The Day After Halloween

I know that for many people Christmas or Mother’s Day is their hardest day of the year, but for me, it’s Halloween. I always think I want to see the kids in costumes, but I usually end up standing behind the door at some point in the night, crying. It is bittersweet to see the parents gathered in groups at the bottom of our steps, encouraging their kids to trick or treat, or even the packs of teens enjoying themselves. Our house feels so empty.

Before we had kids, we used to have a big Halloween party every year, and we’d take turns passing out candy while eating dinner. I always thought about how one day it would be me taking the kids around. I didn’t think about that time afterward, when they’re grown up and far away and Halloween continues.