Pumpkin carving isn’t a pretty process.  It’s sticky, pulpy, and flat out messy.  As a mom, you can try to combat this messiness.  You can cover your floors (and children) in plastic, use sharpies instead of cutting tools or even buy those foamy “ever-last” pumpkins from the craft store.  In my opinion, carving pumpkins with your kids is kind of like washing your car with your kids – the fun is in the mess.  So why fight it?  Just set you brain up for a big, goopy experience (take it outside if you can) and enjoy the moment.  At our house we embrace the mess and take it one step further by involving some power tools.

I can’t count the number of times I’ve had to drill a hole or hammer a nail and had my kids beg me for a turn.  Unfortunately for them, most home-repair projects aren’t great “practice” opportunities.  Pumpkin carving, however, is a perfect time to let my kids loose.  Last year, after hollowing out our pumpkins on the deck, I gave them each a turn with their favorite tool – the power drill.  I inserted a wide, paddle-style drill bit and set them free to make whatever polka-dot pattern they wanted.

You should have seen the excitement in their eyes!  Maybe you can get a feel of it from the picture above.  They absolutely loved it!  There was no struggle with sharp knives or cheap plastic saws, no worries about following a pattern, just pure fun.  We even grabbed a hammer and some fat nails and let them pound some smaller holes in their pumpkins while they waited for their turn with the drill.

Overall, it was a great family fun experience.  By the end of the night we four happy kids and a bunch of charmingly-spotted Jack-o’-Lanterns for our front steps.  What more could I ask for?  Just thought I’d pass it on.