Haunted Halloween

In years past, I've shared how Halloween became Teddy's favorite holiday. It basically is as close to breaking and entering and exploring everyone's garages as is socially acceptable ... with the added bonus of candy. 

About 2 years ago, we noticed that inflatable costumes freaked Teddy out, as did the intentional jump scare houses. The same thing was true last year, but Teddy overcame his fear of his best friend's inflatable costume to enjoy trick or treating at most every house, skipping only a handful of scary ones. 

So, I expected the same this year, but that was clearly a trick. It started with the Halloween dance at school, where I got the call that Teddy was really struggling despite their best efforts. Teddy desperately wanted to be with all the music and kids, but the costumes were too much for him. That gave me pause, although the team said they thought it was harder this year than last because the dance was really packed. (Last year he needed to take a couple sensory breaks but overall enjoyed the dance.)

Our Halloween plans included trick or treating with his bestie, and Teddy was so excited to go to his house. But when his friend came out in costume (not inflatable, no mask and not the least bit scary), Teddy refused to get out of the car. It took about 10 minutes to coax Teddy into their house (through the garage), where he promptly dropped to the kitchen floor overwhelmed and scared with the costumes. 

Our friends were beyond accommodating, taking off masks, offering to take off costumes and making every effort to make Teddy feel comfortable and let him get acclimated on his own terms. Despite that, there was no way Teddy was leaving their kitchen, so I sent them on their way to trick or treat ... with a disappointed bestie who couldn't understand why Teddy was scared and couldn't go. 

As the evening went on, Teddy became more comfortable and moved to their dining room to watch the festivities from the window, scampering back to the kitchen if a particularly scary costume approached. He had plenty of fun in his own way, sending me out to trick or treat at his friend's house, collapsing in giggles with my antics and those of his friend's grandma (who is absolutely amazing with Teddy). 

This was most of trick or treating. Watching from the window.

When his friend came back from trick or treating, Teddy said he wanted to go try trick or treating. It took him 20 minutes to work up the courage, heading out of the house and then running back in, making it onto the lawn and then running back in, and so on. But, with 10 minutes left in trick or treating, with his friend and both his grandparents plus me in tow, Teddy made it across the road to trick or treat. He did 2 houses fully and made it mostly up the driveway at 2 more before deciding the houses were too sketch.

We ventured back to his friend's house for dinner, paint your own cookies and painting ceramic haunted houses, which is something Teddy really enjoys. So, despite it not being what we had planned and even with the fear, Teddy still very much enjoyed his evening, had plenty of laughs and an equal amount of candy. 

It's so hard for me when things don't go as planned (not my strength in general), and it's extra tough when we think something will be so much fun like trick or treating with your bestie. It's also rather heartbreaking when Teddy very much wants to join in the fun but simply can't get over his fear. 

But, his joy still persevered. Joy wins out over fear in the end ... in so many things! 

Joy wins over fear!