hi,

so tomorrow is halloween, happy new years to any pagans out there! anyway, we have been contemplating on whether or not we are going to take esmond trick-or-treating. so many questions....mmm.

while esmond's running is getting better, he is still a runner. what if he happens to get away from us? do we really want to take a leash with us for him? i really don't want to do that although we probably wouldn't get as many weird looks because of the holiday. people may think it's part of a costume.

Follow up:

but there are so many children where we go that tangles could happen.

and he doesn't talk so he can't say "trick or treat". i don't even know the sign for it. i guess i could learn it tonight and we could cram for it. i thought about dressing him up as a mute. but, then i thought that may be mean or may appear as though i was making fun of my own son. but, then people wouldn't question or try to make him say something he can't.

then there is the whole sensory thing. what if he can't handle the strobe lights or the large crowds of people. where we go is really the block party of halloweens. it is in the historic district and the homeowners are required to participate in holiday events and the decorations are quite elaborate. what if he cant' handle the excitement and the masks or whatever and has a meltdown. then we all have to leave and maxie has to leave a party she has been so looking forward too. or do we just leave him at home with one of us and spend such a fun time apart? if daddy and esmond have to stay home it just won't be as much fun.

we had the same type of concerns when we decided to take the children to the pumpkin farm last weekend. but you know what? everything was just fine. esmond loved the petting zoo and the haystack maze. he loved all of the pumpkins. we had a great time and there were so many sights, sounds, and smells. he handled it great.

so, there is the answer to our question. we still run the chance that esmond may meltdown and the evening be short-lived. but you have to be willing to give them the chance to be part of life.

so happy halloween everybody.
sherri