So Far From Sneaky

We originally planned to boycott the latest suburbia Halloween fad – “booing.” First out of spite for being overlooked our first few years in the neighborhood. Second, out of annoyance for actually being included – on a Saturday night after the kids were in bed, where a ringing doorbell only makes the dog bark, which in turn wakes sleeping children. There went our one night of peace and quite with a bottle of wine, as Avery spent the next four hours perched between us on the couch insisting on watching Dora.

But since we did get a basket of Halloween treats (and a second the following night because we still had not affixed the “boo” sign properly in our front window), we felt like we should participate out of guilt (and fear of the Halloween curse that is so vividly described in the photo-copied “boo” letter).

So we gathered some candy and re-stocked one of the Halloween buckets (yes, kind of like re-gifting). We discussed our plan – knock, leave the candy and run away – and then headed out the door at 8:15 to assess the two potential houses that have yet to be “boo’d” on our block.

Luckily, the Festas did not have a “boo” sign, but despite an easy and close target, as a family we were very unsuccessful in our first “boo” attempt. With Alex and Avery in tow, I realized that ages four and two are much too young to understand that you are supposed to give the candy away, you can’t wait on the porch for your friends to open the door and you can’t scream “I don’t like surprises” all the way home. So much for tradition and for being sneaky.