Happy Halloween!, originally uploaded by Justpowers.

I think I have decided that I like Halloween much better as a parent than I ever did as a kid.

I always did Halloween - I was a "rich lady" one year, dressed in a fancy dress, a fur stole and a stuffed bra that rivaled Dolly Parton. One year I was a present - a big box wrapped in wrapping paper with a bow on top and a slit for my eyes. And my favorite was the year I was a gypsy with a billowy blouse, big hoop earrings, a long peasant skirt and a scarf around my head.

But even though I did Halloween, and enjoyed it as much as any self respecting kid would enjoy any holiday involving free candy, I have to say that tonight may have been the most fun I have had on Halloween. I think I enjoyed watching my own kiddo experiencing Halloween for the first time more than I ever really enjoyed experiencing my own Halloweens.

She was completely entranced with the whole process and seemed hardly able to believe her luck each time her "trick or treat!" was met with the obligatory candy or two. Her biggest thrill of the evening though was when I told her that after we were finished trick or treating she
could dump all her candy on the floor and go through it. Her eyes got wide and she got a huge smile on her face when she said "on the floor??"

Clearly Halloween is a holiday for kids, but tonight I discovered that it actually is a pretty good holiday for parents too.