When my son was a baby, we had a little Halloween party with our baby group. We got to dress him up and take a million photos on our bricks of digital cameras (hey, this was 2005!). On Halloween night however, we stayed in – I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the logistics of how to hand out candy and deal with a toddler on the go dressed in a costume he might not be 100% on board with.
At 2 and 3, Trick or Treating is hitting up a few houses and then coming home to eat candy while dad stays home to hand out the bounty.
Fast forward a few years and there is some heavy duty trickery involved as we navigated having three kids of three ages and speeds – 2 year olds tripping on their tails, 5 year olds just getting the hang of it, and of course – 8 year olds racing up and down the street with no regard for traffic or safety.
It was at the same time incredibly frustrating… and totally magical!
When my son was 10 I realized that we probably only had a few Halloweens ahed of us. The clock was ticking on us so no matter if it was raining, late tiring – the clock is ticking on childhood.
This year as a 5’11” 13 year old, he’s waffling about going out or not. I have NO problem with anyone who wants to trick or treat. Please dress yourself up and trick or treat. However, if you want to participate in a fun activity – you must be having fun: dressing up and full of spirit (and respect, of course). None of this slapping on a mask or a wig and going out in your every day clothes and mumbling trick or treat at 9PM. You MUST be into it.
I also don’t think there’s an age MINIMUM for trick or treating. I have heard a few people complaining about this over the past few years… insinuating that the parents are just out freeloading for candy with their dressed up baby. Listen, dressing a baby in a costume is no easy feat. And you can pick up chocolate candy for about $7 at Shoppers… no need to go to these extremes.
Having a baby is pretty boring the first couple months. Maybe boring is the wrong word, because you are CONSTANTLY BUSY, but lacking in the really FUN parts of parenting. So if parents of a little baby want to have a little fun dressing their baby like a hot dog or whatever and trotting them around town, please hand the poor parents a candy bar or two.
I’m going to give a real controversial point of view here and say that if you want to trot your dog around town in a hilarious costume, please do and expect chocolate bars (or maybe something less poisonous).
The holiday is about fun, and people who think that there are some kind of rules and limitations to celebration of Halloween are the ones who need to maybe not participate at all.
As for my kid, he may look 17 but his voice is still definitely 13 so I hope you’ll all give these kids a break. And I’m not just saying that because I get to eat half of it.
-Jen
#ThatSurreyMom
@jenxrobbins