Hallowe'en and Home Hijinks

Hallowe’en is coming and I’m always faced with a dilemma....what do I let Sean participate in? He can’t have the sugar, we know that, so the traditional costume and trick-or-treating is just not a good idea. Last year, for the first time since he was 2, he did want to come out, since I was taking Evie to a few of the neighbors. We put together a costume quickly for him out of the tickle trunk stuff and away we went. Three neighbors, not too much candy, all was well. Not like the year that he got smart, watched where Skyler had hid his candy, then went in for the kill, eating every last thing, except for a box of raisins! And then was a mess for at least an hour afterwards. And I mean a mess....not a happy sugar high, but the endless loop of questions, tears, screaming, self-mutilating. Yeah, not fun.

This year he has started talking about Hallowe’en early, marking it on his calendar and making signs. "Happy Hallowe’en". 

I asked, with obvious hesitation, based on the above, if he wanted to go out, and he thankfully answered no. He would like to decorate, and be here at home to hand out treats (chips, so less temptation to help himself, or at least no repercussions if he does). That’s fine with me. I may take Evie around to neighbors in the afternoon, just for some quick visits so they can see her. I haven’t had much time to do this all year.

So he started bringing out the plastic pumpkin lights, spider webs (heck there’s enough of those on the porch already, no need for me to have bought more), and a plastic coffin that screams when you push the button. I have a few other choice items in the basement, from past Fright Nights vignettes that Skyler and his friends would participate in....amputated limbs with clothing still attached, skulls, all delightful props, which we’ll set out closer to the day.

Sean set up a bit of a Fright Night of his own in the dining room, and then had Skyler come through. Sky got into it big time, went and dressed himself in dark clothes and a ski mask to try and scare me. Here was the scenario: Sean asks me to come into the dining room, and push the button on the coffin. It’s dark in there, so I tell him I can’t find the button. "Oh", says he, "then I’ll turn on the light". Sky didn't hear this I guess, because just as Sean does flood the room with light, I see Skyler reaching out for me from under the table. The scaring didn’t work so well for Mom, but unfortunately Evie got in there somehow too, and now she has a mortal fear of lighted pumpkins and screaming coffins!

Sean moved his ensemble to the front hall, and it didn’t matter. There was no way Evie was going to go near those things! That pretty much settled the issue of whether I’d take her out on Hallowe’en night....there’ll be too many of those sorts of things out for her comfort!

Note the evil pumpkin on top of the chip box!!