Thursday was our first foray into trick-or-treating. My boy dressed as a payphone (yes, a payphone) and was excited for days beforehand. We went early to the area of town where half of everyone goes to collect candy from strangers. They do it up right. Street closed off. Hot chocolate for the parents. Folks on their front porches with giant smiles.
My boy was confused by the costumes. He kept saying, “Mama. I don’t know who all these scary people are.” He would ask why that five-year old had red stuff (fake blood) all over his face or why that boy was wearing a gas mask. He was more than eager to collect candy (he had never had it before), but was a little confused and scared by the whole of the event.
It took him two hours to fall asleep that night. He kept telling me he was scared. He woke up a bazillion times that night, crying out like never before. I learned, that night, that he isn’t ready for big kids halloween. Which is fine by me, actually.
The unexpected thing to come out of the event is his new obsession with candy. We threw out half of the paltry amount he collected, leaving him with about fifteen pieces. He was told he could have one piece a day after a good meal. He put all his candy in a silver bowl (his “sweeties” bowl) and has been carrying it from room to room for almost a week. He will pour the contents out, sniff each one and then put it back in the bowl. He will eat one piece and then make a plan for the next day, “Can I have the bubblegum lollipop tomorrow?” Sometimes, he will thrust the bowl under my nose and tell me to smell it. At the end of the day, he will place his sweeties bowl next to his bed, just in front of his fish, and tell it goodnight.
So, I really learned two things from last Thursday. People are scary (although, I kind of knew that already) and candy is addictive (I guess I kind of already knew that, too).
He is asking for another halloween, not sure if he can wait until next year. Maybe next year we will have a party and hand out apples and dental floss. Ask everyone to come dressed as a butterfly or flower. Put off the candy and scary people for a while, try to keep by boy little as long as possible.
-Betsy
saying “tanto!” which means “so much”. She has my cousin’s sense of humor, my sister’s movements, my grandmother’s pensiveness, my mom’s watchful eye, and my sense of joy.
Turkey Baster and a Bottle of Wine 