Halloween… Glimpses into a Kid’s Mind
Posted on Saturday, October 31st, 2009
I am reprinting my original post about Halloween from last year because, although my grandkids are a year older, nothing has changed. They still have different approaches to how they handle their world… but more importantly, their Halloween candy! However, neither one of them likes Almond Joy bars, so guess who ended up with a generous gift of miniature candy bars… me! Thank you! Enjoy the read and I hope your Trick-or-Treat night was just as memorable as mine. The costumes change but the hugs stay the same. Thank you Mason and Delaney (and Nicole and Joe, too)! The original 2008 post follows:
I like Halloween; it’s a “no pressure” holiday. If you decorate your house the night before, it’s soon enough. Halloween doesn’t take a lot of preparation and you don’t have to fight crowds in the shopping malls every weekend for months. And if you need a costume, anything will do in a pinch. I don’t know anyone who didn’t dress up as a hobo for Trick-or-Treat night at least once, either as a kid or adult.
Trick-or-Treat night has changed in some parts of the country, but where we live, the kids still go out the night of Halloween after it gets dark, just like in the old days. We’re sensible about it and we just walk with the kids around the neighborhood we know. I tag along with my grandkids, which has brought back some fond memories of my own excursions through our neighborhood on All Hallows Eve, and of the candy.
My grandkids make quite a haul each year Trick-or-Treating. I figured out pretty quickly what my real job was while I was going along with the family. My job is to carry extra bags along so the grandkids can dump their candy in it as they go. They each have their own extra bag so the candy doesn’t get mixed up. That would be a Halloween faux pas.
Back home, my little pirates dump their bags out on the floor in the living room and begin the sorting process. This is a fascinating ritual. Witnessing the sorting strategy and style of both my grandkids has offered me a little glimpse into their futures.
My grandson, the older of the two, begins a very complicated technique of piling candy bars together, miscellaneous chocolates together, gummies together, sweet tarts together, and so forth. This process takes some very diligent thinking because there are always rogue candies out there that don’t fit a category. And what in the world do you do with the non-candy items? He ponders these treats in front of him and makes decisions regarding their value after much thought.
Meanwhile, my granddaughter is sitting in front of her mountain of candy, quickly and without forethought, picking up a piece, examining it briefly for any value it would offer her, and exclaiming “want it” or “don’t want it”. Her treats have been quickly deemed either acceptable and kept, or dismissed to a garbage heap and never seen again. She has perfected the quick cull. Done. No turning back.
My theory is that this ritual plays out in everyday life, and I’ve seen it proven over and over again. Their methods of problem solving are so different from one another. They both make me laugh and, hopefully, their unique personality styles will continue to serve them well. I hope everyone has a safe and Happy Halloween and I wish you continued success sorting your Halloween candy for many years to come.
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Ah, what you describe is a technique psychologists and social manipulators also use. It is a good technique when used with good intentions. It is simple, too. I recall a guy named Jesus who said that he who is righteous in little is also righteous in much and who is unrighteous in a little, is also so in much. By the little things we do, we reveal ourselves. Sometimes it is the little things we should pay more attention to, for they might tell us quite a bit.
This fun post springs back a memory. Figuring out how I could sneak my favorite candy from my girls’ stash, without the girls knowing mom was stealing their candy.
Too funny, Barbara, and way too familiar! I went Trick-Or-Treating last night, and my parting words to my granddaughter were; “If you have any sour gummy worms, save them for Gramma, okay?” Do we ever grow up?
Thanks for stopping by and confessing your guilt.
😉