Boo! Happy Halloween!
By mommy of many™. Filed in Halloween, children, family life |
(said with 4yr. old exuberance after the first trick or treating house, tonight) “I love this! I JUST LOVE this!” So, Halloween was a big hit here. The kids did lots of trick or treating and had their school carnival today. Whew! We are exhausted! (Hopefully that will make the baby sleep through the night.) I’ve gathered, bagged and tagged the candy to be put away for special times. The baths have been taken, the teeth brushed, hair combed out and everyone put to bed. Such a day! You should see this house (actually really glad that you can not). So, while we had lots of fun and the kids burned lots of energy, we did have a little snag. Tell me what you think…….
One of the older kids wanted to go trick or treating with friends instead of staying with us. Our policy has always been that anyone who wanted to come with us was welcome, but that our kids stayed together on Halloween. It makes sense because of the area we live in. When you’re in military housing (for the most part), it’s considered a safe area. Our housing is not on a base. It’s just in the middle of town and easily accessible by everyone, so LOTS of extra kids come into the housing for Halloween. LOTS! Well, this year I considered the request to go with a friend, because Clay is out to sea so we all went to a party at a friends’ house. BUT, I needed details. I was told they would be at a school campus for a “like a carnival”. Parents? “Oh yeah. I think so”. So, when I dropped her off, I decided to go in and confirm with the parents. What I was told and what was happening were two very different things. No school carnival, just trick or treating in the area around the school (FAR from the house I was dropping off at) and “no” the parent or parents would not be staying. I told my daughter that I was sorry but that she had to grab her things and come with me because that didn’t fit my criteria for going out with friends on Halloween. EMBARRASSMENT! ANGER! YELLING (once we were away from the other people). So, when we arrived at the party that we were going to, she stayed in the car……the whole time! She refused to attend and I simply let her stay in the car. Why argue?
Ok, what’s your take? I felt that it was vitally important that I hold my ground because I was uncomfortable with the situation of no parents and not knowing more than 2 of the other kids that she would be with. Halloween can be a dangerous night! AND I have several other children coming up behind this one, that would surely point out that So-and-So got to do such-and-such back in 2007!
On that note, I say………………………………………………………………
When I ripped October off of the calendar today and felt how thin the rest of the calendar is, I was in a mild state of shock! Did you realize that it’s New Year’s?! The minute Halloween hits, it’s all over! The stores are filling up with Christmas decor to make me nervous and antsy about all those lists that I really haven’t thought about yet. Sure, Tristan and Max wrote their wish lists to Santa a week or so ago, but those were for Santa! But now I have to worry about Christmas! Yikes!
Happy Halloween!
Good night~
Thursday, November 1st 2007 at 10:55 pm |
Hey Jen! First of all… this site is GREAT!
WOW! Today I was SO VERY tired when we got home and saw you guys getting into the car. I SO did NOT want to unload groceries… but I got them in, changed Ian and put him in some comfy clothes, put him down for a nap, got him some water, AND started putting stuff up, and when I went to take out the garbage, you were STILL getting kids loaded. It made me feel like such a whimp for being so tired!! What vitamins are you taking????!!!
Secondly, WHAT??? WHAT??? OF COURSE you were in the right…. you’re the mom… and your concern is WELL founded these days (watching the scary news right now). I’m sorry that it turned into a big fight… but looking back at my “teen years” there was LOTS of screaming…. LOTS. I am NOT looking forward to that age with my two. Fun, fun. I didn’t even think about all the comparisons you have to deal with…. WOW. LOTS of you let so-and-so do this and that. That’s gotta be tricky!
I’m going to go check out the rest of your site, and then go and work on mine! You inspire me …. website, kid-wrangling, etc.!
Friday, November 2nd 2007 at 9:51 am |
I think you did the right thing. You make good rules and always have a good reason. Some day she’ll understand. Glad for the most part you all had fun.
Saturday, November 3rd 2007 at 1:47 am |
I support your decision 150%!!! She will thank you later. It made me anxious just reading the details and seeing a potentialy negative outcome in letteing her go. I love you and her and I am glad you stood your ground. Always remember that these decisions are done out of love. So there’s no need to doubt them. I wish I had been looked after more closely when I was a teenager. As you know, most of the time our whereabouts were not known unless SOMETHING happened. You are an amazing mother, sister and woman!
Saturday, November 3rd 2007 at 3:17 pm |
Man, I have always hated Halloween for just this reason…too many dumb “party” type activities out there…
It’s great to get all dessed and get soem candy, but so often there is this sinister “presence” in the bakcground, laughing at those of us who rightly fear evil and want to protect our children…
Love means saying no because you care about her future. You go, Jen! Rock on, girlfriend!
Monday, November 5th 2007 at 2:16 am |
On the Halloween incident…Definitely stand your ground….it’s too important! I’ve said this before..your kids will understand one day.. When you’re uncomfortable, you have to do what’s right in the situation. You’re a good mom…no questions there
!
As for the year FLYING by…I know…it’s crazy. It moves fast enough on it’s own..why do merchants feel the need to help it along?
I love you, try not to be overwhelmed by the madness.
SO MUCH xoxoxo
Saturday, February 2nd 2008 at 11:19 pm |
I absolutly dislike having to stay together but I can get pretty scary sometimes. I remember when I was 9 or 10 I got lost and got almost no candy finally finding JJ who didnt exactly like draging me around till he filled up his bag just so later on you could take it away from us:( but thats ok we sneek half of it any way! Well when I got home all upset because I was slumpted to the side unable to get candy everyone shared making it an awsome Halloween!
XOXOXO MADDI