Halloween Rules For Grown-ups

I received this email from FlyLady today. When I began reading it I started to laugh, but then I realized what good advice it is. Especially for some adult males who-don't-really-like-holidays-I-won't-mention-any-names-but-it-starts-with-Dan. For instance, we're attending Sunny's Harvest Festival at school this afternoon. I am way enthusiastic, someone who shall remain nameless is not so much. But even he realizes that these are moments we will never get back. And once he says he's going to do it, he'll do it without complaint (until we get home and he may complain to me!) If this is too many rules for you, just follow Rule #1 and Rule #2 and you'll be fine.

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For those of you that will be attending fall festivals, trick or treating, Halloween parties, trunk or treating or anything else we can call this weekend I want to address a few rules for Moms & Dads, Grandmoms, Grandads, aunts, uncles and anyone else that might be participating with children for the afore mentioned events.

1. It will be hard, it will be long, accept it, know it, embrace it.

2. Have fun, you will never get these days back, there are no do-overs.

3. Have Patience, your kids will not even be able to contain themselves they are going to be so exited. They will be bouncing off the walls, will want to wear their costumes at 9 in the morning, will wake up like it is Christmas morning. It may not be a big deal for some of you but it is a huge deal to them. (See number 2)

4. Don't over-schedule! Be realistic as to what can really be accomplished. Don't try running errands with kids that are so stoked to go out and celebrate. Reschedule things that can be rescheduled so you all can have fun together! (See number 2)

5. Be prepared - have a game plan as to what is going to happen. Where are you going, what time, who with for how long. Once you know, explain it to your kids AHEAD of time, do not expect them to just agree with you and leave quietly. It will not happen. (See number 1)

6. Be the fun one - let's say that you want to leave or stop trick or treating at 9:00 pm, tell your kids 8:30. Then when they ask (beg) for a few minutes more say YES! They will never know what time you really wanted to leave and you get fun, cool adult status for the night! (See number 2)

7. Do not Procrastinate - if you need supplies get them as soon as possible! Don't be the one in line with your kid half way dressed on the way because you needed to get the last few things. It will make your kids crazy and in turn make you crazy. Right now make a list of anything you need to do. Review the list. Delegate what you can if you can and make a game plan. (See number 1) (PS - don't forget the flashlight and check the batteries!)

8. Plan your meals ahead of time - the drive thrus will be crammed with all the people that did not plan and the pizza places will be hours behind due to the volume of people that called before you did. Plan breakfast, lunch and dinner. You will be so glad you did (See number 2 ) If you don't plan for this you will pay with hungry, tired cranky kids! (See number 1)

9. Go to bed as early as you can the night before you start celebrating, plan a quiet evening if possible. Try everything you can to ease into the day. Sleep and good nutrition will really help keep the crankiness at bay. I am not saying that there won't be cranky times but you can take preventative measures to reduce the length and number.(See number 1)

10.) No Yelling - unless it is an emergency and it warrants yelling. How you behave will set the tone, if you are cranky, tired and yelling your kids will make you even crankier, more tired and you will yell more and so it goes. (See number 1) If you make every attempt, no matter how frustrated and tired you may be, to establish that this is all about fun they are more likely to follow. (See number 2)

11.) Listen - if your kids are telling you they are hungry or thirsty, they are. If your kids tell you that they need to go to the bathroom, they do. If they tell you that they are tired and want to go home, they do. I guarantee that if you are not listening or putting them off, it will cost you big. (See number 1)

To sum this up for you, it will be hard but make sure you have fun! You won't get this time back, make great memories; you all deserve them!