http://www.sereneandnotherd.com/family/parenting/our-modern-halloween/ Active parenting, simplifying life, and making time for the things that really matter. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:11:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 http://www.sereneandnotherd.com/family/parenting/our-modern-halloween/#comment-23 Cheryl Thu, 01 Nov 2007 16:10:16 +0000 http://www.sereneandnotherd.com/family/parenting/our-modern-halloween/#comment-23 We had 110 trick-or-treaters in our new neighborhood, and we realized that unlike our townhouse community, most of the kids were from our own neighborhood. Another strange custom here (which is how I remember it now that I'm back home in the Chicago suburbs), trick-or-treating STARTS right after school, 3:30 pm and goes only until 7 pm. In Maryland, kids didn't start until after dark. Oh, and 99% of the kids said "Trick or treat!" and said "thank you". Finally some parents are making headway. We had 110 trick-or-treaters in our new neighborhood, and we realized that unlike our townhouse community, most of the kids were from our own neighborhood. Another strange custom here (which is how I remember it now that I’m back home in the Chicago suburbs), trick-or-treating STARTS right after school, 3:30 pm and goes only until 7 pm. In Maryland, kids didn’t start until after dark. Oh, and 99% of the kids said “Trick or treat!” and said “thank you”. Finally some parents are making headway.

]]> http://www.sereneandnotherd.com/family/parenting/our-modern-halloween/#comment-22 Megan Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:27:22 +0000 http://www.sereneandnotherd.com/family/parenting/our-modern-halloween/#comment-22 I used to get frustrated that most of the kids coming through our neighborhood were from other areas and many from Mexico. I have decided, this year, to let that resentment go and use it as a reason to give thanks for all that we have been given as a family and as a neighborhood. We are the place that others wished they belonged and spend one night a year visiting to share in our bounty. Yes, it's expensive - $45 in candy this year - but if it brings joy to some kids before the realize the true financial divide that exists in our culture and in our world, it's worth it. Happy Halloween! I used to get frustrated that most of the kids coming through our neighborhood were from other areas and many from Mexico. I have decided, this year, to let that resentment go and use it as a reason to give thanks for all that we have been given as a family and as a neighborhood. We are the place that others wished they belonged and spend one night a year visiting to share in our bounty. Yes, it’s expensive - $45 in candy this year - but if it brings joy to some kids before the realize the true financial divide that exists in our culture and in our world, it’s worth it. Happy Halloween!

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