October means one thing at our house: The Huffman Halloween Costume Factory is open for business.

With three girls, Halloween has always been a main event. For a long time Mom was thoroughly in control of all things Halloween, which is how I usually like it. I used to get away with dressing them in matching Halloween costumes. One year they were mini hula girls. Another year, matching fairies. We’ve had Dalmatian puppies, Monarch butterflies, flowers and ladybugs.

Cuter than a whole jar full of buttons, they were. And obedient. They didn’t know better than to question mom’s trick-or-treat costume plan.

But as they got older, my days of carefully coordinated costumes ended. The girls took matters into their own hands faster than you can say Miss Independence.

This can result in some interesting choices.

One year we had a fifth-grader dress as a zombie golfer. She carried around a golf bag and clubs and wore shredded clothes and monster makeup. She repeated the theme as a sixth-grader, this time as a dead race car driver.

Bloody or not, budget-friendly costumes are big on my list. If you can make your costume from ordinary household materials, all the better. I think Grandma Sue had the right idea. Using cotton or flannel, she’d make costumes for my brother and me with a dual purpose. After trick or treat, they’d become pajamas. Clever, clever woman.

A 1950s black velvet ball gown has had two lives at our house — one for Miss America and the other for Coco Chanel. But nothing beats a costume threepeat. The youngest Huffman was so enamored with Dora the Explorer that she dressed as the pint-sized PBS cartoon star three years in a row. Store-bought Dora costumes had nothing on our Dora.

By that third year, we had Dora down. Dora orange shorts. Dora pink shirt. Dora black yarn wig. Dora backpack. Dora’s Boots doll and magic map. Can you say a-Dora-ble?

I admit I’m a snob about store-bought costumes. I’d rather spend hours making something than pay $39.95 for some cheapo getup that won’t last more than one night of trick or treating. With three girls, costumes that can be passed down are a must.

And don’t get me started on the “sexy” costume trend. It’s trick or treat, not trick. An appropriate Halloween costume requires covering, not exposing, skin. However, I admit to a double standard — Halloween makeup. Every other day of the year, I’m shooing them away from my makeup, but on Oct. 31 I bring out all the Halloween face paint. Glitter eye shadow, lipstick, colored hair spray — have at it, girls. Get your fill while you can.

You’d think the high schooler might have moved on from Halloween costumes. You would be wrong. Last year, she dressed up as a baby. Luckily, this idea was easy enough to implement. One adult-sized pair of feety PJs later, boom, she was done. Now that is my kind of costume.

For a guy that grumbles about trick or treaters invading the neighborhood, even dad gets into the act. Around 4 p.m. on Oct. 31 he springs into action, setting up tombstones on the front lawn, a giant spider web, blinking witch and smoke machine. Only the bravest cross his haunted graveyard for a candy reward.

About a week ago I gathered the troops for a little announcement. All trick-or-treat costume ideas and proposals are due to Mom by this time tomorrow, I said. I need sketches, supply lists and budgets.

After a certain amount of grumbling about the money allocated for each outfit, I decided to reacquaint them with the Huffman Costume Factory, i.e., dress-up box. Chock full of great costume ideas, in my opinion. How about the zebra costume I made two years ago? Or the black and white harlequin outfit with matching hat? There was a ‘50s-style poodle skirt, a crazy fright wig, Harry Potter/witch capes (your choice), and a Grecian goddess costume complete with matching doll dress.

The dress-up box bounty did not meet with enthusiasm. Instead, each girl sequestered herself to write her proposal. Within 15 minutes, all three had answered my costume RFP with drawings and wish lists. 

I’m going to be a Goth Cupid, said one daughter.

Goth what? I said.

You know, Cupid, with red wings and Goth makeup and jewelry, she said. 

Which gave me a great idea for my own costume.

Goth Mom.

Trick or treat, kids.

Surrendering to Motherhood appears every other Monday, alternating with Michelle Choat’s Gal on the Go.