A couple of weeks ago we walked in the Mechanicsburg Halloween Parade. We have done this for the past 3 years. We handed out postcards advertising Kidjam, the program we do monthly teaching kids and families different virtues. The guys had a good time wearing costumes that Dave twisted. I have requested that Dave make a costume for me next year. I am giving him plenty of notice. I would like a balloon dress. There is a whole category of balloon fashion out there. Stay tuned for next year....
Well, it is Thursday, Oct. 28 and Trick-or-Treat in our neighborhood tonight. The 6th grader in the family might still be working on homework and doesn't really have a huge desire to go door to door anymore. The 3rd grader in the family might enjoy going door to door, but he can't eat any of the candy he would receive, so that really puts a damper on the fun. So tonight, for the first time in my history as a mother (Ok, maybe since John was 2 :) we will all be staying home and giving candy out as a family.
For those of you feeling great sympathy for Josiah, we did buy him special candy this year. So he will not go without. On the contrary, he will have lots of good stuff. And as I am realizing, this seems to regularly be the case. I think I feel sorry for him for all of the things he cannot eat. So I go overboard and make sure there is always some type of homemade cookie or treat that he can have. The problem with this scenario is that I can eat these items also--and do, in generous quantities. The best time for me to do this (as other parents may be able to relate and attest to) is after the kids have gone to bed. Then I don't need to feel guilty for eating 5 cookies when I am only allowing them 2.
OK, for my large audience out there (or more realistically for the handful of you faithful friends & family members, ha ha) I am giving you the freedom to hold me to this. I am going to start brushing my teeth when the kids go up to bed--and after 8 PM, it is no more eating for me!!!
Where willpower fails, accountability needs to step in.
So back to tonight. We are expecting around 150 kids. Dave likes to buy and give full size candy bars so that the kids feel loved, blessed and welcomed when they come to our house. He actually had a child from the local elementary school remember him as the guy who gives full-size candy bars for Halloween. Sometimes I don't always get Dave's logic on things. But I am realizing that he is part child, part adult, and knows how kids think. Stick with me, stick with me. This really is a gift. I tend to be 100% adult to the extent of being overly serious. Dave has certainly stretched me in this area of my life and has challenged me to see things from a child's perspective. I remember telling my mom that I wanted to marry someone fun. God heard that prayer and sent me Dave.
Ok...it's 1 PM. Now where did I put those cookies?!?
