Halloween Tips & Treats!
Sep 24 '00
Ask any of my friends or family about Halloween and they'll most likely send you to me. Noooo, not because I'm a witch! Be nice now!
There are 23 ghostly authors writing Halloween editorials that will be submitted today. The following is not one of your Halloween thrillers but just in case the other 22 are - lock your doors and windows (don't forget the patio), pull your shades in case anyone is lurking outside, turn off your phone, stay away from your basement and get in the spirit to settle in for some good stories.
I have no Halloween memories. Yup - no memories at all! I only have the feelings of sadness. loss, and memories of expectant moments that never came. Sounds pretty pathetic, doesn't it?
I was one of those kids that never failed to get sick either the day before or day of Halloween. They say some people hide bad memories so deep in their minds that these memories may never surface. As a kid, maybe this is what I did. I see fleeting moments of flashbacks of Halloween costumes made just for me; costumed characters coming to our door with faces flushed and beaming; my siblings coming home with not only huge bags of candy but grins of excitement and stories of "Halloween trick or treat" happenings, and a certain look of my moms...one that said "no, you're still running a temp. and ..." Every year it was the same old thing! ~Woe is me~
OK! Enough you say! How foolish to get so upset over a silly thing like Halloween. You are sooo right! Remember though, I was a kid living in a small town; no movie theaters, bowling alleys, video stores, malls - nothing - zilch. For weeks before Halloween all you'd hear was what everyone was putting together for a Halloween costume, who was going trick or treating with whom, what kind of candy or treat your mom had already made or bought for the trick or treaters and stories of past Halloweens.
Maybe this is why I have so much fun at Halloween now. We've had several Halloween parties over the years...both for our children when they were home but also for our friends. Our guests at our last party thought we should have invited a TV crew over just to see how we changed our house into a "haunted" mansion that we dubbed as the "Batty" Haunts. Of course our friends thought the name we had selected was very appropriate.
We always head to the pumpkin farms and the dad in the family is excellent at picking up those misshapen pumpkins to form into the personalities he sees in the lines, bumps or bruises they obtain from the fields to the pumpkin farm.
Since I was never fortunate enough to participate in Halloween fun and costumes, I tended to go overboard with our children when it came to their costumes. They selected them. I made them. These were creative costumes that never failed to win 1st, 2nd or 3rd prize.
Halloween night was always filled with merriment as we took our children out "trick or treating." Now that they're on their own, we often get into costumes to greet other young costumed guests arriving at our doorstep. Yes, Trick or Treating is still alive in the suburbs where we live.
Many parents object to Halloween and all its celebrations due to the beliefs of it being a "satanic" holiday and I thoroughly respect their beliefs. Our family sees it as a time of fun - a time to dress up as a nursery rhyme character, an animal, a superhero, and yes, even Dracula or a witch but with no evil connotations involved. Halloween is a time to walk through the crisp autumn leaves to homes decorated in lights and pumpkins and cornstalks. It's a day filled with floats and parades and pretend. A time to do everything and more that I missed as a kid.
If you're a parent who doesn't like their children to go out trick or treating there are many alternatives provided for children. I've listed some here but be sure to check your area newspapers closer to Halloween for other activities.
*****TIPS*****
Halloween Alternatives
*Family parties
*Hayrides and Bonfires
*Parties at school
*Church parties with Biblical characters
*Store and Malls parties with children parading and receiving gift certificates.
*Rollerskating
*Bowling
*Movies
Interested in wearing a costume?
Costumes
*Let your child choose their own costume - many times these can be bought or even made. Older kids like to design and make their own. Costumes should be flame retardant. Check labels. Avoid paper costumes as they catch on fire easily.
*Be sure costumes aren't so long that children trip over them. Also be sure they have comfortable footwear - nothing that would cause a fall.
*If you live in a colder climate your child will need a jacket. Be sure it fits over (or under the costume)
*Don't use masks that impair vision; use nontoxic, Hypoallergenic makeup instead.
*Add fluorescent tape to their costumes so children are easy to see.
Many people give their child a flashlight and the kids love them. Depending on the age of the child, it's often difficult holding both their Halloween treat bag and a flashlight. How about a lightstick instead? Hopefully, no flashlight will be necessary as you will be in well-lit areas.
For those going Trick or Treating.
I strongly feel parents should accompany their children - not necessarily to the door but, stay close. Of course older ones want to go with friends so that's an "age" decision you have to make.
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Rules for Trick or Treating
-Be sure they don't go alone
-Set a time they should return
-Stay in own neighborhood
-Don't go inside any homes
-Stay away from homes that are dimly lit or dark
-Go to front doors only
-Don't take shortcuts through yards, or alleys but stay under lights in main area
-Don't eat any candy until it's been checked by you
* There is a fun and informative game your child can play on Halloween safety at:
www.halloweenmagazine.com/game2000/page200.htm.
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Before Leaving Home
*Remind them to go to the bathroom - you'll be glad they did if you're with them and if they're on their own they won't be tempted to go into a house to use someone's bathroom
*Remind them to be polite and say thank you
*Tuck a note which snugly fits into their pocket with their home phone number. This is in case an emergency arises and someone has to get in touch with you.
Your Responsibility to Trick or Treaters.
*Be sure to keep candles and other obstacles away from front entrance and pathway to your door
*Keep yard well lit
*Keep pets indoors, both for their safety and the Trick or Treaters
*Look through your own Trick or Treaters candy for anything that has been tampered with. Look for small pin holes, spoiled candy, or opened wrappers. Throw away any homemade treats unless you personally know who made them.
*****TREATS*****
*Offer only packaged, store bought treats. Even though we tend to think of treats as candy, children also enjoy getting stickers, small, age appropriate toys, crazy pencils, tiny books, funny erasers, small box of raisins, bookmarkers (fun to make), small gift certificates from Dairy Queen...
*An easy treat idea - Place a flat round sucker on a Kleenex, tie with a ribbon or yarn just above the stick. Add big round eyes and there you have it...a Halloween Ghost.
And for all of you partying Adults - If you're going to a party and will be drinking punch with an extra punch to it - Pick a designated driver before leaving home! Please `look out` for Trick or Treaters.
*****There are wonderful Halloween sites on the Net. Go to "Find," type in Halloween and it pulls up information on costumes, recipes, safety, parties - everything for you and your children on this holiday. PARENTS: please supervise!
As part of this Halloween write off, you won't want to miss reading all of these wonderful Epinion authors: acdc711, cate1956, chicknyell, chriseyb, ciera11111, dndn4Kidz, drdad, erin5oaks, gungian, jaynycity, jdanishevsky, jdinpa, kelamandasmom, mar6732, mattjoe, mb1113, mimi369, remind, surgrn911, susidee34, tiffer0220 and tucker300.
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Epinions.com ID:
shartion
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Location: Mpls.MN
Reviews written: 49
Trusted by: 76 members
About Me:
"Be glad for Life; It invites us to Love, to Play, to Dance upon stars."
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