It probably comes as no secret that Halloween is Bren’s favorite holiday.  The boy loves to dress up.  Costumes out number every other toy in our house.  And boy does he have an imagination.

This year the boys are trick or treating as a Ghostbuster (Aidan) and the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man (Bren).  Their costumes are great and they are excited.  Bren’s inflates! But Bren pointed out that while he is excited about his costume, it is not a good choice for their school Halloween Party.  He listed the reasons- its hard to move around, he expects to have to wear layers and would be hot at the party, and none of his friends would know who he was.  But, like all good negotiators, he had a plan.

He wanted to be Merida from Brave.  Dress, wig, light up heals (that are actually from Cinderella but match).  This would be the first time he would be “out in public” with his love of all things girls.  Up until now he had his pink backpack and t shirt.  There was the dress at his birthday party, but his Walnut Park friends didn’t seem to notice.  This party was for the whole school.

It wasn’t lost on me that the princess is from “Brave.”

He was so excited.  His friends thought it was great.  He was confident and had the best time.  He did say some older girls teased him, but girls older than them- his friend from Pippin and 4th Church drama- asked for a picture with him.  So all was good.

It’s easy to let Bren be Bren in the comfort of home where he is safe from the outside world and their opinions.  It’s not so easy when worry about what everyone else is going to say, do or how they will treat him.  But so far so good.