There Is No Need To Have A Separate Halloween Party. None.

I was chatting with an old friend last week. She's known me long enough to sense when I'm overwhelmed or frustrated or off balance. At the time, I was struggling with a decision. To go forth with our Halloween Party on the 27th or cancel it. I explained why we wanted to cancel it. I also explained why I was struggling with making that final decision. Her response was simple, but hardcore at the same time.

"If you cancel the party, you're doing what's best for you, Lisa, and your family. If you don't cancel the party, you're only having it for other people's approval."

I wanted to dispute her tidbit of advice, but I didn't. She was right.

A few days ago, I let everyone know that our Halloween Party was canceled for the 27th of this month. I felt a little guilty, but there were a lot of contributing factors that led to our decision.

The first. we're on the path of getting Back to Basics.

Since 2013, we've always had Halloween Day festivities at our home.

I make my annual big "cauldron" of corn chowder. Homemade loaves of bread. Desserts.

We hand out Halloween candy to the trick-or-treaters.

Our neighborhood family stops by to enjoy the feast and contributes to the spread.

A few years ago, we invited a few guests who lived out of town.

Last year, we got a massive storm that blasted our area on the overnight of October 29th into the 30th.

When the storm ended around 3 a.m., I was confident that we were in the clear.

At 6:15 a.m. that morning, we lost power.

It wasn't until the following day that power was restored.

That was on October 31st at around 3:30 p.m.

When power was restored, I made homemade pizza. We turned our porch light on. We handed out candy to all of the trick or treaters. A couple of neighborhood family members stopped by to enjoy the meal.

It was a make-shift Halloween Party, but it was fabulous in more ways than one.

The second, over the past 6 years, our Halloween Party has always happened on October 31st.

It wasn't anything formal.

It. Just. Happened.

The third, our life has changed since 2013. Our family has grown. Our work life has changed. We work more hours.

We depend on the weekends to get stuff done around the house whether it's small projects or catching up on things we didn't get done during the week.

And, more importantly, it's our time to enjoy lots of family time.

The fourth, having a Halloween Party on the Saturday before Halloween and then doing what we normally do on Halloween is too much.

In order to have the Halloween Party on Saturday the 27th, we have to prep the day before. Then, on the day of the party, we'd be running around getting everything ready. On Sunday, we'd spend most of the afternoon cleaning up.

That's THREE days. It's a lot. Too much.

The last reason...

No one has ever volunteered to have the Halloween Party at their house.

I think back to when I was a kid. Christmas Eve was always spent with my Father's side of the family. Each year, between the siblings, they'd rotate who would host the annual Christmas Eve party.

One year, it would be at my Uncle B and Aunt W's house. The following year, my Aunt L and Uncle T would host it. The next year, my parents hosted it.

It was a system that worked.

Hosting a party, whether big or small, is a lot of work and it requires multiple days.

What we do on the actual day of Halloween is something we've done for a lot of years. I only make corn chowder once a year. I make enough to feed many along with loaves of homemade bread and dessert.

That has been our Happy Halloween and one that we enjoy.  And, we will continue to do just that.

There is no need to have a separate Halloween Party.

So, we're not.

End. Of. Story.