Halloween Conquered

A week ago, I hated Halloween and what it represented for us.  A time of fun, but not carefree fun, a day of endless worrying.  Essentially, in the end, I saw it as another loss.  But you know, my kids taught me another lesson: It's not a loss, it's our way of life. We can choose how to view it.  This year, we not only survived Halloween, we conquered Halloween!

A werewolf, a zebra and a princess... What more could a mom want

Trick or Treat! What fun words.  Running from house to house, collecting candy.  Comparing who has more,  who has better candy.  Kicking up the leaves, playing in the rain.  We made it around the whole block... a first. No tears, no fights and no use of an Epi-pen... a MIRACLE!

My favorite memory of the night....
Conversation between the oldest two:
Nick & Delaney: Trick or Treat
Nice Guy:  Happy Halloween (puts treats in their bags, which happen to be peanut butter cups)
Delaney: Ummm. Just so you know, he can't eat anything with peanuts cuz he's allergic.  And I don't take anything with peanuts cuz he's allergic (diva-ish hand wave while she says this)
Nice Guy: Oh, thanks for telling me (takes back the candy and gives them Smarties)
As they are walking away, I hear Nick say, ' Delaney, don't tell people that.  The more candy with peanuts I get the bigger the prize I will get.'
He had a good theory, but it wasn't going to happen.  It didn't matter, Delaney told anybody who listen to her.
Candy compared, sorted and separated.  Even the girls were happy to contribute to the Candy Witch pile.   Nick wrote the following letter to the Candy Witch:

Sooo....  I was so touched by his letter that I wanted to share and do something bigger.  We have now started a Candy Collection at our elementary school and letter writing campaign to soldiers.  Really, what better time to do it than now, in November.  Honestly, if we only get a few letters and  a little bit of candy, we'll touch the life of a few soldiers and it's a lesson for my kids (and a bigger lesson for me).

Halloween will no longer be dreaded in our house.  It's now our holiday to give back!  And it only took my 8 year old to show me this.  In 2012, Halloween was Conquered!