Halloween

Is such a wierd holiday to me.  I love it and hate it.  I love the fact that it's completely okay to be in costume.   Except when I worked at the big insurance company and was told that everyone could wear costumes to work and it was only me who did. Well, 7 other people out of the thousands who worked there did.   But it's perfectly acceptable around here to dress up on Halloween.  In fact you are cool if you do.  And for the kids, it's just like the one day I don't have to feel weird about letting them out of the house in their costumes.  I always let them out of the house in their costumes, I just don't have to feel weird about it on Halloween.  Oh, and what do I hate?  CANDY!

So then there's the trick or treating, which is exactly what it states- trick or treat.   Here's what happens: the kids get their treats and then I let them go crazy for their candy that first night.   In fact Norah and Viv just dropped down in the entryway, dumped their buckets on the floor, and started binging in the middle of the piles of candy. The doorbell was still ringing with other trick or treaters. Norah, being the generous soul that she is, just gave the kids who rang the doorbell their choice of her candies splayed out on the floor, since our bowl of candy had all been given away.  She used her Spanish:  'Hola, Como Estas? Do you want some candy?' as she motioned generously with her arm across the pile.

That just seemed to make people uncomfortable, so after that I turned off the light.    Then: here is where the trick comes in:  I steal all the candy that is left after that night and I bring it to work or throw it away.  Then I deal with the major tantrum about 'all my candy is gone' and then the whole horrible mess is over.  I always feel like I'm stashing some criminal cash or drugs or something when I take their candy.  Like I don't know what to do with it.  I go get a Target bag, and I pour it in there, some drops on the floor and I look around furtively before I pick it up... and then I look around for the perfect spot to stick the bag... what if I leave it in some cupboard that they might see... what if they look in my purse tomorrow morning... what if they check the trunk.... WHERE can i put it?   Is that Norah coming? Do I hear her? I am caught!!!   Then I have to deal with the guilt of my betrayal and lies when I look into their imploring (demanding) eyes:  'Mommy, WHERE'S MY CANDY???"

I felt so evil this year as I watched them run from house to house filling their bags with what I knew to be candy destined for the dust bin.   I don't do this to Teddy.  But I do it to the girls, because I cannot describe what a BAD effect Skittles and Pixie Stix seem to have on their outlook on things, their teeth, the tantrums about how many pieces they can have at a time, the wrappers all over the house, the licked-twice suckers stuck to the carpet.   Am I alone here?

Happy Halloween!!! BOOHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.