I went back and re read the last post I did on Halloween.  “No More Halloween”, November of 2008.  The title gives it away.  It was a blur of madness, mayhem and meltdowns.  (mine included).  As I am reading the words I wrote, I can hear the exhaustion in my voice.  It brought back the memory of actually breastfeeding Zeke as I ran to keep up with my crazy kids (Hannah 2, Micah 7, Noah 12)

Then there is an absence of posts about Halloween until now.  I think it is because Zeke then became mobile and those Halloweens are just better off repressed into my subconscious.

Well, I have turned a corner.  In spite of the fact that it has taken me a month to write about it,  Halloween was a different and quite pleasant experience this year.

Halloween trick or treating, 2013… no one had a meltdown over their costume.  They WALKED around our neighborhood, taking good care of little Zeke along the way.  No near fatalities running in front of oncoming traffic.  After one street and a moderate amount of candy they were ready to come home.  No meltdowns.  (just had to repeat that)  They poured out their candy, traded, shared, ate some and then we sat down together and watched a movie before bedtime.  Noah was too old to be interested, yet willingly took the candy rejects from his siblings.  Sounds idyllic right?  Are you waiting for the catch?

Frankly, I was too.  I was walking around my neighborhood thinking “Am I dreaming?  Is this the Halloween I have been trashing all these years?  WHAT IS GOING ON????”

Then I started to relax and enjoy myself.  It had just rained and the neighborhood literally sparkled with all the lights.  People were happy.  Neighbors chatted.  My kids got to have the experience of knocking on strangers doors (yes those very strangers we freak them out about) and experience good people that they DON’T KNOW who spent their hard earned money to go out and buy candy for kids they DON’T KNOW!!!  On a night that has a reputation for ghosts and goblins.  Ok, we did stay away from the creepy houses.  But that was an exercise for them in common sense.  They practiced saying hello without their parents right on top of them.  They practiced saying thank you.  They got to see that there are mostly GOOD people living in these houses next door.

I think I have changed my mind about Halloween.  Maybe it is an opportunity to teach our kids that knowing HOW to talk to strangers is a valuable skill.   Maybe it is a time of connecting in our communities.  Something we don’t do enough of these days.  Maybe it can show them that all those monsters they imagine aren’t so scary after all.    Maybe I was just plain tired and worn slam out those other years.  Too stressed to be able to look around and enjoy my world.  Maybe when your youngest turns 5, life shifts a bit.

Well, there you have it.  I am just as fickle as every body else.  My verdict this year is:  Halloween Rocks!!