Avoiding the Halloween sexy costume battle

Halloween is still two months away, and stores are telling us it's time to make decisions about costumes and decorations.

I always think this time of year that I should make a costume. Now is the time to start so you aren't left rushed. And then I don't. Sometimes it's because I found a crazy cheap costume the year before and HAVE to use it. But mostly I fear I'm not talented enough to make something that looks fit for public display.

Besides the potential for a totally awesome, original costume, a huge benefit of sewing is we can better control how our kids look at Halloween parties and while trick-or-treating. Maybe next year...

I don't worry about my son's choices. He never picks anything too violent. But with my daughter, now that's she's becoming a young woman, I worry about sexy.

This year she plans to dress like a rock diva. Got the basic rocker costume last year on sale. It isn't sexy compared with all the other costumes out there. The only question I have is will her belly show too much this year? If it does, I'm getting out the glue gun and adding some fringe and possibly making her wear a tank underneath. She still listens. But I wonder if things will change in junior high and high school. Remember those days of changing the clothes you left the house in?

As they get older, their size factors into the costumes available. Some tall and more full-figured 10 to 14 year olds, find themselves shopping for clothes in the junior department. Halloween is no different. And teen costumes aren't exactly modest. Maybe they offer more coverage compared to the sexy adult lines, but exposed bellies and short skirts are common.

Last year, I spoke with Debbie Easley of Easley's Fun Shop in central Phoenix. She pointed out how they make sure to carry teen options with longer skirts and less skin. She's a mom and knows the battle well. So it's no surprise that Easley and her staff also suggest to add leggings or tanks if too much skin still shows. The problem is many girls, once they no longer fit kid sizes, want to wear the adult costumes. And moms do give in. Click the link to read the story I wrote.

Tweens and teens look for costumes that make them look edgy and cute. And we start worrying about just who will see our little girls dressed this way and what will this look convey? Hopefully not sexy!

So what do you do? Some things I've done:

-Talk to your kids about personal safety in a loving, age-appropriate way. You don't want instant conflict. Sometimes understanding where your concern comes from helps them make the right choice. You want them to keep the costume they left with and not changing into something sexier later, right?

-Set an expectation and limits from the start. For example, you can pick any costume that isn't scary and doesn't bare your belly.

-If the costume is too skimpy but you both agree it's cute, consider leggings, bike shorts or tank top to limit exposure.

Here's hoping you don't have too huge a costume battle. Cheers!