Parenting &... Halloween
Happy end of October everyone! I wanted to send out a short newsletter this time with a simple thought.
Halloween is almost here! Which means most of us feel many strong emotions, anything from Super-Pumped-EXCITED-I-love-costumes-dressing-up-and-raiding-my-kid’s-candy-bucket! and I-can’t-believe-it’s-already-that-time-again-I-hate-costumes-and-people-knocking-on-my-door-all-night. Wherever you fall, it can be a very busy few nights to say the least!
Often right before Halloween, I get this picture of what I want the night to be - I want the kids to have so much fun, I want people to love their costumes, I want an amazing picture of my group, I want the porch/house to be decorated beautifully, and I want my kids to eat the exact correct amount of candy.
What actually happens is what happened for us a few nights ago (at an early community Fall Fest) - we had a pee emergency on the way there, refusal from all kids to eat the offered hotdogs, one child taking off his costume halfway through the night, kids eating WAY too much candy for one evening, and real difficulty getting that group picture that I want so much.
And you know what - it was still a good night. My kids had fun, they looked adorable, I got to raid some candy from their buckets, and we all made it home in one piece.
I think often, as people and especially as parents, we enter into moments in our lives with super high expectations. I think that it’s great to dream and have goals, and I also think that sometimes our picture of how we think something should be gets in the way of us enjoying the reality of how things actually are.
And so my thought for you is this - this Halloween, try to enjoy the moment for what it is. Let go of the pressure from others, and from yourself, to create this picture-perfect event where everything is smooth and orchestrated perfectly. Something will go wrong. Something will not go smoothly. And something will ruin at least a part of your perfectly laid plans.
And that is just fine, because that is just life. Don’t let stress and pressure rob you of the beautiful, unplanned, real life moments that you get to have with your people.
Happy Halloween, everyone! I hope your night is full of real life and beautiful moments!
Laura Harris is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who works in the Northwest Arkansas area, servicing Bentonville, Rogers, and Springdale. With over 10 years of experience, she's worked in various fields from in-home parenting counseling, to kids, to supervision of other therapists. Currently her specialty is supporting new parents, especially mothers.
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