I have something to confess. I don't like Halloween all that much. I know it rivals Christmas in popularity, even my kids like it better than Christmas. At least that's what they told me last night on Halloween eve. This time of year I have to remind myself that this about them for them.
They love getting dressed up and getting scared. The pumpkin patch and carving is high their lists of 'holiday favorites'. And then there is the candy. Oh yes, the candy. After trick or treating I always let them eat as much candy as they want, or until they get sick. The next day we dole it out a little at a time until it's gone or forgotten about. I can't tell you how many times I've thrown out bags of forgotten candy months after Halloween. There is a street on our block that is decorated with skeletons, headstones, cobwebs and blood. Lots of blood. Every year he adds more details. The kids wait with eager anticipation to see what new additions are made. Last year they could only look at it form the end of our driveway in the daylight. It was that scarey. They were all too scared to go up there on Halloween. This year they all assure me that they are brave enough to go. Even the cousins. I'll believe it when I see it. They did surprise me with the haunted house on Sat night. Only #3 went through once. The others became braver each time they went through it. It helped that their BFFs were there to share in th scarieness of it all. It was all they could talk about yesterday.
My favorite Halloween memory is when Mr M and I were first married we lived in a not so good neighborhood. It was one of those neighborhoods that we were told was 'on the rise' and 'turning over.' The people across the street never got the memo. Social workers from SCF were frequent visitors. The two little girls were so sweet. They were 3 and 5 and desperate for attention. That summer I would sit on our porch with our new puppy and they would come over and play. We would talk and giggle. That year I got them each the biggest Hershey bars I could find. They were absolutely delighted when they came to my door in their rag tag costumes and saw what I gave them. They had never gotten anything like this before. Their smiles were pure happiness. It is such a joy knowing something so simple can bring so much pleasure to someone.
After looking back on all of the pain-in-the-ass pumpkin carving (Yes we do carve those complicated Pumpkin Masters patterns. They are really cool, and worth the trouble.), all the candy I have to buy and try not to eat, and the costumes that are cobbled together in the wee hours the night before. I have to remind myself that the joy in this holiday is creating memories for my kids. That the simple things like picking out a pumpkin, making a costume or decorating a window, will create a wonderful memory for them. Hopefully one they will want to recreate with their kids.
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