It was a good run. Our kids are older now and every single year (minus Covid) we've spent Halloween together as a family. Is this normal? When the kids were younger, sure, but for the past few years I knew our days were numbered. This year...it finally happened.
I had naively gathered the family to blissfully announce I was thinking of a Harry Potter theme with Lauren Elizabeth's hair teased out for Hermione, Preston as Harry Potter, Ethan as Professor Dumbledore, Christian as Hagrid, my husband as Voldemort and I as Professor McGonagall.
As the six of us stood around the kitchen counter, I was met with blank stares.
I questioned, "What, do you want a different theme?" Excitement in my voice as it'd been two years since we'd planned.
"Ummmmm, mom?" Our daughter muttered as the three boys turned their widely opened eyes to her, wondering if she had the nerve.
"I want to go with my friends."
The seven words were a knife to my heart. Her brothers took a step back and cautiously waited for my response.
"Mom?" Then our oldest began, "My friends all want to hang out, too."
Knife. Twist.
"Mom?..."
Turning to another son, my jaw dropped. "REALLY?!"
He began to laugh, "I'm sorry! But I got invited to a party and I really want to go!"
My husband, putting his hands on my shoulders grinned. "It's time. They need to spread their Halloween wings and have fun with their friends."
I knew it was true. It was a bitter sweet realization and I'm fully aware we've had more years of fun than I could ever hope for. It's just hard to know it's over. All the years of costumes, candy, fall leaves and candle lit pumpkins...over. I'm thankful for the years we've had and thankful for the years they'll have from now on.
I'll try to take some pictures as they go in different directions this year and hope to catch one or two. More than anything else however, I'm glad they have wonderful friends who they'll make new and amazing memories with. Even though I know ours are over, I'll hold them in my Trick-or-Treating heart forever.
I had naively gathered the family to blissfully announce I was thinking of a Harry Potter theme with Lauren Elizabeth's hair teased out for Hermione, Preston as Harry Potter, Ethan as Professor Dumbledore, Christian as Hagrid, my husband as Voldemort and I as Professor McGonagall.
As the six of us stood around the kitchen counter, I was met with blank stares.
I questioned, "What, do you want a different theme?" Excitement in my voice as it'd been two years since we'd planned.
"Ummmmm, mom?" Our daughter muttered as the three boys turned their widely opened eyes to her, wondering if she had the nerve.
"I want to go with my friends."
The seven words were a knife to my heart. Her brothers took a step back and cautiously waited for my response.
"Mom?" Then our oldest began, "My friends all want to hang out, too."
Knife. Twist.
"Mom?..."
Turning to another son, my jaw dropped. "REALLY?!"
He began to laugh, "I'm sorry! But I got invited to a party and I really want to go!"
My husband, putting his hands on my shoulders grinned. "It's time. They need to spread their Halloween wings and have fun with their friends."
I knew it was true. It was a bitter sweet realization and I'm fully aware we've had more years of fun than I could ever hope for. It's just hard to know it's over. All the years of costumes, candy, fall leaves and candle lit pumpkins...over. I'm thankful for the years we've had and thankful for the years they'll have from now on.
I'll try to take some pictures as they go in different directions this year and hope to catch one or two. More than anything else however, I'm glad they have wonderful friends who they'll make new and amazing memories with. Even though I know ours are over, I'll hold them in my Trick-or-Treating heart forever.
Have a safe and Happy Halloween to you and yours! XO
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