Thelife- My husband and I have been making my 5-year-old son's costumes since he was a baby.
- So far he's been a cactus, a sand dune, and a mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Every year, when summer comes to an end, my husband and I ask our kids what they want to be for Halloween. Some might think asking so far in advance is a bit much. But our kids have always requested really intricate and original costumes. My husband loves a challenge, so he puts the outfits together himself.
Last year, our three kids were a mint chocolate chip ice cream, a cupcake, and a trash can. My husband and I went as ice cream store employees. The year prior, my son asked to be a sand dune with a seagull on his head, for his twin sisters to be buckets, and for my husband and I to be beach towels.
We asked them again this year, and their answers did not disappoint. Initially, they asked to be a Lego Frankenstein, a Lego unicorn, and a Lego pirate. But realizing we only had time to finish one Lego character in time, the twins opted to change to a strawberry and a witch.
Our son asked to be Frankenstein's monster
As a typical 5-year-old, my son is very into Legos. He is especially fascinated with the Lego people, more so than the blocks. He can spend hours playing with them, changing their legs and heads around, and creating new characters.
One day in September, I took my kids to buy Halloween decorations so we could get in the mood. I got them tiny ceramic figurines to paint, and my son was especially fascinated by the little Frankenstein monster.
A couple of weeks later when we asked him what he wanted to be for Halloween, he quickly answered, "Frankenstein… But Lego version!"
We asked for help from a costume creator
Because my son's requests are usually so intricate, we've been asking for help from costume expert Nguyen Le every year. Le works with children's clothing brand Primary, and provides free costume concierge service. She often recommends using Primary products but also gives detailed instructions on how to build the perfect outfit.
What I love about Le's designs is that she keeps in mind that kids have very little patience. The base of each costume consists of clothes they would normally wear, so there are no complaints about materials that are too itchy or scratchy.
Le sent us the instructions on how to create the perfect costume, paired with an adorable handmade drawing that my kids proceeded to color and destroy.
My son loves his costume
Ultimately, the most important thing is that our kids love their costumes and are comfortable in them for trick or treating.
This Frankenstein Lego costume checks all those boxes. My son is wearing a sweatsuit set that will keep him cozy in the cold weather, he is wearing his own comfy boots, the Lego hands still allow him to use his own hands to grab candy, and the mask is roomy enough for him to see and breathe.
His sisters will be going as a strawberry and a witch this year, both designed by my husband. We didn't get to do a family theme this time around, but I'm here for my kids to explore their interests and creativity, beyond just matching outfits.