What do you do if they change their mind? - Halloween costume

coasterqueen wrote: Kylie, a few months ago, said she wanted to be a witch for Halloween. So when we saw a bat costume at the consignment shop for $4 I grabbed it thinking it looked similar to a witch costume but I'd have to make some adjustments, no problem. I also had bought her a witch broom, but never got around to buying her a hat and shoes because she has no black shoes.

THEN she changed her mind weeks later, after seeing an Indian girl costume at Old Navy. She convinced me to buy it and said her and sissy were going to be Indian girls so I bought Megan one too, even though I had a black cat costume at home for Megan.

NOW, Friday morning as I was getting out of the shower she said "mommy, I'm going to be a witch for Halloween". I, in shock, proceeded to tell her she was going to be an Indian girl because that's what she said she wanted to be. She whined and whimpered and made me feel like poo all weekend about it. I did not have time to alter the bat costume to make it look like a witch dress and no money or time to get shoes and a hat.

I felt like scum though. SO what did I do today before taking Megan to the doc, I took off of work to go find her a CHEAPY witch costume, hat, and cheapy black shoes. Now I'm asking myself why I did that?

Would you do that if your child changes their mind? Or have you? I'm starting to think I should have made her stick to her other costume. Of course when I dropped Megan back off at Terri's she saw the costume, so she knows about it.

Kaitlin'smom replied: Kaitlin changed her mind MANY times before we bougth one. When she saw the Sleeping beautie costume and she said she wanted to go as that I said thats fine but if you change your mind I will not buy another costume. She did try a couple time to change her mind and I told her mommy already bought you a costume. She understood but did try a couple times to change her mind. I wont buy a costume with out her there, that way the talk is upfront, if you pick this this is what you will be or you dont go kind of thing it works best for us like that.

in answer to you question, no I probably would not buy another she can either wear what we bought or something she has in her closet.

TheOaf66 replied: personally I would not have, because she played you...now she thinks all she has to do is wimper a little bit and she will get her way. You have to stick to something once you say it especially if it involves money.

Simplebeliever replied: My child isn't old enough to pull this kind of thing yet, but I hear about it all the time.

My is this:
You actually had 2 costumes set up for each child. Megan could be either a black cat or an Indian girl and Kylie could be a witch, bat(?), or an Indian girl. Since they have different costumes to choose from, I'd keep those as their only choices UNLESS they can some how whip up whatever the heck they want on THEIR own.

I definately wouldn't feel too bad about making them stick to those choices. I'm sure as soon as their trick or treat bags start filling up with goodies, they'll forget all about what they could have been instead.

mom21kid2dogs replied: Olivia always changes her mind, too! She can wear her original costume or whatever she digs out of the dress up box~her choice. Because of her propensity to change her mind, I only buy very cheap (generally second hand) costumes. If I ever did lay out any big amount of cash for something she'd just have to wear it and be unhappy.

She was going to be a fairy all of October until last week (we had a fairy dress in the dress up box already~my only investment was a .99 pair of wings at the VOA). She ended up going as a bride~ dress already in the dress up box. Maybe this is why when we were kids we NEVER owned a store bought costume. We always made it up from stuff we already had. Guess my mom wasn't so dumb after all!

coasterqueen replied:
Thank you for answering what you would have or did. I already know she "played" me. I was just curious if other parents have ever done anything like that. I'm sure we've all been "played" before. That was not my question .

Kaitlin'smom replied: ps while I would not I bet my DH would or gramy and grampy

coasterqueen replied: Thanks everyone. I always told her since buying the Indian costume that if she changed her mind again she'd have to wear the "bat" costume as a witch one. So she knew that and she only changed her mind back to her original one. She was "allowed" to do that. I just wish I could have altered the costume to make it look how I pictured it would look. I only bought the extra one just in case, I know, push over, but it was only $3.00 on clearance so even if I don't give it to her now I could give it to her later as dress up clothes or give it to the sitter who keeps a trunk full of dress up clothes. The hat was not a big deal to buy this late in the game considering it was 50 cents. But yes, next time I think I'll make her stick to one with no other option. The good thing is I can take back the Indian costume if she's not going to wear that. That costume I paid $20 for.

Kaitlin'smom replied: I do understand what you mean, you bought one you thougth would work and in the end does not, nothing wrong with trying to fix your mistake. Glad you can take back the other one.

coasterqueen replied:
See Dh wouldn't. Not sure what my parents would do. I guess maybe it's because she just isn't getting the attention she deserves lately with Megan being so needy and clingy that I felt bad, you know.

MommyToAshley replied: Ashley changed her mind several times before we actually bought the costume. I was trying to talk her into buying a Dorothy costume, but she wanted to be Stephanie... and I told her once she bought it, that was it.

Well, last weekend we were going to Nick or Treat at Kings Island and it was chilly. So, I bought her a cheap poodle costume because it was warm and had a hood. She loved it, and has gone back and forth between Stephanie and the Poodle. I think she has worn each one about 4 times already between the different events and parties we've gone to.

She knows that it depends on the weather as to which one she wears for Trick or Treating... and I think she is fine with that. I think she is fine with it because she has had the opportunity to wear both costumes. So, maybe you could let Kylie be a witch at daycare and then an Indian for Trick or Treating... just a thought.

Oh, and to answer your question... If it hadn't been for the weather, I wouldn't have bought Ashley another costume because she decided on that one up front and knew I wasn't going to buy another one. I probably wouldn't budge on that, but I have been known to cave on other things. I think is called being a Mom, we all do it from time to time. Don't beat yourself up over it ... have a fun Halloween!

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Oh my gosh, Karen! Don't feel guilty. I would have probably done the same thing. I think one year Maddie had 3 costumes to choose from. We want our kids to be cute and we want them to be happy. So, she has a couple of things to choose from now and she will be both cute and happy with whatever she ends up wearing. Halloween is all about dressing up anyway. And it sounds like you got a great deal on the costumes so no harm done to the checking acct.

Do you think she will be able to wear either of them next year?

Oh and if it makes you feel better, I spent all morning looking for some pajamas for Maddie to wear to school tomorrow for "pajama day" I ended up spending way too much money on these stoopid pj's. But, she doesn't really wear pajamas (she mostly wears t-shirts) so that's how I justified it...I don't have to buy them real often.

It's amazing what we do for our kids. I can't wait to hear what Kylie and Megan wear and see pics.

Kirstenmumof3 replied: I wouldn't say what you did was wrong, at this age they are so unpredictable. Claudia told us she was going to be a Doctor for Halloween, so while in Toronto I bought the Doctors scrubs and when we got home I went to Walmart and got a cheap Doctor Kit. Then she decided when we were looking for costumes for the older kids that she was going to be a lady bug. So we caved and bought it for her. Then on Thursday at her School's Halloween Party we realized that there was no way she would be able to wear this out trick or treating, so while in Duluth I bought her a Pink Poodle Costume, it's one of those zippered plushy ones. So she's happy! Emily has been easy for the past 10 years she has been a witch. Spencer is the one that changes his mind at the last minute, so we've learned to go with the flow!

Boo&BugsMom replied: Nope, there is no changing when something is already bought. Not in this house. If that was his choice, then he has to live with that choice, just like anything else in life. Actually, Tanner has never tried that with us. I think he knows not to even bother. Once a choice has been made, it is stuck to, and that goes for other things too, not just costumes.

My3LilMonkeys replied: I probably would have let her switch to the bat-turned-into-witch costume, since you already had it. But had she asked to switch to, say, a pumpkin, I would have said no, I'm not buying another costume.

I'm lucky that so far Brooke has a one track mind - EVERYTHING is Spongebob so I know she won't be changing her mind.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: Nope... too bad so sad, usually.

But I mean for 3$... I would have bought it too.

mckayleesmom replied: If I had the extra money and it was a relatively cheap costume....yes I would let her change...If I didn't and she wanted to change...I would simply tell her that she can keep that costume in mind for next year.


Just think of it this way.....They can probably wear the opposite costumes next year.

C&K*s Mommie replied: Yes, and no. If it was a steal like you were able to get them for, yes. No harm in that.

If I paid alot of money for the first costume, and any others would be just as much I would basically say what Rocky said. Too bad, so sad. And they would have to stick with what they originally got, or not go at all.

coasterqueen replied: Thanks everyone. Fortunately I believe I will be able to take the Indian costume back, which gives me my $15 + tax back meaning I come out a few dollars ahead after returning that one and buying the other one.

We were only able to get a size in the Indian costume that would only fit her this year so I don't want to save it for next year. So I think that's what I'm going to do, return it.

3_call_me_mama replied: I'm late in teh reply.. but wanted to tell you that you are not alone! Last yar Cameorn wanted to be a dinosaur, and my mom bought him one. Then a wek or less before halloween, he decided that he wanted to be a boy witch instead (as he saw me making kathleen's witch costume!) SO i did give in and made him aboy witch costume. It cost me a littel more $ and more time but i knew at least he would be happy and cooperative on halloween night with the wizard one. And he ended up still fitting in teh dinosaur this year. They are only small once and if you can make their day witha last minute change of mind,,then go for it!!!

JanetH replied: well my boys really don't care. They just like dressing up. However if they did that, then they would be wearing the costume they already have. I wouldn't have bought them another costume and if they acted up because of it I would have told them either you can wear the costume you have or you won't even dress us and go at all.