jmartin's blog

Halloween is a big holiday in our house. With three kids, costume planning begins as early as the day after the holiday itself. Jack o' lanterns get made and spider webs hung as soon as October hits. But what about all that candy? Parents know eating 12 mini Snickers, 2 lollipops, 4 Reeses and an M and M everyday for the next week or so can't be good for their kids' health--it's no secret the negative effects excess sugar has on teeth, weight, blood sugar maintenance, and mood, not to mention the effects from all the preservatives, corn syrup, and food coloring. But parent's also don't want to be the bad guy--like it or not, trick or treating is a part of our culture that kids really enjoy and look forward to. With that said, I'll pass on to you our family's Halloween candy-ridding secret: The Great Pumpkin.

I love the turning of the seasons, each with their own rituals and colors and energy. In our family we have a season table, which we change with every turn. We just got down our “Autumn” box—the kids pulled out old acorns and crumbling leaves from last year, a dried, red pomegranate and an orange and yellow gourd, dark, shiny horse chestnuts, some little acorn people made over the years complete with toothpick legs and acorn caps, and, of course, the requisite dried corn. This tradition was begun when my oldest, now 12, was a preschooler. I keep expecting her to outgrow it and leave it to just her younger brothers, but more often than not it is she who reminds me, “Mom it’s time to change the table!”

With the table set, we’re reminded of the things to come in autumn: watching the full harvest moon rise over the backyard, going to Sauvie’s Island to pick our pumpkins, picking out costumes for Halloween and trick or treating, putting our garden to bed and planting bulbs for spring, saying goodbye to the swallows and Canada geese and hello to the golden-crowned sparrows, gathering around friends and family at Thanksgiving, remembering to put slippers on our feet when it’s cold.