Ever go to a huge costume store with a 3 ½-year-old who has finally discovered Halloween?If you haven’t, don’t. You’re nerves and stomach lining will thank you.

We took Derek costume shopping last Saturday because he has an eventful weekend coming up. There are two parties Friday at school and a classmate is hosting another Saturday night. And then we’ll go trick-or-treating Monday, of course.

This isn’t Derek’s first Halloween. But this is the first time he understands all the fun that goes along with it. The days of us putting an unsuspecting kid in a bat costume or dressing him up as the world’s strongest man are done. This is Derek’s holiday, and he knows what he wants to be – or doesn’t want to be – when it comes to choosing a costume.

Or so we thought. A few months ago he said he wanted to be a ghost. As Oct. 31 grew closer, however, Derek wanted to be Batman.

Again, or so we thought.

We walked into this huge costume store, located inside a converted Walgreens in Pinellas Park, and made a beeline toward the Batman costumes. Had to admit, they were cool, including one influenced by the Adam West TV series of the 1960s. And it was available in Derek’s size.

Of course, he didn’t want it. No, he wanted to be Iron Man. He never knew Iron Man before Saturday, but once he saw the mask, he was hooked. Well, he was hooked until he saw a Spider-Man costume. Then he was hooked until he saw a Robin, The Boy Wonder costume.

Finally, after bouncing all over the store – Christina and I had some fun ourselves, of course, especially when Christina found a rack full of blonde wigs and I found a Top Gun hat and aviator sunglasses – Derek made a decision. He wanted to be a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.

Now, of course…which one? He settled on the red one, Raphael. Of course when we got home, Derek had to try it on. Then he wanted to keep it on. Then he wanted to put it on Sunday. And if Derek had his wish, he’d wear it to school every day.

Considering Derek is a healthy toddler, whatever he wears tends to rip and attract all sorts of stains. So Christina made the smart move of hanging Derek’s costume in his closet, far away from his grasp. That way, we can show it to him and shut the door before Raphael turns into a shredded pile of green cloth.

I had my share of awesome Halloweens – from shaving cream fights to slumber parties, to the time I dressed up as the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man in college and nearly got into a rumble walking home from a party. Good times were had by all.

Now, it’s fun watching Derek embrace it. As crazy as Derek drove us in the story, watching the excitement glisten in his eyes was priceless.

It’s Derek turn to enjoy Halloween now. He’s off to a good start.