To My Younger Self,

It's finally your favorite season of the year. The weather is crisp, the apples and pumpkins are ripe, and the neighborhood is ready for the best night of the month: Halloween. There's so much that comes with this fun-filled holiday, and I just want to say that I would do anything to go back to the early 2000s to celebrate it. Of course, I can still celebrate, but it's not the same as it was. And it probably never will be, at least, not until I have kids of my own. So, continue to savor those nights. They're now really close to my heart.

Make sure you're appreciative of Dad's transforming the garage into the best haunted house the neighborhood has ever seen. Make sure you go trick or treating in your very own neighborhood, since those are the families you know and love most (plus, they give out the best candy).

Make sure you let Grandmom come trick or treating with you; after all, adults miss it, too. Last but not least, eat as much candy as you want. I know every year Mom cautions you about how much candy you should and shouldn't eat, or how much to set aside, but you're only young once. One day, you'll be a busy college student trying to keep the weight off. Enjoy those Reese's now.

Also, don't get too stressed about your costume. If Mom and Dad offer to take you to "Party Fair," you should definitely go, but you don't need to spend a lot of money (if you decide you just want to be a witch again, then so be it.) And if someone at school has the same costume as you, who cares. None of this will matter in the grand scheme of things.

Try not to get frustrated when you, Andrew, Jane and Matt carve pumpkins. You don't have to be the most creative or the most artistic in order to have fun. Speaking of fun, don't forget to jump in a huge leaf pile - it's way more fun when you're a kid. The same goes for Halloween movie nights. Make sure you treasure the little things.

On a more serious note, one of the most important things I can say is this: as fun as it is to dress up as someone else, know that it is only meant for that one day of the year. All other 364 days are for you to be you.

Please go trick or treating every year until it's socially unacceptable (yes, even when you have school the next day.) You're only a little kid once, so give me lots of stories to tell and many memories to cherish.