As Halloween approaches each year, I can't help but feel a wave of nostalgia wash over me. The memories of when my daughters were younger and we would spend the holiday together are some of the most cherished moments in my heart. The joy of taking them trick-or-treating, even on the freezing, cold, rainy years, watching their faces light up with excitement as they picked out their costumes ( sometimes changing their minds multiple times after costumes were purchased).
I remember how I used to go all out to make the Halloween experience truly magical for my daughters. I would make themed dinners, the kind that felt like they belonged on Pinterest ( way before #pinterestmoms was a thing) spooky-themed pizzas, stuffed orange peppers cut to look like jack-o-lanterns, and hot apple cider to drink while we walked around the neighborhood.
Now that my daughters are older and have started spending Halloween with their friends, I can't help but feel a bit of sadness. I am happy to see them grow and create their own traditions, there is a part of me that wishes for those simpler times when we were all together. However, I am grateful for the memories we have created and the traditions we have shared, knowing that they will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Back then, Halloween was all about seeing the holiday through their eyes. They would run from house to house, getting candy, while I walked behind them, soaking in every minute. There was something so special about those nights, the crisp autumn air, the laughter, the glow of jack-o-lanterns on doorsteps, and the simplicity of it all. Our city really does have so many homes go all out for Halloween. A lot of homes even have adult drinks for the parents if they chose to take one, haunted outside of homes, and even the police patrolling hand out candy and coupons for free ice cream at a local place.
They’re more excited about dressing up with friends and going out on their own than spending the evening trick-or-treating with me. And while I’m beyond proud of the kind, compassionate, and independent young ladies they’re becoming, it’s a little bittersweet.
Watching them have fun with their friends, I see how much they’ve grown, and part of me aches for the days when they were small enough to hold my hand as we walked door-to-door. It’s a reminder of how fast time flies and how quickly these little moments turn into memories.
But I wouldn’t change a thing. The pride I feel as I watch them navigate their own lives is immeasurable. They may not need me to walk with them anymore, but I’m always there, cheering them on from the sidelines, just as I always have been. Halloween has shifted from a family event to a time where they’re making their own memories with their friends, and I’m grateful to witness this new chapter.
It’s true what they say: the days are long, but the years are short. So, while I miss those simpler times, I’m also learning to embrace the beauty of watching them grow. And maybe I’ll still make that fun Halloween dinner, pour myself a cup of hot apple cider, and enjoy the quiet pride that comes with raising such incredible teenage daughters.