Amanda Lamb: Vamping for Halloween

The other day while my daughter was in school I went to the costume store and took pictures of the female vampire costumes with my phone. She looked at them after I picked her up from carpool and settled on the one I thought was the "sexy vampire."

Clearly, that was not what was on her mind. She just thought it was the cutest dress, but I was kicking myself for even considering bringing the outfit to her attention. Why hadn't I looked more closely at it? It was too skimpy, too short, too everything for a 10-year-old. I actually was surprised that it was advertised in the tween section.

"Mommy, that's the one I want. I love the color and the ruffle at the bottom," she said excitedly passing me the phone.

"Sweetie, how about this one?" I said hopefully clicking on a more demure ensemble with a longer hem and full sleeves instead of spaghetti straps.

"Well, that's okay. But I really like the first one," she replied.

I decided not to push it, but instead to compromise. I told her we would go try them on in the store and see which one looked the best. In my mind I was thinking "appropriate," but I didn't dare say it out loud. I figured the more I tried to influence her, the more likely she would pick the one I didn't like.

We got to the store and went right to the wall of photographs with each outfit pictured and a corresponding number. The number for the one my daughter wanted had white tape over it. I asked the clerk if that meant the outfit was sold out, and he said yes.

"Darn, Honey, they don't have it. I guess we'll have to try the other one you liked," I said trying my best to look and sound disappointed.

She tried it on, and it looked adorable - like the age-appropriate vampire I had originally pictured.

"I really love it Mommy. Thank you! I just need one more thing to make it complete," she said coyly.

"What's that?" I asked innocently.

"Fishnet stockings!" she said with a grin.