A Midlife Look at Halloween. Terrifying or no?
Looking at Stasha’s prompt for this Monday’s Listicle: 10 Things Halloween —
I wondered if I’ve reached a tipping point in my Halloween years as an adult.
So here goes:
A Mom looks at Halloween 5-0.
10. The children are older. No need to follow along after them and wait at the curb. They are bounding around the hood by themselves. And having a great time.
9. Halloween comes without carving a pumpkin.
Year after year we all carved jack-o-lanterns and held a contest. This year because of our cramped living quarters — I didn’t buy five pumpkins. I bought one and didn’t carve it.
And all was fine.
8. Halloween comes without fancy costumes.
My son has always wanted a blood and guts dress up. This year I gave him an old shirt, let his sister make him up and he was happier than he’d ever been.
7. Halloween comes without lots of trick-or-treaters.
We made a fire and sat out back with a sign directing the fearless to brave the dark and head our way. I gave out a third of the candy I usually give.
And it was the perfect night to sit out by the fire and listen to the screams and leaves as they crunched underfoot of the children walking by on the street.
6. I can dress up as much or as little as I want. And have fun.
My costume. That I wore all day long.
5. Nothing makes me happier than a cup of pumpkin spice coffee in a Halloween mug.
4. I still have a weakness for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, closely followed by Butterfingers.
But for some reason, I don’t feel the need to inhale half a bag. Three and I’m done.
3. Each year, one of the day’s pleasures is calling a lifelong friend on her birthday.
This year was her 50th year too. Nothing like laughing and bemoaning the joys of turning half a century with a bestie on October 31.
2. Fixing what I wanted to eat, because I knew everyone else would be stuffed on candy.
1. Knowing that time has passed and being okay with it.
From one who used to spend a week making homemade costumes and trimming the house with lights and dripping with jack-o-lanterns, quiet is also good. Especially if surrounded by good conversation, libation and at least three Butterfingers.
Are you still running after your children in costumes?
Those damn peanut butter cups get me too!
They must have some magic spell.
Lovely Halloween costumes, what i love about this festival is pumpkin carving. 🙂 Missed doing this year though!
I did miss it a bit too Dhriti. But part of me felt free that rather than being compelled to shoehorn carving one in this year just because of tradition — I went to the attic and got down the electric one for the night.
Reese’s pb cups are my favorite.
Nothing better than pumpkin spice this time of year for sure! Little man is only 16 months so we’ve only just begun with the costumes but it’s one of my favorite holidays so I don’t mind
I didn’t carve pumpkins either. Maybe it’s an age thing 😉
Yum. Those roasted peppers look good! Followed by the Reese’s peanut butter cups of course!
Of course.
I’m with you on the Reese’s cups! I love that you sat out back with a fire. Oh how I wish! We were cold and rainy. I’m okay with the passing of time too!
When my kids were young they went to a school that was very, very over the top about Halloween. As a result I hit Halloween burn out about 1998 and have yet to recover.
I just know I am going to become the grumpy-get-off-my-lawn neighbor!
I still ran after kids, but I see a future that doesn’t involve all the running that much longer. Kind of surreal.
Excellent list, Jamie! I’m especially impressed that you mastered the trick of treats: feeling satisfied after 3, rather than 33. Can I have your extras?!?!
I’m already at the point where I no longer care about Halloween but the kids are still young, well half of them are. I can’t wait until I get to the point where Halloween is just a day to eat an extra snickers bar, possibly for breakfast.