EDITOR'S NOTE: Gazettes.com's newest weekly columnist, Kelley Tenny, is a Long Beach local who grew up in the Bay Area and then attended California State University, Long Beach. Tenny never turned back after graduating from CSULB - she began teaching in the Long Beach Unified School District and works for CSULB as a part-time lecturer.
Tenny is a wife to "her hubby" Sean, who runs their Play It Again Sports store in Costa Mesa. In May 2010, the couple added to their family of two — plus dog (Sierra) — and welcomed their daughter Stella into the world.
After many adventures traveled, Tenny is now exploring a new world of momhood while juggling her regular duties as career woman, business owner and wife.
In her spare time, and she means SPARE time, Tenny enjoys running, skiing, and going to concerts. She also writes Haute Mom (http://kelleyhautemom.blogspot.com), a blog for fellow moms who are "trying to stay haute, one diaper at a time."
HERE IS KELLY TENNY'S FIRST COLUMN FOR GAZETTES.COM:
I am not a holiday person.
I mean, I am because days off are fabulous, but I never have really gotten into the holidays. I am not a Grinch by any means, but the whole getting into the spirit, massive decorations, sticking to traditions has never been for me. I have always wondered how this will affect my own family's enjoyment of the holidays, and now that I have a child, I know I may need to let the holiday spirit push me into the right direction.
The exception (isn't there always one) is Halloween.
I truly, cannot get enough of Halloween. I cannot pinpoint how or when this started because I am not a "dark" person, nor do I particularly like the company of ghosts and goblins. But there is something fun about this holiday, and it is not the candy. People, young and old, getting dressed up into fabulous costumes, the crisp, fall air, pumpkins, and the magic of a full moon all somehow come together into a delightful recipe to be enjoyed by all.
And then I gave birth to my daughter Stella who changed Halloween all together.
Last year, we decorated as usual, graveyard, strobe lights, heads hanging from trees, giant spiders covering the house and the fog machines...it's not Halloween without the fog machine.
My daughter, Stella, was only six months old and our biggest concern was finding her a costume that would keep her safe and snug at night. My hubby and I didn't looked back at the annual costume parties we used to attend. We jumped right into a kid-friendly get together with dads trick-or-treating with the little ones and moms drinking wine. Halloween as a mom wasn't looking to shabby!
I realized this year that things may be a little too overwhelming for Stella when we took her to Disneyland — she cried from fear through Peter Pan. Still, the decorations went up, we took our trip to the pumpkin patch, and she now likes to wave "hello" to some of the friendlier looking heads in our front yard (some she has yet to warm up to).
I had a zillion costume ideas — all very different than the hubby's — but when we took Stella to buy a costume, my little girl became enthralled with all the fun infant costumes right about the time my jaw was hitting the ground from seeing all the so-called "kids" costumes. What is the deal? Harem girl costumes for a child? Mid-riffs and thigh-highs are a staple of the "kid" costumes? Are we having some holiday fun here or are we dressing our girls up like prost...well, you get my drift.
Luckily, Stella became latched onto a darling, appropriate devil costume, which hubby and I had to agree, is quite fitting for the stage she is in. Looks like my "Chucky" idea is out, and I have a few more years before I have to battle the "3 going on 25" costume ideas. Maybe I should take up sewing so I can make some long, warm, covered costumes at home.
Cheers to all you parents out there as you fold, zip, tuck, and pin your little ones into their Halloween costumes. I will be enjoying the always fun, kid-friendly Haute Dog Howl'oween Parade and watching Long Beach's finest in costume (both kids and dogs).
Have a safe Halloween and don't be afraid to eat some of that candy, after all, it's no good for the kids!
About Kelley: Kelley is a Long Beach local, wife, and mother to daughter Stella. By day, she is an educator for both Long Beach Unified School District and CSU Long Beach. By night she does her best to juggle the joys of momhood, the duties of being the lady of the house, and fervent attempts to still have a little fun.
