Halloween for the Child Free
Folks living a quiet, childfree life sometimes opt to celebrate certain events or holidays that directly involve children, and one of the most child-centric holidays is Halloween, with the costumes, the candy, and the trick-or-treaters. Even if you don't have or want your own children, you can still take part in the fun.
Sure, you could choose to attend an "adults only" Halloween party to avoid greeting any miniature monsters on your doorstep, but if you truly enjoy the tradition of staying home and handing out treats, it's perfectly fine: Brush off the feeling that you must turn in your "Childfree and Proud" card and simply revel in the joy of giving.
Porch light on to welcome
Childfree folks come in all different types, and those who don't mind having tiny skeletons, princesses, and superheroes on their porch in smalls groups are the best types for giving out sweets. It's a painless ten-second process. You don't have to discuss the state of the economy with them, just drop your prepared candy in the bags and off they go. No problem.
Additionally, a nice touch is complimenting or reacting to a child's costume, or perhaps making eye contact with the parents standing behind them. It takes the edge off meeting a stranger up close.
Porch light on to scare
Some folks get into the scary aspect of Halloween, so much so that as soon as summer ends, they start making plans to create their own version of a haunted yard. If cemetery tombstones, motion-sensing ghouls that pop out of caskets, eerie organ music, and a half-acre of thick fog sounds like a good time, proceed carefully.
Not only should you check with your neighbors (especially regarding the volume of that Hammond organ), but you should also take stock of your expectations. Realistically, you are building this grand scene of horror and/or spookiness because you enjoy it, but presumably you also want to:
• Invite kids to traipse through your yard before asking for candy, or
• Give people something to gawk at as they nervously avoid your house.
The above scene should be quite effective if your intent is to avoid dealing with little children, since many Halloween-related special effects may be too scary. Alternatively, you might end up attracting lots of older kids or teens from nearby and other neighborhoods, especially if the quality of your handiwork is high and word gets out. Depending on your neighborhood, be ready to protect your property.
If your plan is merely to give folks a slight scare or perhaps a laugh, you're on the right track. Just don't overdo it. Again, it all depends on who is living around you. If you are on good terms with a few neighbors, you might ask their opinion, but it's ultimately up to you. The bottom line is that it is them and their children who make the decision of whether to visit or pass by.
Porch light off
On the other hand, if you're the type of childfree person who wants to stay home, but really does not want to deal with buying candy, answering the doorbell, and interacting with the masked hordes, you have a couple of options.
You can do what plenty of others do and display the universal sign of unavailability on Halloween night: a dark porch. It’s the perfect "go away" signal.
However, if some part of you still won't let that Halloween spirit go, you could leave a large basket of candy out on a chair or small table, prominently displayed and well-lighted. You could even add a "One handful, please" sign, or something similar.
Summary
For some of us, childfree or not, Halloween tends to bring out our inner kid. People who want to have a little light-hearted decorating fun should consider their neighbors and the age of potential trick-or-treaters. They should also remember that being childfree could mean enjoying the presence of children for a short while during an evening of harmless fun.
