Another Halloween now being all packed up ready for storage for another year. It was a much more low key Halloween than the old days when both Patrick and I and his friends had the energy to put together a huge display AND spend money on more stuff and costumes for the kids. This year was all about using their imaginations and saving me some $. Tara and I did all the decorating this year, with a little help from Caity climbing fences. Years past we have also had friends over to share the experience and turn it into a bit of a party too…..but not this time.
Patrick stayed home to placate the Trick or Treaters while I headed out with the crew.
I like heading out with the kids as it is fun to see who decorated their yards and who just switched off all the lights. I also like peeking in peoples doors and seeing how nice our units look when they renovate them (and up the rents) while we long standing tenants exist in rotting squalor (only exaggerating a little bit).
Trick or Treating in townhouse complexes is great as there are no cars to worry about and a bit of a party atmosphere is to be had with clumps of adults hanging about with more than coffee in their travel mugs. People usually go in together too to put on a more fun fireworks display and the one court always tries to blow up a pumpkin too.
The cutest was a friend of Adam’s who hung out with him and us for the whole night yet refused to actually trick or treat…he said he was too old..NO WAY!
Adam was a huge hit as he pranced about in his short shorts and ‘wrecking ball.’ Kids would tell their parents who he was supposed to be and we watched the ripple of laughter spread from one group to the next. He was famous for the night.
Again what boggled us was the parents DRIVING their kids around from court to court. However I do actually get why. Some of the complexes ( over priced bought homes in the hood) were DEAD and had NO signs of life or fun..so I can imagine you would head to the areas with more kids and action than even bother those sort of neighbours.
It is cute seeing Tara change each year..FOUR meant total confidence as she marched around from house to house (except when tripping and spilling her candy). And she HAD to be with the big kids and was so thrilled that Adam and his friends stuck around.
Every year the internet is filled with anti Halloween posts and tips on how to get rid of the candy.. It drives me bonkers. If you don’t want the candy don’t take your kids trick or treating..it is as simple as that. I also see the posts from those who feel it is too unchristian and event to partake in…..and again. Don’t. Your choice. But don’t expect everyone else to go along with you. We all have our own traditions and beliefs.
It is really interesting that at my kids most multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious school the one who is driving my daughter bonkers the most is the boy who we think is a Jehovah’s Witness and is VERY loud in sharing his opinions and feelings on what HE is not allowed to do, but without much explanation. Leaving me to explain NOW with Remembrance Day coming up, why his form of Christianity won’t allow him to sing ‘In Flanders Fields,’ as apparently this is too much even for the teachers to cover or him.
Differing beliefs should not clash. We should all be able to rub along together and respect and understand what we all find important. And that includes having candy for breakfast one day of the year.
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