i recently had my first experience of shopping with a child for a halloween costume. suffice it to say that my appreciation for my mother has grown to a deeper level.

i'm really not too hip on cartoons and child heroes of the 21st century, so my accolades over the Pretty Princess and Scooby Doo costumes were not well-received. apparently going trick-or-treating as a ghost or slice of pizza is not as exhilarating as it once was. but four stores and seemingly millions of costumes later, we were able to settle on a glittery camouflage rock star get-up (complete with hat!) that was a modest compromise to the risqué brittany spears-like alternatives.

i have no doubt that i pestered my mother down the halloween aisle of many a toys-r-us, but the years have bestowed on me a wisdom i did not have then. for instance, i now realize that, for the price of one costume, i could purchase a stash of candy large enough to give me three cavities, a spare tire, and a blue tongue that's the envy of the neighborhood. who could ask for more?