The Great Pumpkin has been visiting our house for many years. What started out as simply a way to exchange all of the candy that Logan received and couldn’t eat due to his allergies has turned into a treasured family tradition. I can’t imagine Halloween without it.
The children immediately start dividing up their candy as soon as they get home as well as discussing what The Great Pumpkin will bring. It has proven really useful as we have discovered that Madison is celiac so she needs to be gluten free as well.
The part that makes this mama’s heart happy is that I can envision my children continuing this tradition with their children. Isn’t that what traditions are really for? We still do it in our house to this day and the kids are adults now.
Let’s talk about how the Great Pumpkin rides here in Autismland. We attend various events throughout the month that give the children candy. Candy that is gathered during the month of October gets put into a giant bowl. For the record, this is candy from therapy appts, Trunk or Treat and Disney’s Boo Bash. We try to pass out candy at our house which results in leftovers. This is a good thing because that is all Logan can handle since he is now too big to actually trick or treat.
On Halloween night, we go through the acquired candy picking out a few pieces to keep that Logan and Madison can actually eat. I literally mean a few pieces. The more candy the Great Pumpkin gets, the better the present he leaves behind. All of the remaining candy goes out on the porch to be picked up by Dad or Papa ,The Great Pumpkin, who takes it home to his pumpkin patch to share with all the baby pumpkins.
In return for the candy, a gift is left in its place. It could be a small gift for each child or one that they can play with together. The Great Pumpkin has brought art sets for Madison and Legos for Logan. One year, a note was left for the Great Pumpkin explaining that we need the candy for gingerbread houses. In return, I bought Haunted Mansion Life which both children really wanted. Sort of an exchange.
HyraKart The Game of Life The Haunted Mansion Disney Theme Park Edition
Funko Disney The Haunted Mansion – Call of The Spirits: Disneyland Edition GameClue: Disney Villains Edition Game, Board Game for Kids Ages 8+, Game for 2-6 Players, Fun Family Game for Disney Fans (Amazon Exclusive)Hasbro Gaming Sorry! Board Game: Disney Villains Edition Kids Game, Family Games for Ages 6 and Up (Amazon Exclusive) , Green
We have done this one other year but usually the children want to leave the candy. It has become a treasured tradition that we still do even though they are both teenagers now. I didn’t realize how treasured it was until we moved into our new house in Arizona right around Halloween and didn’t think to do it. Logan brought in his cup of candy crushed that the Great Pumpkin didn’t come by the new house. I was crushed that he was so sad about it.
As you can see, there is some preplanning involved as in I have to actually be sure to have a gift to put outside. Also, a friendly reminder to whoever is snatching the candy is always a good idea too. After the candy is put outside, the children are instructed to stay away from the windows.
The Great Pumpkin won’t come if anyone is waiting for him. Just ask Linus.
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