Halloween : Special Needs

My girls went trick or treating last night, just like the majority of kids in industrialized nations around the world.

This year was the first time that Blythe, at age 3 1/2, willingly participated. 

In previous years she either had no interest at all, or completely hated the festivities involved.

It’s significant for her, a child with severe food allergies and Sensory Processing Disorder, to willingly participate in something that puts her so far out of her comfort zone.

She can’t eat any of the candy she collects.  I buy special corn-free candy for her beforehand, and trade her for her stash so that she can have some treats.  It amazes me that she doesn’t mind handing over her goodies.

Until a few months ago, her SPD kept her from appreciating the joy of dressing up.  She was terrified of costumes of any kind.  Wigs, masks, feathers, anything with texture freaked her out to the point of  a complete meltdown.

Last year, in preparation for Halloween, I spent months choosing a costume for her that resembled her beloved footy jammies, but in the end… there was no costume. 

She wore her footy jammies with a name tag that read, “Hello, I’m STUBBORN” and you wouldn’t believe the laughs she generated.

My kid was terrified of the costumes, completely intimidated by the idea of wearing something ‘different’ and couldn’t even eat the candy she collected… in my mind, I thought, “What’s the point??” 

Halloween was a nightmare, to put it mildly… but I wasn’t about to deprive Alison of her night of fun when she willingly gives up so much for the sake of her sister on a regular basis.

This year, though, was different.  Blythe actually showed an interest in choosing a costume and was set on being a ghost.  Which changed into a very, very strong desire to be Princess Ariel… something rather out of character, but who am I to say what she can or can’t be??

She wore her Princess costume, at first over footy pajamas (of course) and then over her favorite outfit.

She trick-or-treated for awhile with her sister and friend, and then decided to help me and her friend’s mom pass out candy.

She never complained, not a single time, that she couldn’t eat the candy.

She loved her costume, and cried when it was time to take it off and go to bed.

What a difference a year makes.  My girl…. she amazes me every single day.

Every. Single. Day.