138. How Halloween 2022 Actually Went: A Follow Up to Episode 136

This brief episode is a follow up to Episode 136…if you haven’t listened to that one, I highly recommend listening to that one first, otherwise this one won’t make very much sense. I feel like it’s really important to not just talk about ideas or make plans, but to take time for self-reflection after an event to see how you’re feeling—especially as a mom. Mamas set the tone for their entire family and sometimes it can feel really out of control to create a plan only to have the day come and the plan go out the window. Halloween 2022 was no exception for us. There were frantic moments the day of Halloween with costume preparation and getting everyone out the door on time, but all in all, I’d say this holiday went well and my goals ended up being more of a guideline than a set in stone plan of action. My Original Goals From Episode 136 Included: · Wean off of Halloween traditions (trick or treating) · Switch Witch · Harvest Festivals and parties over mainstream celebrations · Heirloom costumes (no darkness) · Celebrate with neighbors, make it clear we will use our discernment & leave if necessary · Talk openly about Halloween and spiritual warfare · Make pie instead of scary jack-o-lanterns · Be aware of sweets consumption and ingredients · Set a good example for our kids with either no costumes or innocent ones · Up our vitamin regiment, get good sleep, take care of our health How Halloween 2022 Actually Went: · We’re still upping our vitamin regiment, getting good sleep and taking care of our health · Switch Witch went off without a hitch · We’re aware of sweets consumptions and ingredients—the kids asked about the candies they received and tried a few. They all agreed most of them were gross (green snickers, smarties, fire balls, etc). We let them have chocolates I bought at the health food store, let them keep just a few from trick-or-treating (they all chose less than 5 each!), and in general, candy was a non-issue · We set a good example with no costumes…truthfully, I just didn’t have it in me this year. I was not motivated to spend money on Halloween costumes for the grownups · The kids’ heirloom quality costumes were amazing and continue to be an everyday play hit in our homeschool. I’m really glad we invested in www.khepp.com and www.treasuresfromjennifer.com · We did talk openly about Halloween and spiritual warfare…although it was a bit of a dance. I was left wondering if we shared too much or in the right way? · We did not make a pie with our pumpkins, we fed them to the chickens after we carved nice things in them at a friend’s Harvest Party (did you see that “Jesus knows your harvest parties are really Halloween parties” meme going around?) · Our church’s Harvest Festival was a blast…so wholesome and well organized! We will definitely be going again next year · Are we weaning off Halloween? I don’t know. It was so fun doing an activity with our neighbors. I think it made me realize I want to do more adventures with them and it doesn’t have to be trick-or-treating · A word on Trick-or-Treating…I had a moment where I thought this is so picturesque! What’s the harm in this? And then we came to the creepy house…listen to the full episode to hear this part FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE AT: WWW.ELEVATINGMOTHERHOOD.COM