Surviving Halloween

The Lodger has learned the days of the week. 

Brilliant. 

Did you read that with an underlying sarcastic tone? 

Honestly, it is fantastic that The Lodger has learned the days of the week, it's another milestone in the never-ending list of things society deems goals to achieve.

However, because of this new skill, we can't be as direct with future plans.

An answer with the day of the week before meant nothing but now it's a different story. 

I accidentally answered his question of when Halloween is on with the day of the week. I'll blame it on being slighted distracted. 

So, in the run-up to Wednesday, The Lodger did his new skill of saying what day it is and following it with the future days. This just sounds like an excited kid. Correct but also wrong because when you mix PWS in, you get excitement and anxiety. 

The plan was put in place. Incase you think we sit up at night, with paper and pens and whatever else you need to make a plan, we don't. It becomes a covert plan that isn't even really a plan, it's just the day to day skills we need to get through to the next day. Slowly but surely, we have become experts in dealing with the complexities of PWS. 

Anxiety manifests in The Lodger with questions, the need to know the plan and the answers and when is it happening and what happens if and why and where and who and repeat, repeat, repeat. 

The rule is to answer a question three times and move on. 

Believe me, it's easier said than done but we persevere.

In our world, we drip feed the plans but Halloween and the looming days of the week meant that he got stuck on it, his mind completely preoccupied with all the questions.

We kept him distracted with a family trip to a Halloween event on Sunday. Sunday, not Wednesday. 

'Ok, a Halloween event but not actual Halloween. Like dress up day in school was dress up day but not actual Halloween. Right, Mum?'

The Lodger loved it. He played with his cousins, walked in the forest, talked and talked and seemed to forget about Wednesday. The clue there is 'seemed', he didn't forget, he was just distracted.

Distraction is the other tool we use all of the time. 

'Did I just see a rabbit in the garden?' and usually, that'll work to move his mind to new thoughts.

However, the most magic of all tools is this. 

Motion changes the emotion.

'I think it's time for a walk. Where will it be today, an adventure walk or a path walk in the forest?'

It is incredible to see the stress and anxiety ease away from him, as we walk and talk and look out for forest animals and see the changing seasons and enjoy the fresh air. 

Halloween eve was spent preparing. The Lodger with his superpower of memory reminded me that I had to make porridge bread, as that's what we have on Halloween. He insisted on helping in the preparation. Although, I think it was really to know that I had actually made it.

We had a blip on Halloween eve when he realised Dad would be working on Halloween. It was genuine sadness. To The Lodger, Halloween is like  Christmas, an event to be shared with everyone.

So when I was awoken on actual Halloween, it was by the singing of 'Oiche Shamhna, Oiche Shamhna, Barmbrack, barmbrack". (Oiche Shamhna is Halloween in Irish)

'Mum it is here. It is actual Halloween. When are the trick or treaters coming?'

O it's going to be a long day.

We had our spooky breakfast, followed by a trip to the shops in full wizard gear. He was like the Pumpkin King, spreading Halloween joy to all.

'Happy Halloween!'

It's one of the things I love about The Lodger. He truly embraces things. I used to love Halloween but when PWS was diagnosed, I thought we wouldn't get to enjoy it. Every year I wonder is it too much, should we avoid it but it's impossible. Halloween is everywhere, granted with Christmas biting at its heal but it's everywhere and The Lodger loves it. So we make a few tweaks to make it safe for The Lodger. 

This year, every meal had a spooky theme, from hard-boiled egg ghosts to apple monsters and shepherds pie pumpkins. Pinterest is my healthy snack/meals themed search tool.  We did Halloween crafts and watched Halloween movies. 

Snack Monsters

Shepherds pie Pumpkins

Parenting Win! 

Trick or treating is part of the Halloween package. It's definitely something that for The Lodger needs tweaking. It's hard to find the word to describe having to explain PWS. We'd gotten comfortable with not having to explain it, as everyone who needed to know knew but now we have a whole new group of people to fill in on PWS. We use the line that The Lodger has a special diet, that food is restricted and calorie controlled. Slowly, people are getting to know us and more importantly The Lodger. 

The Lodgers friend from school dropped him up a Lodger friendly trick or treat bag. What a star. I'd told the mum that I didn't think this year he'd be trick or treating, so it was a lovely surprise. 

The Lodger insisted on showing our neighbour his costume, so we went in next door. I had him all prepared with all the scenarios but much to our delight, our neighbour had Lodger friendly trick or treats too. 

Trick or Treating!

The Lodgers favourite bit was trick or treating. We kept it simple this year. He went out the back door of our home and around to the front door. He had it all planned out and knew what to expect. 

'Mum, you have to give me that treat when I trick or treat.'

In fact, he got to do it twice. Once with Dad, once with Mum. 

Granted this will now have to happen every year. As you are all aware The Lodger, like an elephant, does not forget. In fact, he'd give elephants a run for their money. 

Halloween is probably over now for most people. It's the 8th of November and we're still reliving it. Today on our walk, we searched for the Puca (ghost for our are Non-Irish Speakers). 

'Mum, I loved Halloween. When is it on again? Will it be a Wednesday? Mum, I think we'll have a great Halloween at the next Halloween. Now Mum, let's find the puca! '

This is how The Lodger is, he processes and processes, relives and relives, retells and retells until we are on to the next topic..... I wonder what that'll be... Ho Ho Ho! 

Note to self: just don't tell him what day of the week its on!