Saturday, October 31, 2009

Happy Halloween! I think...


Can I be honest? I haven't ever admitted this before (except on one of your blogs the other day) but, for the past few years I've been a bit of a bah humbug when it comes to Halloween. This year I couldn't even muster up the energy the put out our Halloween decorations. I think poor Madeleine feels kind of bad about that, too. She's getting gypped by my lack of enthusiasm. I did ask her a few weekends ago if she wanted to help me decorate. She declined and that was that. Now I feel a little guilty, but it's too late to do anything about it. Oh well.
For the record, when my kids were little and even before I had kids, I was totally into it. Choosing costumes, decorating the house, carving pumpkins, roasting pumpkin seeds, going door to door. Heck, Geoff and I used to fight over who got to take the girls treat or treating. (We ended up taking turns. One year he would take the girls and I would stay home and pass out candy and the next year we'd switch). I was always disappointed when it was my turn to stay home.

Of course my girls are too old to trick or treat now, but I find myself annoyed by this holiday. I'm not charmed by the cute little hobgoblins who come to my door anymore. Instead I'm aggravated that I have to keep getting up and answering the door - while keeping my crazy pug under control. I no longer take time picking out the "best" candy to pass out. Now it's just grab and go. And speaking of grabbing and going, when did it become customary for the darling little trick or treaters to reach into the candy bowl and grab giant handfuls of candy? That really annoys me. It seems so rude and well... grabby. I know I sound like a grumpy old lady and that bothers me. Because really I'm not a grumpy old lady most of the time. I think of myself as being fairly youthful really. So why does Halloween get under my skin?

I think I've figured it out. I felt the exact same way about other childhood traditions. Like those book orders that seemed to come home every other week from school. And not just one - the teachers would send home several from different companies. And how about those little valentine's that kids give out in elementary school. And volunteering in my kids' classrooms or at their school events. All of these things started out so fun and exciting - for my kids and for me. But after so many years, I just got tired of it. The bloom was off the rose, I guess. And it all felt like a chore. The charm was gone. And somehow Halloween fell into the same category. It all makes me feel a little bad. But I can't really help how I feel. So now you all know my dirty little secret. Underneath my cool and hip facade (quit laughing), I really am a grumpy old lady.

Image from Google Images

8 comments:

Karen M. Peterson said...

Oh my gosh, seriously. It bugs the crap out of me when kids just reach into the candy bowl and help themselves. We would NEVER have done that when I was a kid. And even when someone offered, I was very conservative in my selection.

This year, I'm hiding upstairs in my room with a movie while my roommates pass out the candy. I'll hang out and see if there's anything left!

Sandy said...

I'm with you. I ran across the Halloween decorations the other day taking out the Christmas stuff for AAF. There it was, easy to grab and put out, I just shoved it aside.

I don't particularly care to answer the door but when I do, I pass the candy out...they don't get to grab their own. That's just inviting bad manners.

And we were invited to at least two costume parties, I wasn't the least bit interested. Too much trouble.....so I'll say it, Bah, Halloween!

mommakin said...

Totally agree with you about things - especially things for the kids - starting out exciting then becoming a chore.

Gail Foelsch said...

I've never been a big Halloween person -- I don't like having to think of a costume -- but so far my kids are still into it so it's OK. I haven't passed out candy in years though. Here we usually just put a bowl outside and then we all go out trick or treating with our neighbors.

I also don't think your girls are too old to go out any more -- we have lots of high school kids who still trick or treat here! As long as they wear a costume I don't mind. Once they are too embarrassed to wear costumes then they are too old to go!

Lucky Wife/Bookaholic said...

I hate it when they walk up and just hold out thier bag... I look at them and say "what do you say?" No candy until you say Trick or treat... I wish I could learn a magic trick, and say TRICK for now on... ha ha ha hah aaa

Just Jennifer said...

^
My son does that. And doesn't say thank you either, unless you tell him to.

said...

Well I say you're entitled to feel that way!

Stopping by from the SITS Halloween Parade :o)

CW5H2O said...

There was a big article in my hometown newspaper about kids grabbing the candy out of the bowls during trick-or-treating. Apparently the local government is saying it's a risk factor in spreading the H1N1 virus, and they asked everyone handing out candy this year to actually hand it out, and not let the kids reach in and grab it. Not something that would have ever crossed my mind before...

 

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