PTSD on Halloween Night

I am happy to proclaim that Halloween night was not as bad as I had anticipated. 🙂

My oldest son was perturbed that his sisters were not going to be able to make the long drive to our home & bring his neice & nephews to trick or treat with us this year. He ranted, raved, and released some anger verbally.
My youngest was ready for some candy loot collecting activities though.

Costumes were simple and inexpensive (as usual). I always allow the boys to choose what to be, then I create the costume. My oldest son chose to be death. He wore a black robe, carried a sickle, and wore a black skeletal mask. I was a bit concerned about PTSD on Halloween Night because of this. 
My youngest son was a Star Wars Jedi. He used his Monk costume robe and carried a lightsaber.

These boys are certainly not “little”.  After all, they are 13 & 15 years old now. But trick or treating has always been a part of their childhood lives. After their father passed away, we attempted to resume a normal life, so they have continued in this adventure night.

So, off we went…into trick or treat land. My oldest son with his bitterness and my youngest with his giddy excitement & thoughts of skittles running through his mind.

The first neighborhood was not catering to “older” kids. Each one passing out candy at the homes there gave a disparaging look at the boys & handed them “Just Say No” stickers. Nancy Reagan would have been proud, but the boys were more than disappointed.

We promptly left that neighborhood and went to a sure thing neighborhood. There was candy to be had, and lots of it! My oldest began to perk up some and confessed his anger reasonings he was carrying all night. He was upset because when he trick or treated with his younger neices & nephews, he racked up a large degree of candy. This year, it was all up to luck, charm, and comedy to get candy! And rack up, they did! They had pillow cases full of candy won by wit.

After we got home, the boys did the traditional candy dump and swap to trade candy with each other. Then, my youngest sat some candy outside for Jack & off to bed they went.

They did well all night, after my oldest son moved past the anger stage.  I am most happy to report that PTSD did not have an effect on Halloween Night.

Yea 🙂 🙂 🙂

Oh, I almost forgot, I dressed up also. My costume was an unemployed widowed mom fighting for her family 🙂

There you have it: PTSD on Halloween Night

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