Halloween

What a fun Halloween!

Since Matt was so nervous about wearing his Harry Potter robe and glasses, I wasn't sure if he'd just be carrying his Harry Potter wand as a costume while trick or treating.

For two months Matt would pick up his Harry Potter robe, yell and toss it away (oh the drama!). I didn't make a big deal out of it. I left the picture that came with the costume on his dresser. I let him put his robe where he wanted it to be at that moment (in the dresser, over a chair, on top of his dresser, on top of his toy box). Every few days he would pick it up, examine it, yell and toss it to a new location.

It was love at first sight with the wand - so I knew we'd at least have that portion of his costume - if nothing else!

I knew the glasses were a long shot. Matt really doesn't like to wear anything on his head. Occasionally I'll be able to convince him to wear a hat. For example, a baseball cap is part of the baseball uniform; therefore EVERYONE who plays wears a hat. When playing for his baseball team, he'll wear his hat. I have sunglasses for him in my purse. Every once in a while, he'll put them on for a little while. Like everything, we make progress slowly but surely. But for a Halloween costume, as opposed to safety, it is not worth the fight to make him wear the glasses portion of his costume. After all, Halloween is supposed to be fun!!

He did put his glasses on for the pictures - both at school and at home. He wore his robe for the pictures at school, but didn't wear his robe - only carried his wand - for the school's Halloween parade. While trick or treating, he carried his glasses in his pumpkin - close! But he wore his robe while trick or treating!! He had on his robe, carried his wand, glow stick and pumpkin (at least until the pumpkin got heavy with all of his candy - then I got to carry it!!).

For trick or treating, Chris took him around the neighborhood and then I took him to Janine's. He really wanted to trick or treat with Aunt Janine again like he did last year. After all, Aunt Janine can scary away the ghosts!! (Imagination - a blessing and a cure!!).

One of the streets near Janine's really gets into Halloween. Amazingly decorated homes! Janine told Matt about each home we were looking at but let Matt decide if he wanted to approach the door. He avoided the houses that were too frightening for him. He trick or treated for over an hour with Janine and me. He was in a great mood the whole time. I think he felt in control since he was the one deciding which houses he'd approach.

When we returned to Janine's house, he watch the baseball game and helped give candy to the kids for another hour. I think he may have enjoyed that even more than trick or treating and getting the candy for himself!!

Janine could not believe how much better he was about trick or treating this year compared to last year. While he was still nervous and some stuff frightened him, he had fun and talked to everyone out on the streets with us.

All in all, Halloween was a complete success!!