Hallowe'en Safety for the Young 'Uns

It's not raining today, which is a miraculous stroke of luck for everyone who plans to roam the streets tonight trick or treating.

Regardless, as a mother, I want to issue a warning that it's gonna be dark and kids in black costumes are hard to see. People coming home from parties or from  t & t'ing in other neighborhoods will have to be extra careful and drive at a snail's pace in order to exercise the caution needed for this once-a-year holiday.

Glow sticks are a good way to draw attention to a child wandering around the streets, especially because kids think they're cool enough to leave on. Flashlights must be turned on and off, thereby risking the possibility that they won't be on when needed. Reflective tape stuck on a costume is another brainchild of someone worried about safety.

Before your older kids head out on their candy runs tonight, you might want to mention that it's not nice to take more than their share of goodies if a sign has been left to take one. You can always strengthen this point by warning that a monster might be waiting in the bushes if they take a handful. Hey, we talked about doing it one year. Smashing pumpkins, stealing lawn decorations, pushing in front of the little kids etc. is all behavior that might lead them to turn out like you and no kid wants to be their parents when they grow up, right?

If you're not taking to the Sammamish streets tonight but have chosen instead to do your door to door begging at a shopping area or to go to a house party, have fun and drive carefully on the way home. Gouls and Power Rangers less than four feet tall will be out in full force, assuming they can cross the street without looking both ways tonight.