So 2 days ago I Googled a place to take my girls to try their first Yoga class. I found an amazing place in Tarzana, CA called,
CosmiKids! It sure sounded like the most wonderful environment where our girls could learn about some of the amazing spiritual experiences of Yoga, etc. It is a place where they will be nurtured, and respected and it sounded like a dream...that was until we showed up and Isabella saw an actual costumed bear from the
Angel Bear Yoga class! We stood outside and she was screaming and crying as if she had been hurt or something horrible. I immediately got a sinking feeling in my tummy, wondering if I just scarred her or something by taking her to this wonderful place and scaring the you know what out of her! Luckily, Alan/Daddy was with us planning on working on his laptop from the car, and he took her in the car with him. It was not what I expected, but I know there must be a reason that this day didn't work out. We look forward to trying again in the future, but were really surprised to say the least. I tried very hard to tell her that Mommy really didn't know there would be a bear and if I knew we wouldn't have gone there. Isabella said, "Mommy you know I don't like costumes, here or at Disneyland or anywhere, and I'm not trick or treating either!"
This Halloween, our girls are almost, 4 1/2 (Isabella aka Barbie The Island Princess) and 2 1/2 (Gabrielle aka Tinkerbell), and had no desire to "celebrate" Halloween with the traditional trick or treating. We work very hard to actually listen to our girls, instead of following a protocol for what Halloween traditions should be. Isabella was too scared of Halloween to see any costumes, so we stayed inside this year and celebrated at home and gymnastics class. We decorated with pumpkins and nothing scary at home, we went to the pumpkin patch and jumped around, we baked Ghost sugar cookies with Bubie and Grammy, and then decided not to hand out candy or open the door to other trick or treaters who we wouldn't know what to expect for their costumes. Instead, we let the girls dress up and trick or treat from room to room inside our home. The most important thing for us was that they were happy, healthy, and had fun with no anxiety or discomfort! It was a blast...we had so much fun and it was just another wonderful experience we could all have together. I am a huge fan of getting our girls to communicate...Isabella is amazing at telling us what she is comfortable with or not...Gabi will soon learn too once she is fully talking! :) I am grateful that we can share traditions new and old, but in a way that feels good for everyone! While we may not always understand why a 4 year old is scared, it's just important that we respect her feelings and listen to her words. 
