Mommy Moments
September, 2016 – Looking Ahead to the Holidays
#ILoveMyNeighborhood
While it’s not even September yet as I write this, you would think it’s very close to Halloween if you walk through any department store. So I’m thinking about the upcoming holidays naturally. I’m realizing that my neighborhood does a pretty great job with Halloween and Christmas.
Halloween is easy. We collect money from each family who wants to participate and order pizzas. We set up folding tables and chairs in someone’s driveway and bring out some other appetizers too. Desserts aren’t really necessary, since the kids will be eating more candy than they do any other day of the year. As it gets dark, we all gather together and get to see the fun costumes.
Then the kids embark on their walk around the circle. Our neighborhood circles around a lake and it’s a nice full night for most of the kids. Some of the older kids go on to pursue other neighborhoods, but the younger kids have usually had enough after a lap around the circle. It used to bother me that the kids would all go in one big group – sometimes with 15 or 20 of them. I tried to separate them into smaller groups. It was impossible. They enjoy doing trick-or-treating together. My daughter enjoys being a leader, so she tried to go first and I cannot keep up with her. Now I just go with the flow. It’s chaos, it’s too many kids arriving at people’s doors, but they are having fun. So that’s what matters.
Depending on the ages of the kids and the tiredness of the parents, people wander back into their homes or hang out longer. Anyway, it’s such a fun night to look forward to – for the kids and the adults.
We have an annual Christmas neighborhood party too. Some of the neighbors celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas, but since this get together involves a visit from Santa, we call it a Christmas party. So we pitch in to rent a bounce house. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus come to the neighborhood in a fire truck. They deliver a wrapped gift (usually less than $20) to each child, calling them up one by one. We all bring an appetizer or something to share. I believe it’s BYOB, if I remember correctly. This is a fun tradition. Some of the adults (ahem!) have been known to take a turn in the bounce house too.
Last Easter we had a nice surprise too. Our very nice neighbor who lives around the corner, Jose, created an Easter egg hunt in his yard for all the kids. He has kids and grandkids, but they are all in New Jersey. He likes to create a little fun in his own yard, maybe since his own grandchildren are so far away. There were a few special eggs, and those who found them got a larger prize.
Now these are all things you could do on a smaller scale – like just with your family or with a couple of next-door families. We are blessed to have about eight households participate in these things, sometimes more. The more kids, the more chaos, the more fun (generally speaking).
However, you are preparing for the holidays, I hope you are enjoying the getting ready process. Happy September!
Krista Martinelli
Krista Martinelli is the founder/owner of AroundWellington.com. She has two kids, who keep her busy – one in elementary school and one in middle school.