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What He's Gonna Be

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With Halloween fast approaching, I told my kids they needed to narrow down their list of possible costumes, and pick something. Would it be Pokemon, Digimon, or Harry Potter? Or would they go for something more traditional--ghost, vampire, or monster?

We headed to the store, and my boys were faced with rows and rows of costumes. I wondered how they'd ever be able to choose. Then we saw them--Phantom Menace costumes. Most likely leftovers from last year, there were several Anakin's (either the podracer or the padawan), some Obi-Wan's, a couple of Qui-Gon Jinn's, even a Queen Amidala. But it was the Darth Maul mask that caught my oldest son's eye.

"I wanna be Darth Maul!" he said, excitement filling his voice. He turned to me, "Oh, please, Mom! Can I be Darth Maul, please?"

I glanced at the price tag with a quick intake of breath. Even at 33 percent off, it was rather pricey. I looked down at his expectant face, fully planning to tell him we needed to find something a little more economical. Instead, I heard myself tell him, "Would you be willing to give up your allowance for the rest of the year to help pay for this costume?"

He readily agreed. When I was fairly sure he understood the ramifications of what he was relinquishing, I let him off the hook. "Since it means that much to you, I'll get it for you, and you can keep your allowance."

"Thanks, Mom! You're the best!" he enthused.

I felt pretty good, too. I'm not a parent who easily gives in to her children's whims. I've been heard to say, on more than one occasion, "This is a looking trip. Not a buying trip."

But when it is a buying trip, it's nice to be able to let the kids have a say. It's hard to describe the innate pleasure a parent feels at seeing the pride and excitement shining in his or her child's eyes when the child is rewarded with something he or she holds dear. You just feel all warm and gooey inside.

The warmth fades a little when he tells me that he also needs the double-bladed light saber to make the costume complete. But I agree, and I get it for him.

All the while, we were both trying to convince his little brother to get a Star Wars costume as well. We asked him if he wanted to be Darth Vader, since we had that costume at home, but he said no. Then we showed him all the Phantom Menace costumes. He said no again.

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