Halloween

Yesterday, we took the kids trick-or-treating and had a great time. This year, they really surprised us by doing amazingly well. In previous years, Halloween has often been a source of contention for various reasons. One year, in the process of getting ready, Hazel refused to put on a costume, threw a full-on raging tantrum, and did not wear anything. Another year, my husband spent more time chasing Asher than he did trick-or-treating, so the evening ended very early for the two of them. Another year, Asher must have thought we were going to a friend's because he walked into a person's home and started making himself at home before we could catch him.

This year, however, we were prepared for all of these scenarios to happen. We brought the kids “leashes” in case Asher or Hazel decided to run off, we made them wear Halloween shirts so they would still be festive if they refused to wear their costumes, and we made sure Asher had a phone, so he was distracted “enough” not to enter people’s homes or become otherwise agitated by anything.

However, when we are actually prepared, they do amazing things. They approached each house, saying “trick-or-treat” and occasionally “thank you.” They waited for everyone. They listened to us when we said to watch out for cars. Even by the night's end, Hazel got the hang of only taking one piece of candy out of a bowl when it was left on a porch. I was so unbelievably proud and happy with them that you couldn’t have knocked the smile off my face.

One of the main reasons I took such a long break from social media was because looking at other people’s families often depressed me, and if I’m being honest, it still does sometimes. I observe other people's everyday activities with their families and become upset or sad, such as going trick-or-treating, taking the kids to see Santa, or even eating at a restaurant. When you are younger, you have this vision of what you think your family will be like when you grow up. Mine was a big one, with lots of kids, taking them trick-or-treating, having big Thanksgiving dinners, and making cookies at Christmas. I think you get the gist.

There are simple things in life that many people take for granted, and I often don’t get to experience them with my kids in the same way. It took me a very long time to accept that I may not get to experience those things with my children, but I get to experience things that other families don’t. My kids are very different from other children, but that is okay. I may not have the family that I thought I would have, but I have the family I was meant to have. And I love them to pieces. So, we see their wins and their good days, and yesterday was a great day.