All hallows in Autieland!

Halloween has always been my favourite time of year. Ever since I was a little whippersnapper I thought the night was magic. I loved dressing up and hearing ghost stories and playing games. Are you afraid of the dark? was probably the TV show that kick started my interest in horror/fantasy as well as the Goosebump books by R.L Stine. As I got older I loved horror films right up until I became a Mammy and now I am the definitive Wuss! I have this aversion now to the films I used to really enjoy. I loved to sit in and watch Nightmare on Elm street or the Amityville Horror or the Shining but not now I would be hiding behind the couch or sleeping with the lights on for a week! I know how strange it sounds but it is true, I have to really hype myself up by telling myself it is not real, they are just actors and that is just ketchup! Then someone says it is a true story and que the sleepless nights.

It is funny how your perception changes. Now it is all about showing the kids the magic. You really have to approach Halloween with caution when it comes to kids on the spectrum. Some of them are terrified by masks that other kids wear. They do not always grasp the concept of dressing up and the whole thing can be very confusing and frightening. I know with Diddles there is no way he would wear a mask probably because of the echo he would hear with it on or the feel of it against his skin. We really had to work him up to wear the costume this year. Barry had to play flying games and let him bounce around the place a bit before the costume could go near him! He was Buzz Lightyear and Madman was a crocadile. We had them all dressed up and kids started calling to the door. They then were disgusted because we were giving these strange little monster kids all of their sweets. So we had to get a move on before they might have taken the sweets back from some childs trick or treat bag. We gave them their own little loot bags and ventured out to visit our neighbours in the hope that Diddles would enjoy it and not become anxious with the variety of costumes on the other kids or the echo of fireworks. He was grand, both of them were delighted with themselves. They got the idea after two houses. Ring the bell, wait and get sweets. Not really surprising they became pro trick or treaters after 10 minutes or so. The only thing missing was that neither of them were saying trick or treat. Diddles if he said anything at all was saying "trick or tea" and Madman just kept saying "Cheeeeese" as if posing for a photo! Still they did well! It was a good night for them.