SPOOKY FRUIT

Author’s note: This essay was written last year (October 2018) and originally posted on my dawning—and now defunct—mom blog, Sunray Mommy.

I wanted my son to be a dolphin for his first Halloween, my husband wanted him to be an Avenger, but somehow he ended up a pineapple.

This is our story.

It all began during an innocent trip to Winners. My husband and I have been obsessed with their baby section, ever since we found out I was pregnant. We love perusing the aisles of cute baby clothes, enticing toys, and enchanting childcare items we’ll probably never have a use for.

One fateful fall day, we stumbled upon the Halloween costume section. Oh behold! The wonders of kids’ cosplay and make-believe… so mesmerizing. The colours, the shapes, the animal hats. Welcome to Adorable Land.

With great restraint, and some mystic feat of magic, we left that day without any costumes in hand. But images of little lions, baby sharks, and precious penguins swam around in our heads…. What would our 10 month-old son dress up as for his FIRST HALLOWEEN???

The pressure was on.

My husband is a comic book and superhero enthusiast, so he naturally wanted our son to be a Marvel character, ideally an Avenger. However, my love of marine life and everything aquatic persuaded me towards a sea creature—specifically, the dolphin variety. And considering that our son’s nursery and shower theme was “Underwater Ocean Paradise,” it fit perfectly.

“Maybe he could be Aquaman then?” My husband mused, trying to incorporate both our visions… while brilliantly still getting his way to dress our son as a comic book character.

“No, he’s going to be a dolphin.” I was not swayed by his tactics.

Without a compromise in sight, we were doomed to fate’s decision and destiny’s choice. The Universe would choose…. Well, not exactly.

My husband came home one evening, brandishing a shopping bag and a sheepish smile. “Don’t be mad,” he said.

“Uh oh, what have you done?” I eyed the Winners bag in his hand, suspiciously.

“Just trust me, ok?” He looked so sincere I couldn’t help but comply. He reached down into the bag and pulled out a BABY PINEAPPLE costume.

It had a plushy, yellow bodice with a spiky, green pineapple crown hood. The costume came complete with matching green and white striped tights. Yes, green and white striped tights!

The costume was the CUTEST thing ever. I instantly pictured my son wearing it, looking sweet and delicious. I decided that I could sacrifice my aquatic mammal dreams this year, for a fruity tropical delicacy.

“I’m sorry, I just couldn’t help myself,” my husband said. “It’s so cute. But, I can return it if you want.”

“No, it’s adorable,” I agreed. “Good choice.”

And that’s how our son ended up a pineapple for his first Halloween.

I’m vigilantly monitoring the costume to ensure my husband doesn’t sneak on a cape, while debating whether or not I should add a fin….

However, all hope for a marine life costume is not lost. I already have my sights set on a supreme winner for next year. It’s adorable and aquatic: a NARWHAL, aka The Unicorn of the Sea!

But for now, we’re trying to convince my brother to dress up my newborn nephew as a coconut this year, so my fruity son and his baby cousin can be a pina colada.

Update: this year, Halloween 2019, my son is dressing up as a cute, furry…. SLOTH! Again, daddy went rogue and picked the costume. 🙂