Mike and I went to a Hallow-scare party two nights before Halloween. He wore a scary mask, a black cape and carried a scythe, like the one carried by the grim reaper. I think he scared no one—but me.
The party was for 12-and 13-year-olds and let me tell you, these kids do not scare easily. The host even revved up a (chainless) chain saw…they initially looked surprised then gave a shrug. I ask you, who is going to scream like a schoolgirl in front of his classmates?
My son tells me it would have been scarier if, while distracted by one person, another crept up behind you and got really, really close. Hmmm… we will keep that in mind for next year.
Even then, I think it would take Freddy Krueger himself to get a rise out of these kids. (Too many video games and SAW movies.) You can’t blame the parents for trying. It was really fun to see them morph into ghoul after ghoul. I am sure one mom is still washing glow-in-the-dark paint out of her hair. She looked great!
The kids also wanted candy, lots of it. Though the mannequin dressed in a costume named “Candy” was a huge laugh for the adults—the kids didn’t get it. They thought there should be tons of candy along the trail, just like Hansel and Gretel being led to the house made of treats. The fact that a witch was waiting to fatten them up, cook them up and eat them like a cannibal escaped them entirely.
Thanks for trying, Brothers Grimm. I think your candy warning and chubby children missed its mark on the modernday child. These kids can put it away by the handful on Halloween night. But I must say my kids are usually done after a day or two. The remaining candy usually makes its way to Dad’s work by November 5th.
So it comes down to this… who had an awesome night of fun, the parents or the kids?
Both!
But for different reasons. I think the parents liked dressing up and trying to scare the bejezzus out of the kids, actually being teenagers again themselves. I think the kids liked seeing their parents get into the act, wearing costumes, masks and being chased through the woods. I also think they enjoyed acting like it didn’t affect them in any way, shape or form.
I must tell you they are much braver than I was at their age….a neighbor played “Headless Horseman” while I was trick or treating one year and I had nightmares for months. It sure wasn’t worth a Texas gallon pail of candy in my book! I hope you had a wonderful Halloween!
I’ll go check it out.
Quote from the First Dead Guy in every slasher flick ever made.
Taste of Home columnist Sandy (Anderson) Holthaus lives on a farm in South Haven, MN with her husband, Michael, and their children Zoe, Jack and Ben. Her heart remains on the North Shore where she grew up with her parents, Art and LaVonne Anderson of Schroeder. She enjoys writing about her childhood and mixes memories with delicious helpings of home-style recipes.
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