

      January 30, 2020

      It’s Not What It Looks Like: Reflections on motherhood’s changes, outside and inside

      July 29, 2019

      In Search of Sleep: 8 Strategies for coping with wakeful babies

      July 29, 2019

      A Surgical Birth: Many pregnant women are likely to deliver by cesarean

      July 29, 2019

      Strangers Bearing Advice: New babies bring out the expert in everyone

      August 1, 2021

      Hand to Mouth: How to help babies start to sample solid food

      August 1, 2020

      315 Bulletin

      August 1, 2020

      Name, Please? Expectant parents face another momentous decision

      August 1, 2020

      Prep Work: Keep your family’s food safe this summer

      June 1, 2022

      A Blooming Craft: These homemade flowers make a great centerpiece

      March 1, 2021

      Rainbow Snowflakes: A colorful craft even little ones can make

      November 24, 2020

      DIY Critter Magnets: Make cute clips for hanging reminders and more

      September 1, 2020

      DIY Critter Magnets: Make cute clips for hanging reminders and more

      September 1, 2020

      Allergy Adjustments: Parents can support their food allergic child

      September 3, 2019

      Calming Commotion: How to deal with car sickness and more

      June 27, 2019

      Introducing Riff Rockit: Kindie artist to play jingles at Leon Fest

      June 1, 2017

      What Is ABA Therapy for Autism? How To Find a Provider for Your Child 

      September 9, 2024

      A History of Inclusion: The Jowonio School marked 50 years in 2019

      March 30, 2020

      Reaching a Milestone: Now the largest chapter in the country, Special Olympics New York is celebrating 50 years

      March 30, 2020

      Come Out and Play: Move Along offers adaptive sports for youth, adults

      March 30, 2020

      Freedom on Wheels: How E-Scooters Empower Teens and Support Family Routines

      November 4, 2024

      Prep Work: Keep your family’s food safe this summer

      June 1, 2022

      A Little Jolt: Caffeine’s risks for kids and teens

      March 1, 2021

      A Blooming Craft: These homemade flowers make a great centerpiece

      March 1, 2021

      Is Puppy Financing Right For Your Family? Pros And Cons Explored

      April 22, 2024

      Furry Friends: What it takes to adopt a pet for the first time

      July 1, 2020

      Tail Wagging Fun: Lights on the Lake Dog Walk 2019

      November 14, 2019

      Uncommon Companions: Local pet store sticks to its niche

      May 30, 2019

      Helping Your Child Cope with Seasonal Allergies

      April 29, 2025

      College Savings 101

      April 29, 2025

      Fostering Healthy Sibling Relationships

      March 28, 2025

      How to Find the Right Summer Sitter

      March 28, 2025
    • Education
      1. Educator of the Month
      2. Class of the Month
      3. Education News
      4. Reading
      5. Teaching
      Featured

      Angelene Guglielmo, Film Program Instructor, Le Moyne College Summer Arts Institute

      By Courtney KlessMay 29, 20250
      Recent

      Angelene Guglielmo, Film Program Instructor, Le Moyne College Summer Arts Institute

      May 29, 2025

      Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways

      April 29, 2025

      Tom Meier, Program Manager and Camp Director at Baltimore Woods Nature Center

      March 28, 2025
    • Crafts & DIY
      • Create
      • Holiday Crafts
    Family Times Family Times
    Home»Parenting»First Person»Belles of the Ball: A mom gets out what she puts into Halloween costumes
    First Person

    Belles of the Ball: A mom gets out what she puts into Halloween costumes

    Deborah CavanaghBy Deborah CavanaghOctober 1, 2015Updated:April 24, 2019No Comments5 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Like it was yesterday, I recall pulling out the hand-me-down bunny costume from Amanda’s older cousin Donna. Pink and white, with little fluffy tail and foam head piece, I had saved it in the guest room closet just in case I had a baby girl who could wear it someday.

    We are all guilty. Dressing our babies in cute but ridiculous costumes and walking around the neighborhood gathering candy they cannot eat but we can. You hit a few houses. Everyone oohs and aahs over your cutie patooties and you go home with a stash of treats.

    Then the cutie patooties get older. They want the candy for themselves. They do not want you going door to door with them. And they want to choose their own costumes.

    You can see from old Halloween night pictures exactly when my influence on my son, Jason, ended. He went from Bob the Builder and Thomas the Train (my choices) to super heroes and then quickly to every variation of Death Harbinger possible. I am pretty sure he has exhausted that theme. The Grim Reaper, The Dark Messenger, The Scary Skeleton, Scream with Dripping Blood. All horrifying, which is precisely the point.

    My daughter, Amanda, on the other hand, is a whole different story. From the moment she was able to voice her opinion on the costume situation, she has been very specific—and impossible. She always chooses a character from her movie or play obsession of the season. But it is never something I can purchase off a rack or online.

    Her first self-chosen costume was Belle from Beauty and the Beast. “Easy!” You say. But she didn’t want to be the Belle that you could buy at every Disney Store and Target nationwide, the gold hoochie mama costume all girls have. She wanted to be the Belle who walks through town with the blue dress, apron, basket and book.

    “Just tell her to wear the Hoochie Mama Belle costume,” you say. But, you see, we spent the first two years of her life in and out of the hospital, missing most holidays. When she looked at me with those big brown eyes and said, “No, Mama, not that one, the blue one with the book!” I couldn’t help myself.

    That was almost 15 years ago. eBay was still kind of new, Pinterest didn’t exist and I didn’t sew. Now you feel my dilemma.

    Like Blanche DuBois from A Streetcar Named Desire, I have always relied on the kindness of strangers. So, when Betty, a sweet lady from our church, asked me what Amanda wanted to be for Halloween, I launched into my tale of woe.

    Wouldn’t you know, she was a seamstress, one of those people who doesn’t even need a pattern. It was like a Halloween miracle. She took an old nightgown that Amanda had with a picture of Belle and Chip on the front. She sent me to a fabric store to pick out the dress material and to Target to pick out a white peter pan-collared blouse and basket. Within a week Amanda had the blue dress and apron complete with Belle and Chip applique, blue bow for her hair, and basket with book to walk into town.

    She loved that costume. Not only did she wear it on Halloween, she wore it every time she watched Beauty and the Beast for the next two years. At Disneyland, Belle herself came up to Amanda and said, “I have never seen anyone wearing my blue dress before!” It was perfect.

    With this kind of validation, how could I not support her annual Halloween fantasy? Since Belle, she has been Tracy Turnblad from Hairspray, Elle from Legally Blonde, Sophie from Mamma Mia!, Sharpay from High School Musical , Snow White from Mirror Mirror, Giselle from Enchanted, Wendy from Peter Pan and so many other nontraditional costumes.

    Each is very specific in its detail. Tracy must have the sparkly dress from the contest. Sophie must be wearing the peasant shirt and cutoff shorts. Snow White must have the big, orange bow on the back of her dress from the ball. Wendy must be in the blue nightgown.

    I have become a loyal patron of Dougherty’s Masquerade in Syracuse, where owner Denise Dougherty Vinal has helped with wigs, costume pieces and accessories, no matter how challenging my request may be.

    I drag my mom into the yearly project, as unfortunately Betty is no longer local, and I still cannot sew. I scour patterns at Jo-Ann Fabric and drive ladies at the counter crazy with questions. I research on eBay and Pinterest looking for easy ideas, or when needed, cost-effective solutions.

    When Amanda pulls her costume over her head, puts on her wig, and steps out of her bedroom, she is that character. And I, with that kindness and help, get to be the creator of magic.

    So when she stands at the top of the stairs and says, “Mom, look!” I see before me not Amanda but Wendy from Peter Pan, or Giselle from Enchanted. It brings a smile to both our faces. That makes all the glue gun-burned fingers, ripped-out-in-frustration seams, crazy-random-item shopping, and effort worthwhile. That, of course, and the fact that she will still share her candy.

    feature featured
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
    Deborah Cavanagh

    Related Posts

    Helping Your Child Cope with Seasonal Allergies

    April 29, 2025

    College Savings 101

    April 29, 2025

    Fostering Healthy Sibling Relationships

    March 28, 2025
    Flip Through Our Latest Issue!
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    Top Posts

    2025 Summer Camp Guide

    April 1, 2025807 Views

    DIY: Make your own vibrant, paper fans in only a few easy steps

    July 1, 2020541 Views

    Host a Kid-Friendly Friendsgiving Party

    November 1, 2024409 Views

    Baby Swim Classes in CNY

    August 1, 2024376 Views

    Family Times Magazine publishes a digital magazine highlighting events, businesses, and content to inform and entertain families here in Central New York. Sign up for our twice monthly newsletter to have the magazine and other featured content.
    ____

    Email Us:
    [email protected]
    Publisher:
    [email protected]
    Contact: 1.315.422.7011

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram LinkedIn RSS
    Our Picks

    Fall Activities Guide

    October 1, 2024
    Most Popular

    2025 Summer Camp Guide

    April 1, 2025807 Views

    DIY: Make your own vibrant, paper fans in only a few easy steps

    July 1, 2020541 Views

    Host a Kid-Friendly Friendsgiving Party

    November 1, 2024409 Views
    © 2025 Family Times, CNY. Designed by Crossroads Marketing.
    • Our Authors
    • Archives
    • Things to do around Syracuse and CNY: Local Events Calendar
    • Advertising

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.