Homeschoolers know all about doing things their own way—it’s just part of who we are. At our house this year, we’re definitely breaking the standard Halloween traditions.
Earlier this year, we were all diagnosed with health problems, the healing of which requires that we stop eating sugar. That’s right—I’ve been dessert and num-num free since June. I’ve lost a lot of weight—51 pounds, at last weigh-in—and we’re all getting healthier, so there are definitely good things coming about because of it. But the holidays are going to be a little strange for us, and Halloween will most certainly be the strangest of all. What is Halloween about if not candy?
I learned on The Biggest Loser last week that Americans typically buy forty pounds of candy every Halloween. A lot of that goes to trick-or-treaters, but a lot of that is consumed at home, as well. That’s pretty amazing.
As we contemplated our unique circumstances this year, my husband and I were torn. We want to do something fun with our kids, but we want it to be something healthy. We don’t want them to miss out on the costumes and the fun. So we decided to start a new family tradition—we’re going to the movies in costume.
The kids have really been looking forward to this. We don’t visit the movie theater often, so that is a treat for them all by itself. They’ve been busily making their costumes and getting ready for the big day, and I bought our tickets ahead of time online so I’m sure we get seats.
Traditions are awesome, but perhaps the most awesome thing about them is the ability we have to create our own. Yes, other people will be trick-or-treating, and that will be a lot of fun for them. But we’re starting our own tradition this year, one we hope our children will enjoy, one we hope will help ease the loss of the candy. Traditions can be created any time, custom-made for your own specific needs. That’s what makes them special—when they mean something to the people carrying them out.
And in the meantime, Happy Halloween!
Related Blogs:
Ways to Avoid the Halloween Sugar Rush
The Low-Down on Unwanted Halloween Loot