Trick or Treat!
Happy Halloween!
Halloween is one of the greatest times of the year in the eyes of a child. Think about it. Kids get to dress up however their hearts desire, walk around with their friends, and get a ton of candy from their neighbors. They get to have parties and parades and eat an insane amount of sugar that is not acceptable any other day of the year. And with Halloween comes trick or treating. Trick or treat is a night of magic, excitement, and fun. Kids get to express themselves in a way that they do not get to the rest of the year, and they can go as bold, creative, and extravagant as they want to. A child can dress pretty, scary, funny, or crazy. They can dress like a movie star, a famous singer, or even a video game character. The point is the child can dress however they want to and be whoever they want to for a night, and that is really special. But there comes a time in life when we don't go trick or treating anymore. There is no set age that a person must stop trick or treating, but sometimes opinions are formed as to what this age should be, and things can get a little ugly. (Like green faced wicked witch ugly) I have experienced this first hand. I was yelled at when I was thirteen and trick or treating with my friends. I was refused candy when I was fifteen and trick or treating with my friends. Those are not the childhood memories that I cherish.
Take a second and think about how fast kids already have to grow up. Freshmen in high school face the pressure of finding an occupation that they would like to do for the rest of their lives. Kids apply for jobs the day that they are eligible. The weight of college acceptance rides on a single test that is taken around the age of seventeen. Does kindergarten even have nap time anymore?
Kids have to grow up so fast. Being an adult comes so fast. So don't take this from them. Let them be creative and let them have fun and let them be themselves. Don't turn the sixteen-year-old kid on your doorstep away. Don't yell at them. Don't make them feel bad. Don't make them feel guilty. Give them a piece of candy and tell them how awesome their costume is. Because tomorrow, when that kid is putting on a suit to go to their first work interview, they are going to cherish that memory. They will forever cherish getting to be a kid.
