Are you changing your kids' Halloween activities? Dh heard on the TV that some places are urging folks NOT to do the Trick or Treat routine. Kind of hard to explain to the kids why without getting them even more frightened.

Lots of things to consider on this one.

I've changed my Halloween activities - have now turned down three requests to do my witch act at parties. My caldron of stew made of yicky body parts will not happen this year - maybe never again! Am still not sure if I will give out treats. I may just send them to the kiddies party at the FAir HAll.

Are you changing anything?

Good Morning Ruthie!

About Halloween - can't really say that we are doing anything different this year as we have never done the gore or frightening part of it, and my kids never really went door to door even when they were little.

We always have a Fall Festival at our church that night and literally hundreds and hundreds of kids come to that and have a blast! Kind of like a carnival I guess with all the games and foods - lots of clean, safe and wholesome fun and everybody enjoys it!

We are usually real busy with teenagers (since my kids are now teenagers too) on that night - we have a huge bonfire on the back of our 7 acres and roast weiners and marshmellows and sit around on bails of hay and just have a blast together. You know how it is with teenagers - never a dull moment!

I hope everyone has a safe and Happy Halloween! I think we have had enough gore in the past month to last us a lifetime! I hear there will be a lot of patriotic customs this year! That's great!

Hugs, Cathy

((((sigh))))) I have not even put out my Halloween decorations yet. I never bought skeletons or any of the gorey things but I always have loved a good witch...it seemed to be a reflection of my own personality Around town there are no skeletons of any sort and no creepy stuff. What is out there in the neighborhood are cute fall pumpkins and things...all with the American Flags dispersed amongst them.

For my kids, it will be much of the same. A Fall Festival for the little guy's school, a parade and a party at the older one's. Then we will trick or treat with the neighborhood gang of kids and moms for a few blocks, back to my house for pizza and soda. I will not be making those frozen hands I used to float in the punch....they seemed so cool last year. The little guy will be a lion and the older one will wear his Dad's old Marine uniform. My heart is just not in this one this year.

peach

Hi Kids,

I do not celebrate halloween but I do give out candy to the kids, I like Cathy celebrate the fall harvest.

Around here they do have halloween parties at the local malls and stuff like that for the kids. Its such a shame that our kids can't enjoy a little door to door fun.......this world has become one sick place.

But of course when Grace grows up she will go trick or treating....can't deprive her of that but it will only be with the neighbors and family. This year like all the pasts I buy the big candy bars because we only get about 20 - 30 kids and most of them are from this street. I figure if any kid makes it down our dark and scary street they deserve a big candy bar

I already bought my stash, now I just have to keep away from it

Love, Leens

DD is 4. We got the pumpkins, we got the silly ghost that when you clap it "boos" and she's going to be Barbie for school and trick-or-treating. She is SO excited about Halloween. I had to put my fears behind, decorate accordingly and bite the bullet. Fortunately, we live in a very safe and friendly neighborhood with lots of little kids (most under age 10). We will go early, not stay too long and hope for the best.

I think that one day of putting fears aside is much needed for most of us. And, as mentioned, how do you explain it all to a four year old?

I hope everyone has fun and stays safe! Happy Halloween!
Jenniwookie

Because we live in a rural area, there is very little Trick or Treating. I'll probably see my grandkids and maybe a neighbor or two, but that's about it. I do have candy on hand though. No oudbt Hubby will finish what ever is left. I read that Malls are being discouraged from having activities. I never thought kids belonged in Malls unchaperoned anyway.

I live in a really small town, and we have always taken our kids out trick or treating in the past, even to people's houses we didn't know. However this year we are "devising" a route, (My sisters and I always take our kids trick or treating together) of only houses we know. Between my sisters and I the kids will still get to visit lots of houses, and hopefully I will get a little piece of mind knowing that hopefully everyone we know aren't psychos!

I will not however be going anywhere near a mall on Halloween! Why take your chances?



Melody

The only thing I will be doing differently this year is to give out pencils and stickers instead of candy. Not because of safety issues, but so that I'm not tempted!!

Jennifer

Our Halloween will be pretty much the same. My neighbor and I make a pre-trick or treating dinner for the neighborhood boys. They then go out trick or treating with the dads while the moms stay home. Although I greive because of the recent events, I refuse to let the terrorists change my way of life. Our school has developed the concept of a Fall Harvest celebration, steering away from the scary elements of the season. I am dissappointed because the kids do not wear customes to school for the parties. The halloween parades through the classrooms are some of my fondest memories of school. We do however, have a fall harvest dance where the kids are allowed to wear customes.

This year I will continue to dress as a witch, but I am not a very scary one.

jenny

Well, Halloween in our small neck of the woods will be the same as it has always been, lots of trick or treaters, and I will be going out with my wee one. She's a cutie little kitty cat this year and we are driving into the next small town over and going out with her little friend Skyler. The kids have such a good time and they are small enough to relax in a stroller if they get tired. My friend's neighbourhood is saturated with families with children and retirees so it's pretty darned safe. I think the biggest event for Miree will be her pumpkin--can't go anywhere without her screaming PUMPKIN! at the top of her little lungs!

Wanna hear something sick ?

It was in the paper that some guy bought $15,000 worth of candy and was going to either inject something in it or lace the outside of it with something and return it back to the stores (for people to buy)......He purchased it at a couple of those warehouse stores like BJ's, Cosco's, Sam's. (over here in New Jersey its BJ's).

Whats wrong with people...... ?

Be carefull everyone

Love Leens