There is the pumpkin picking trip, which is less about picking pumpkins and mostly about paying $3 for the corn maze, $5 for the children's adventure area, $1 for a piece of corn and fighting through the crowds to supervise your children who are trying to run amuck. They have karate, dance, gymnastic parties. We take them trick or treating at indoor facilities. We walk them through the neighborhood and crush their exuberance with every neighbor we spend time chatting with, slowing their progress and forcing their disrespect of elders. Afterall, we are the ones out of line, we are the ones who should be gracious. We are in essence tagging along on their "playdate." If we are truly present for their safety and their sake then we need to behave in such a manner and only interfere in their best interest. But of course it becomes about what we want and what we are comfortable with and we have ruined the holiday.
We are always three steps behind and counting to ten; chasing our tails as we try to keep them under control. We are yelling at them to slow down, keep up, stay where I can see you and for God's sake why can't you listen; when the truth is we shouldn't be talking. This is their day and they know it. Somewhere in their DNA the truth of the day has been passed down. The spirit of the day compels their waywardness and they are embracing their right! But instead we keep them safe and Billy will be punished for running off and not listening, Mom will exasperatedly tell how stubborn John was eating too much candy and throwing up and Susie will be chastised for not playing nicely with the neighbor's stupid cousin. "Why are kids so difficult these days?"
