Why Halloween with older kids is awesome

Halloween is one week away, and I haven’t done a single thing to prepare for it.

Because all I have to do to prepare is buy candy. I’m down to one child still trick-or-treating, and this is his last year. While a small part of me misses the excitement of Halloween with small children, most of me is completely at peace with putting that phase of parenthood behind me.

I wrote this list about Halloween with older kids last year, but it bears repeating. Parents of young children may love Halloween with their little goblins, but it’s exhausting. Fear not; it gets easier, and Halloween will become a relaxing albeit weight-gaining experience.

2. No more obsessing over the perfect costume – a process that begins in early September. Now costumes are determined a maximum of three days out, and created from whatever the kids can borrow or use in the house. The last year she trick or treated, my daughter wore my Gap overalls circa 1996 with her dad’s plaid shirt. She braided her hair, made eyeliner freckles, and voila! A cowgirl is born.

3. No more walking the kids up to the door of every house. Now I stand at the bottom of the driveway with the second bag of candy (yes, my kids bring two bags for their loot), sneaking mini Snickers and Hershey bars.

4. No more rushing out of the house as the sun sets so the kiddos can be home for an early bedtime. Now we order a pizza (it’s a sin to cook on Halloween), the kids get dressed, and head out when it’s good and dark.

5. No more whining and crying over the candy received. Now the kids settle down with their bowls like they are at an international trade summit. Two bite-sized Snickers for your larger bag of Sour Patch kids? Deal. Candy negotiation is a fine art, and they have perfected it.

 

I did love Halloween with little ones. I still love when little Supermans and princesses ring our doorbell and say “Trick or Treat” in their little kid voices. But I paid my dues, and now I’m able to sit back and relax on October 31st.

There is one negative to Halloween with older children. I’m down to only one stash to steal from, and James has a freaky missing candy radar.

Speaking of candy, which kind do you (or would you) steal from a kid’s trick-or-treat bag? I’m sure I’m not the only parent who does that. Right?