Haunting Success

(insert creepy, spooky music, with witch cackles here)

Need a new way to get into the Halloween spirit? Invite the inner goblin in your children to surface and haunt your halls? I have an easy solution. One that you probably have on your list to complete before the Christmas holiday season anyway. It may cost you a little money, but the ghoulish results are, indeed, a guarantee.

Schedule a family picture session.

"No way," you're thinking to yourself, "family pictures are filled with smiles and family togetherness, fresh faces and cutesy props. There's no creepiness there."

Yet, you've forgotten the bewitching hour before the pictures are actually taken. Therein lies your haunting success. Your otherwise rational and cheerful children will be transformed into things your neighborhood preschoolers (and most of their parents) will run from. Scary. Really scary.

First will come the dragging of feet when it's shower time. Then the scoffs at having to dry their hair. Soon, an utter distaste for clothes they happily wore, just days ago, will settle in. Then comes the request, "But, WHY do I have to wear shoes?"--outside, in the rain, through the mall, in public spaces. Clearly, this is your signal that the reasoning mind and sweet disposition have begun to take leave of your child's body. You are on the right track. Carry on.

Insist that hair be parted and thoroughly brushed. Require that clothing be actually worn on the correct places of the body. Again, insist that shoes be worn. Then, try to curl hair or add accessories. Request that your pre-teen's eye shadow be put on in the car, or, preferably, not be worn at all. Finally, shuffle all agitated, begrudgingly attired, shoe wearing, shells of formerly tranquil children into the car. (Insert evil laugh--Mwah-ha-ha-ha!!!!) Let the haunting begin!!!!