So Halloween brings up all sorts of differing opinions, most of which I just toss up to opinion. We’ve always gone trick or treating and it’s just something fun to do. Get dressed up and visit family for candy. Some years we would visit the trunk or treat at church, and neighborhoods of friends. My two oldest are really too old to participate at 15 and 13, but the 13 year old held out this year and went with a couple of his buddies.
It seems to get tricky with Matthew because he is easily frightened by scary masks and crazy people that jump out at you from under a pile of leaves. Wonder where he gets that from? Ummm ME! Come on people, there are little children walking around trying to get loads of candy and you make it your goal in life to scare the bejeezus out of them! Not to mention moms who could possibly have a heart attack because of the sudden fright.
This year he really surprised me though. I think it’s a sign of him growing up, which makes daddy smile and mommy cry a little. He walked right up to those doors and rang the doorbell, said Trick or Treat, and even said Thank you! I am so proud of him! He even braved walking by the Scream statue, very slowly albeit, but all by himself. No siblings there to ease the fears, and daddy and I stood on the sidewalk. 
We went to a start up neighborhood just across the street from us and learned that they weren’t expecting many trick or treaters and they gave HANDFULS of candy. So we spent half the time and got twice the candy. Bonus!
Grandma and Grandpa were our last stop and he was not disappointed there. He quickly dumped the cauldron of goods into his bag and proceeded to raid all the candy jars too. Shortly after that he was bounding from couch to couch and I was saying, ” No more CANDY!”
Matthew knows the history behind Halloween, but he told me to him it’s all about fun and candy. I don’t think there’s a better way to look at it. I’m sure to some there is a dark connotation associated with the holiday, but to us its for fun. And we’re stickin’ to it. Literally!
