Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!  This is the one day a year where parents allow their kids to get dressed up as their favorite superheroes, cartoon characters, and monsters and roam the neighborhood, begging for candy from strangers.  I’ve had my share of taking my own little princess, Spiderman, and Power Rangers around the neighborhood.  I used to raid their stash when I got home.  I considered it payment for my time.  Don’t judge, I’m sure other parents do it too.  But, the reality was that I loved taking them out trick or treating.  It was easy to get caught up in the excitement of little kids running from house to house and from store to store.  It was also interesting to see how creative some of these parents got when making costumes for their kids.  Some of them were elaborate.  However, most parents were like me and dressed their kids in the good ole Party City costumes.

When my son was around 10, he started to get to old for Halloween.  Part of him wanted to go trick or treating, the other part of him thought he was too old.  Eventually, his desire for candy won.  He didn’t have a costume, so he just wore jeans, a jacket, a heavy braided chain his grandfather gave him, and his father’s Kangol hat.  I told him to roll with it.  Finally, someone asked him who he was.  Of course, he didn’t have an answer.  I told him to tell everyone that he was Run from Run DMC.  He later told me that when he told people he was Run, they gave him extra candy.  Someone asked him if he knew any of their songs.  He did (I used to play them), but he didn’t let them know.  He wasn’t about to turn into a rapper. He knew his limits.

As much as I love watching the kids run around in their costumes, I have to admit, I don’t buy candy and rush home from work to give it out.  I know.  Its sad.  I just don’t want to risk having all this extra candy sitting around the house.  I’m trying to watch my weight.  I know I can bring the extra candy to work, but every year we have tons and tons of leftover candy.  I don’t need to add to the pot.  Besides, kids come out earlier now and I’m not home from work when most of them come around.

This year will be different.  My daughter wants to give out candy.  Usually, she’s out with her friends on Halloween.  But this year, she wants to give out candy.  And, she wants me to do it with her.  So, I guess I’ll be leaving work on time today (no happy hour for me) and rushing home.  If you’re in Brooklyn, come on by!

So, now you know, and you can … Consider Yourself Warned!

What’s your favorite part of Halloween?