My dad created my costumes for Halloween against my wishes. He made me be a skunk when I wanted to be a wizard (notice the kid to the left with the cool TMNT costume? Yeah, fuck him), then the following year he made me a bunny when I wanted to be a pirate. I cried the entire time putting my costume on until we got out to go trick-or-treating. After going to a few houses, I eventually got tired of pouting. Apparently you get better candy if you stopped looking pissed and started looking happy. 

He recently told me the reasoning behind going against every costume I wanted to wear.

Dad: “Every Halloween you would act like an asshole. You were either not going to bed when I told you, sneaking out of bed to play Nintendo, never finishing your food, I can go on on and on. So if you were at least good, I would tell your obaasan to let you be whatever you wanted.”

Me: “But you never let me be whatever I wanted. My entire childhood my costumes got worse and worse. Remember when you made me go as a Scarecrow with chicken poxs? Who even does that?”

Dad: “Shouldn’t of been an asshole. Although, seeing you suffer was actually kind of the most amazing memories I have raising you. Obaasan would feel sorry for you and try to sneak in a costume but I wouldn’t let her. Seeing how horrible I could make your costumes was the highlight of being a father. “

Me: “It never stopped me from going outside and getting candy.”

Dad: “Exactly! You still went! I would say to myself, “Ok, if Kyoko doesn’t go out trick -or- treating I’ll let her be what she wants.” Because I can’t be that horrible as a dad and deny you Halloween. But you went anyways. No matter how mad, upset or angry you were at what you were wearing, you still went. You stopped caring. In the end I unintentionally taught you a life lesson.”

Me: “What? My dad hated me on Halloween?”

Dad: “Nope, you stopped caring what you looked like or who would make fun of you. You were confident in yourself, you wanted candy so you went. You didn’t care how you got there just as long as you did. That’s exactly how you are today. You’re confident in yourself, and the candy are your dreams now. No matter how awful your costume is (costume meaning your emotions, things that hold you down what have you) you still went outside to get what you wanted. Nothing ever broke your spirits. Not even my costume choices. I’m a pretty great dad, huh?”

Me: “I bet you waited years to bullshit this life lesson to me haven’t you?”

Dad: “I knew the year you went as a skunk I had to justify my reasons eventually. You were adorable though. You made every Halloween great for me. It sort of became.. our tradition.”