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That's my daughter, the slutty pirate

What in the world has happened to Halloween costumes?

I don’t see the tin man and the scarecrow anymore, all I see are sluts and axe murdering zombies.

Where have all the fun costumes gone? Why is it just sexy or killers?

I need to rant – maybe I’m showing my age, but I feel like an old man in a rocking chair, shaking my fist at Halloween this year.

Halloween is a chance to dress up and be someone else. I realize zombies and the walking dead are hot right now, but where is all the fun of Halloween?

When I was a kid and still now as an adult, I never went for scary. I always went for funny. I wanted to make people laugh with my outrageous outfit. From Fat Elvis to Mrs. Doubtfire and Dog the Bounty Hunter, I want people to look at my costume and laugh - that is what Halloween is to me.

I realize this is my own opinion, but in the realm of families and Halloween costumes, let’s point and laugh, not point and scold!

Why are my daughter’s choices for Halloween costumes littered with over sexualized options?

Why do boys outfits usually consist of dressing up as someone that fights and kills people?

This week we were shopping in the “kids” section at a local Halloween outlet store, and my family found it terrifying: the prices for me and the ‘creepy death’ everywhere for my children.

Hey, costume makers – what the &%^$ is wrong with you? Do you people have children?

Do we really need to make Disney princesses more sexy? My daughter doesn’t need ‘pretend’ garters on ANYTHING she wears, ever. We don’t need a pink and white striped prison outfit with fishnet stockings and pink handcuffs for “Miss Behavin’!” – in KIDS SIZES!

And also, while you are at it, we don’t need machete swords with “real” blood oozing out and real knives to ‘accentuate’ your costume.

I know boys will be boys but since when did our boys want to kill or slice everyone up? When you see a Texas chainsaw massacre “Leatherface” mask in a kids size, that is a problem.

It seems kids want to dress up as characters in movies they should never be allowed to watch. I must admit I do remember a sleepover with four other 11-year-old boys. We rented four of the scariest movies ever! We met Jason, Freddy, Michael Myers, and some killer clowns in a funhouse all in one night. It was a horrible idea, no one slept, and I still hate clowns (but who doesn’t), but I digress.

What we need is more Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Little Red Riding Hood (and not the slutty one either).

Menarche is getting earlier and earlier (Google it boys). We can’t really control that. (Or can we?) Our children are growing up but what we can definitely control is what our adorable little boys and girls wear around our streets when they are begging for candy. Say no to “Snooki” and the Jersey Shore, and hello to old friends Waldo and Popeye.

Don’t be afraid to say no to the sluts and killers. “I don’t care if that is what Madison is wearing!” You need to present other options and their benefits. Make your own fun wholesome costumes that let your children be someone they are not. Keep Halloween fun and light, not macabre and trampy.

If you don’t stop it here, then what’s next? Instead of bouncy castles and magicians, is your child going to ask for a “Pimp and Ho” birthday party?

Be strong and go with your gut!

Until next time!

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.



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About the Author

Jeff Hay is a Kelowna-based writer, motivational speaker, parenting coach, and father of four.

Along with writing for Castanet, Jeff also writes for the Huffington Post, the Good Men Project, and the National Fatherhood Initiative in the United States. 

When he is not playing his favourite role of 'DAD', Jeff speaks throughout Canada as a popular parenting educator, working on his website – www.thedadvibe.com, and writing his parenting book for dads, “Wait Till Your Father Gets Home!

Jeff dedicates his life to improving the well-being of children by increasing the proportion of children growing up with involved, responsible, and committed fathers.

E-mail Jeff your thoughts or questions anytime at [email protected]

 



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The views expressed are strictly those of the author and not necessarily those of Castanet. Castanet does not warrant the contents.

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