--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was a kid my family was really…" description: "\"When I was a kid my family was really poor and I remember one Halloween I wanted to dress up really scary and my parents came home with a duck costume...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/657/r-l-stine-12476_costumes_when-i-was-a-kid-my-family-was-really-po_1425045.png" --- # When I was a kid my family was really poor and I remember… ![“When I was a kid my family was really poor and I remember one Halloween I wanted to dress up really scary and my parents came home with a duck costume. I wore that costume for years! I hated it.” quote by R. L. Stine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/657/r-l-stine-12476_costumes_when-i-was-a-kid-my-family-was-really-po_1425045.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/657/r-l-stine-12476_costumes_when-i-was-a-kid-my-family-was-really-po_1425045.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/657/r-l-stine-12476_costumes_when-i-was-a-kid-my-family-was-really-po_1425045.png) > “When I was a kid my family was really poor and I remember one Halloween I wanted to dress up really scary and my parents came home with a duck costume. I wore that costume for years! I hated it.” [R. L. Stine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-stine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Childhood poverty can lead to creative but disappointing outcomes, highlighting the gap between expectations and reality. **In simple terms:** Kids often get mismatched gifts due to limited means. Key Takeaway Accept imperfections and find humor in past mishaps. Themes poverty expectations humor Mood reflective lighthearted Type anecdotal humorous When to use this quote - family holidays - costume parties - budget constraints - gift giving Key Concepts resourcefulness disappointment nostalgia Questions to Reflect On - How do you turn disappointing gifts into funny stories? - What does this memory teach about managing expectations? A Different Perspective Limited resources may cause lasting embarrassment or resentment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Costumes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/costumes/) [Ducks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ducks/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Funny halloween](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-halloween/) [Halloween](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/halloween/) [Happy halloween](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-halloween/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Scary halloween](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scary-halloween/) ## Related quotes > [Being in a band you can wear whatever you want - it's like an excuse for halloween everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-stefani/being-in-a-band-you-can-wear-whatever-you-want-it-s-like-an-excuse/) [Gwen Stefani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-stefani/) > [... we in the light sometimes fear what is no more to be feared than the things children in the dark hold in terror…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/we-in-the-light-sometimes-fear-what-is-no-more-to-be-feared-than-the/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [Look, there's no metaphysics on earth but chocolates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/look-there-s-no-metaphysics-on-earth-but-chocolates/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [Backward, turn backward, O Time, in your flight, Make me a child again just for to-night!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-chase-allen/backward-turn-backward-o-time-in-your-flight-make-me-a-child-again/) [Elizabeth Chase Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-chase-allen/) > [Tis now the very witching time of night, when churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out Contagion to this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/tis-now-the-very-witching-time-of-night-when-churchyards-yawn-and/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A gypsy fire is on the hearth, Sign of the carnival of mirth; Through the dun fields and from the glade Flash merry folk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-smith/a-gypsy-fire-is-on-the-hearth-sign-of-the-carnival-of-mirth-through/) [Jerry Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-smith/) > ['Tis the night - the night Of the grave's delight...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-cleveland-coxe/tis-the-night-the-night-of-the-grave-s-delight/) Arthur Cleveland Coxe > [May Jack-o-lanterns burning bright, Of soft and golden hue, Pierce through the future's veil and show, What fate now holds for you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-smith/may-jack-o-lanterns-burning-bright-of-soft-and-golden-hue-pierce/) [Jerry Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-smith/) > [On Halloween, don't you know back when you were little, your mom tells you don't eat any candy until she checks it? I used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/on-halloween-don-t-you-know-back-when-you-were-little-your-mom-tells/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [Halloween was confusing. All my life my parents said, "Never take candy from strangers." And then they dressed me up and said, "Go beg…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/halloween-was-confusing-all-my-life-my-parents-said-never-take-candy/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [On Halloween, witches come true; Wild ghosts escape from dreams. Each monster dances in the park…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-gordon/on-halloween-witches-come-true-wild-ghosts-escape-from-dreams-each/) [Nick Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-gordon/) > [There is something haunting in the light of the moon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/there-is-something-haunting-in-the-light-of-the-moon/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [Nothing beats a haunted moonlit night on All Hallows Eve… And on this fatal night, at this witching time, the starless sky laments black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kim/nothing-beats-a-haunted-moonlit-night-on-all-hallows-eve-and-on-this/) [Elizabeth Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kim/) > [You wouldn't believe On All Hallow Eve What lots of fun we can make, With apples to bob, And nuts on the hob, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-wells/you-wouldn-t-believe-on-all-hallow-eve-what-lots-of-fun-we-can-make/) [Carolyn Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-wells/) > [Bring forth the raisins and the nuts- Tonight All-Hallows' Spectre struts Along the moonlit way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kendrick-bangs/bring-forth-the-raisins-and-the-nuts-tonight-all-hallows-spectre/) [John Kendrick Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kendrick-bangs/) ## More by R. L. Stine > [Normally, I spend a week on the outline and take two weeks to write the book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-stine/normally-i-spend-a-week-on-the-outline-and-take-two-weeks-to-write/) [R. L. Stine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-stine/) > [At least I can write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-stine/at-least-i-can-write/) [R. L. Stine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-stine/) > [The only lesson is, you gotta keep at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-stine/the-only-lesson-is-you-gotta-keep-at-it/) [R. L. Stine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-stine/) > [It's my job, too, to keep up with pop culture and what the kids are into 'cause you don't want to sound like an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-stine/it-s-my-job-too-to-keep-up-with-pop-culture-and-what-the-kids-are/) [R. L. Stine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-stine/) > [Well, I hate it when authors come into a school and they say to kids, 'Write from your heart, only write what you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-stine/well-i-hate-it-when-authors-come-into-a-school-and-they-say-to-kids/) [R. L. Stine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-stine/) > [I've lived in New York for 40 years. I came right after college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-stine/i-ve-lived-in-new-york-for-40-years-i-came-right-after-college/) [R. L. Stine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-stine/) > [I always just wanted to be funny. I never really planned to be scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-stine/i-always-just-wanted-to-be-funny-i-never-really-planned-to-be-scary/) [R. L. Stine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-stine/) > [I've never dreamed of a story idea. I have such boring dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-stine/i-ve-never-dreamed-of-a-story-idea-i-have-such-boring-dreams/) [R. L. Stine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-stine/) > [Twitter is fun because it lets me stay in touch with all my original readers who grew up with my books. I love hearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-stine/twitter-is-fun-because-it-lets-me-stay-in-touch-with-all-my-original/) [R. L. Stine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-stine/) > [I haven't written a young-adult book in years. I'm also doing six 'Goosebumps' books a year now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-stine/i-haven-t-written-a-young-adult-book-in-years-i-m-also-doing-six/) [R. L. Stine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-stine/) > [A real New Yorker likes the sound of a garbage truck in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-stine/a-real-new-yorker-likes-the-sound-of-a-garbage-truck-in-the-morning/) [R. L. Stine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-stine/) > [People say, 'What advice do you have for people who want to be writers?' I say, they don't really need advice, they know they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-stine/people-say-what-advice-do-you-have-for-people-who-want-to-be-writers/) [R. L. Stine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-stine/) > [“people don't realize that you have to take care of snow domes and keep them clean and filled with water or they'll dry out”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-stine/people-don-t-realize-that-you-have-to-take-care-of-snow-domes-and/) [R. L. Stine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-stine/) > [I guess I'm way too kind and generous, and a saint - if you can believe that!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-stine/i-guess-i-m-way-too-kind-and-generous-and-a-saint-if-you-can-believe/) [R. L. Stine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-stine/) > [I love theme parks but I'm a real chicken on rides. I'd rather invent scary rides for my books than go on them for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-stine/i-love-theme-parks-but-i-m-a-real-chicken-on-rides-i-d-rather-invent/) [R. L. Stine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-stine/) [Explore all 54 R. L. Stine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-stine/) ## More Costumes quotes > [So, did the costume come with a condom, or is that sold separately?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/so-did-the-costume-come-with-a-condom-or-is-that-sold-separately/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [Meanwhile someone is shining my head to get it dry to attach my top-hat to my head with toupee tape. I get into microphone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/meanwhile-someone-is-shining-my-head-to-get-it-dry-to-attach-my-top/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) > [When my kids were in the school play for the first time, I decided I had to make the costumes from scratch and bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-alexander/when-my-kids-were-in-the-school-play-for-the-first-time-i-decided-i/) [Sarah Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-alexander/) > [Merlin' was awesome, but the costumes would drive you insane. Every day, you'd get into chain mail and wear 30 pounds of that stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-macken/merlin-was-awesome-but-the-costumes-would-drive-you-insane-every-day/) [Eoin Macken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-macken/) > [When the Strokes first started playing gigs, instead of getting into a costume for the shows, we talked about how we should dress every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-casablancas/when-the-strokes-first-started-playing-gigs-instead-of-getting-into-a/) [Julian Casablancas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-casablancas/) > [I've always worked closely with the designers and whoever's making the costumes. Comfort is the last thing you want on your mind when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-yamaguchi/i-ve-always-worked-closely-with-the-designers-and-whoever-s-making/) [Kristi Yamaguchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-yamaguchi/) > [ Shigure Sohma: \[got Tohru a maid costume for White Day\] I can't wait to for her to call me master while wearing this. Hatsuharu… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuki-takaya/shigure-sohma-got-tohru-a-maid-costume-for-white-day-i-can-t-wait-to/) [Natsuki Takaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuki-takaya/) > [I always use the analogy that when you go to a jeans store and put on a new pair of jeans, it's a pair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bana/i-always-use-the-analogy-that-when-you-go-to-a-jeans-store-and-put-on/) [Eric Bana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bana/) > [I am out in public and using the phone. I am in a phone booth, got the phone in my hand and a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-engvall/i-am-out-in-public-and-using-the-phone-i-am-in-a-phone-booth-got-the/) [Bill Engvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-engvall/) > [...and there I suddenly found my articulate self in a dazzling land of smiling, jostling people wearing and not wearing all sorts of costumes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/and-there-i-suddenly-found-my-articulate-self-in-a-dazzling-land-of/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [I'm an actor, so I like costumes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-posey/i-m-an-actor-so-i-like-costumes/) [Parker Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-posey/) > [My parents are actors as well, so I grew up around that world. It was always a very romantic, mythical world. They did a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-fox/my-parents-are-actors-as-well-so-i-grew-up-around-that-world-it-was/) [Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) > [Singing is an incredible expression and something that is important to me, but where I feel comfortable with how much I reveal about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brie-larson/singing-is-an-incredible-expression-and-something-that-is-important/) [Brie Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brie-larson/) > [Someone once bought me loads of clothes from a charity shop - and sent them to me in a black bin liner. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-shaw/someone-once-bought-me-loads-of-clothes-from-a-charity-shop-and-sent/) [Suzanne Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-shaw/) > [When I was young, I would get my tailor to replicate Madhuri Dixit's costumes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallika-sherawat/when-i-was-young-i-would-get-my-tailor-to-replicate-madhuri-dixit-s/) [Mallika Sherawat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallika-sherawat/) [Browse all 655 Costumes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/costumes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was a kid my family was really poor and I remember one Halloween I wanted to dress up really scary and my parents came home with a duck costume. I wore that costume for years! I hated it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "R. L. 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