Well, ladies, it’s happening. That time of year where everything’s orange, Target turns into a Halloween wonderland, and Pinterest is bursting with perfectly staged pumpkin patch family photos. Halloween is less than 40 days away, and if you're anything like me, you’re already fielding requests for costumes that’ll “change the world” (cue my child asking to be a glow-in-the-dark rainbow unicorn with LED wings). Oh, and don’t forget the school bake sale, the pumpkin carving contest, and that haunted house your neighbors are setting up that makes you feel like you’re living next to the set of a horror movie. 

So, let’s talk about this spooky little concept of doing it all. You know what I mean - the insane, yet somehow culturally accepted, pressure to make every holiday absolutely magical for the kids while juggling real life. I love Halloween. I really do! It’s the one time of year when I can justify dressing up like Morticia Addams in public, and no one bats an eye. But let me be honest here: I’m also a working mom with a to-do list longer than the CVS receipt I’ll get for buying three bags of candy. The thought of hand-making costumes, baking 48 allergy-friendly, organic ghost cupcakes, and designing Pinterest-worthy decorations has me shaking in my boots. 

First off, let’s address the elephant (or should I say "unicorn") in the room: costumes. There’s an unspoken rule that Halloween costumes should be clever, homemade, and Instagram-worthy. My daughter wanted to be an astronaut-princess-fairy hybrid last year. I attempted to DIY this... but three hours, a glue gun disaster, and one mental breakdown later, I hit up Amazon like it was a lifeline. And you know what? She loved it. 

This year, I’ve decided: It’s okay to "buy" the costume. There. I said it. Sure, those handmade creations are cute, but between work, soccer practices, and trying to get dinner on the table, who has the time? My mental health is more important than fashioning a custom tutu from recycled rainbows, thank you very much.

Now let’s talk decor. Do I want my house to look like the set of a chic haunted mansion designed by Joanna Gaines? Yes. Do I actually have the bandwidth to make that happen while still remembering to pack the kids' lunches? No.

I used to put so much pressure on myself to carve these perfect pumpkins. I even went through a phase where I thought it was a good idea to attempt those intricate stencil designs - big mistake. Let me tell you, carving tiny bats into a pumpkin while your toddler tries to “help” is a horror show all on its own. These days? I’m team fake pumpkins all the way. They’re cute, reusable, and no one’s the wiser (unless they knock on my door and even then, who’s judging?)

Onto the bake sale. Oh, the bake sale. Why does every holiday event at school involve baking? Like, why am I in competition with the mom who shows up with gluten-free, dairy-free, perfectly piped witch cupcakes? For the love of candy corn, it’s okay if the cookies are store-bought! I used to feel so much guilt showing up with a pack of pre-made sugar cookies from the grocery store bakery, until I realized… the kids don’t care. Not one bit. They see sugar, they’re happy. Plus, the fact that they were made in an allergen-friendly factory might actually be a win for some of the other parents. 

One year, I even brought Oreos. Just straight-up Oreos. And you know what? I still got a “thank you so much” from the PTA president. No one’s handing out medals for spending four hours making spider-shaped cake pops.

At the end of the day, Halloween is about making memories with your kids. They’re not going to remember if you had perfectly themed table settings or hand-sewn costumes. They’ll remember the fun stuff - like how you let them eat candy for dinner (just this once!), or the year you dressed up as a witch and scared the neighbor’s cat by accident. (Sorry, Fluffy. Didn’t mean to traumatize you with my broomstick routine.) 

Let’s all take a deep breath and repeat after me: It’s okay if the cookies are store-bought. It’s okay if the pumpkins are fake. It’s okay if you don’t do it all. I promise, your kids will still think you’re the coolest mom on the block. And honestly, you are.

So, as you navigate the spooky season, remember to have a little fun with it. Don’t let the pressure get to you - because trust me, there’s nothing scarier than a mom on her last nerve. Throw on some cat ears, grab that pumpkin spice latte, and remember: You’re doing great. Whether you’re carving jack-o’-lanterns or picking them up from the dollar store, your Halloween is going to be magical because of you, not because of how many DIY projects you complete. 

And hey, if all else fails, there’s always next year, right? Or maybe we just move straight to the next holiday…