Trick or Treating and Tears

Yesterday while I was working on Shane's Halloween costume Adam decided to carve pumpkins with Shane. Shane was a little hesitant at first especially about slimeing(sp?) his hands to scoop out the seeds. I think he was excited anyway though because he saw the face Adam drew on the pumpkin before carving, which just happen to look similar to the face on the bucket Adam had given Shane for Trick or Treating. Shane had a lot of fun "helping" Adam carve.


In Columbus, Ohio when Halloween falls on the weekend, trick or treating is scheduled for the Thursday before. I've heard that it is to make it safer for kids, but I've recently heard some other reasons too. They call it Beggars Night. So yesterday evening we hopped over to the local "little provo" so Shane could trick or treat with his friends. As we were getting ready to head out the door Shane saw the bowl of candy on the floor. He very excitedly filled his bucket with ALL of it.

Here is a picture of Adam and Shane just before heading out to trick or treat:
(If it isn't obvious, Shane is Alfalfa and Adam is his dad.)

This was Shane's very first time trick or treating. We didn't go last year because we were traveling or something, so it didn't work out. Shane was in a pretty grumpy mood all day; to add to it (since it has been many years since I went trick or treating) I failed to consider the weather, which was very cold and windy. Grumpy child + shivering cold + being "forced" toward "scary" adults = child with face full of tears (see pictures below). The only thing that kept him going was that for some strange reason these grown-ups were giving him candy.


Needless to say we didn't stay out trick or treating for long. In fact I think Shane only went up to three doors. We went home, got some hot chocolate and started defrosting Shane's hands. As traumatic as this experience appeared to be for Shane, he perked right up when he pulled a sucker out of his bucket and I told him he could go ahead and eat it.

The green pumpkin bucket is now Shane's new most prized possession. He toted it around the house all day after Adam bought it for him. He was even more excited about carrying it around once he had candy in it. Later that night when it was time for bed I explained to Shane that he wouldn't be able to take his bucket to bed with him. After many attempts, he was unwilling to give the bucket up so I had to force it out of his hands. He immediately became hysterical. I knew he would start crying, but wow! This was one of the biggest tantrums he has ever thrown. He was completely inconsolable. When he refused to calm down to read bedtime stories with me, I told him to let me know when he was ready to read and walked out of the room. It was another 5-10 minutes before he finally decided to stop screaming and flailing his body around.

Tonight was our Church's halloween party. I was excited because it would be a chance for Shane to "trick or treat" inside where it is warm. Sadly, we had to stay home because Shane came down with some virus. Oh well.

Next year's costume: Eskimo.