10-12-2022, 10:32 PM
A couple of days before the Halloween schedule change was announced our local version of Cindy Lou approached me and asked why we already had Halloween decorations out. Had I known the plan I could have cleverly replied ‘because Halloween is coming early this year’. I, also, prefer to celebrate on the actual date but then I come from a more traditional time when my mother could make sugar cookies and decorate them with orange frosting and chocolate chip pumpkin faces to hand out and we could get actual popcorn balls from other neighbors. I think it is appropriate to recognize that this is a community event not just a parent/ teacher event so I might question why that group are the sole deciders. Still, even if I do not agree it is necessary, I understand why a contingent lobbied for a different day and have to acknowledge that in a group/democracy/community you sometimes have to go along with a majority even when you do not agree.
For some of us Halloween planning is more than a three week exercise and for many of us weekend commitments can be made well in advance of a three week window. In our own case we expected to have three days to do the last minute parts of decorating including the weather sensitive things that can not be done in advance. Instead we have one. And due to other commitments we don’t get to just start two days earlier on those.
So I am going to suggest that if this is a school (PTO) decision each year that it should be reviewed along with the rest of the school schedule as school starts in the fall and announced then. The calendar doesn’t change. And everyone can know well in advance how to plan their Halloween time period.
Also, I do not recommend leaving out an unattended bowl of candy. We have some experiences with this including last year when we walked away from the bowl to talk at the fence for a bit with friends when things had slowed down only to find that just a few kids later a substantial remaining bowl had been entirely emptied. Unfortunately there are a few trick or treaters that have not learned to take only their share when no one is looking. But it means they learn they can do it and later kids learn a lesson of being too late to the party and getting nothing. Perhaps if you are not around on Saturday the better option is to give that candy to a parent or teacher so it can be distributed by them.
Wishing everyone a Spooky Saturday.
For some of us Halloween planning is more than a three week exercise and for many of us weekend commitments can be made well in advance of a three week window. In our own case we expected to have three days to do the last minute parts of decorating including the weather sensitive things that can not be done in advance. Instead we have one. And due to other commitments we don’t get to just start two days earlier on those.
So I am going to suggest that if this is a school (PTO) decision each year that it should be reviewed along with the rest of the school schedule as school starts in the fall and announced then. The calendar doesn’t change. And everyone can know well in advance how to plan their Halloween time period.
Also, I do not recommend leaving out an unattended bowl of candy. We have some experiences with this including last year when we walked away from the bowl to talk at the fence for a bit with friends when things had slowed down only to find that just a few kids later a substantial remaining bowl had been entirely emptied. Unfortunately there are a few trick or treaters that have not learned to take only their share when no one is looking. But it means they learn they can do it and later kids learn a lesson of being too late to the party and getting nothing. Perhaps if you are not around on Saturday the better option is to give that candy to a parent or teacher so it can be distributed by them.
Wishing everyone a Spooky Saturday.