Halloween Discussion Forums, Costumes, Horror!

I think that you get more energized when you have more activities piled up.

Believe me, these kids keep me young, and I'm thankful for that.

Murf - If anybody was stupid enough to mess with Halloween when I was a kid, then we would have vandalized the whole town for it. Obviously, as a adult now, I wouldn't do that, but my younger self would have reacted that way, and if they ever tried to restrict Halloween for my kids now I would tell them to go f*ck themselves and just go out anyway.

When I was a kid, trick-or-treating always started as soon as it got dark, and went until 9-10pm depending on the area. We still carry on that tradition to this day, though it usually wraps up around 8pm now because there are less people giving out candy, and there are other activities that kids want to do.

When I was living alone in my 20s, I was very strict about not giving out candy before it was dark because I was so devoted to the tradition, and I turned away kids that would show up in the daylight. Today, I would never do that because I know the world is a very different place than when I was growing up, and some parents are only comfortable bringing their kids out in the daylight for safety reasons, so if kids show up early for trick-or-treating now we always give them candy.

Around here we celebrate Halloween for the whole month with various activities and attractions for people of every age group, though lately it seems like people are getting into the Halloween season earlier and earlier every year because retailers are filling stores with Halloween products as early as July now. It's very similar to how we would always celebrate the Christmas season as soon as Nov. began, but now they start putting out Christmas products as early as Aug. I think it's fine to celebrate these holiday seasons leading up to the big day, as it's something that most people do, myself included, but I think that the traditions of trick-or-treating on Halloween, and opening presents on Christmas, are special events that should only be done on those specific days. Both holidays, as well as any other holidays for that matter, should always be celebrated on their designated day, regardless of what day of the week they fall on.

I think kids do keep you young. I felt old at 30 and fretted about aging, but from the time I had my first child at 34, I never gave that a thought again. Now if only my own kids would get busy and bring on the grandchildren! When I was young I was so proud of being a top student and earning a PhD, etc. Now I think the only thing I ever did in my life that actually mattered was having the kids.

I honestly can't even imagine what my life would be like today if I didn't have kids. They are a part of me, and I'm already so proud of the people that they are both becoming. The only thing that scares me is how fast time is going by, maybe it's just because I don't experience time the way that other people do because of my memory, but it feels like yesterday that I was holding these tiny babies that needed you for everything, and now, as every young person eventually does, they're shaping their individuality and growing up faster than any parent ever wants to admit. I mean, soon they will be dating, then driving, and before I know it, they will be seeking their independence and eventually go into the world determined to carve their own path.

There are days that the memories of my past can haunt me relentlessly, but there are also memories about my kids that I'm grateful that I will always carry with me, like their first birthday, their first steps, the look on their faces the first time they tried ice cream, their first holidays, and countless other memories. These are the moments that no child will ever remember on their own, but they are priceless to the parents that observed them.

So while time is flying by, I'm thankful that my unyielding memory, and the lessons that I have learned in this life about the importance of family, and that the time we have here is limited, has taught me to appreciate every moment with my kids while I'm living in that moment.

Ah, yes, that's every parent's conflict. You want to see them grow up and succeed, but you also cherish their infancy and childhood, and a part of you always wants to hold them close. My mother used to say that when you recall your own childhood, it seems like it lasted forever, but when you watch other people grow up, it seems like it speeds by. A hop skip and jump, and they're grown.

The days are long , but the years are short.

Great expression!

I saw it somewhere online, and It's profundity knocked me on my butt.