It's the morning after Halloween, and I'm feeling sad and disappointed. My 5-year-old and some of her friends trick-or-treated on our street in Midtown Kingston, but only a few people were giving out candy. Most folks didn't answer their doors or weren't home, and in one instance, someone answered the door and immediately closed it, leaving my 5-year-old confused. I explained to her that maybe they were having a hard night or just weren't up for visitors, but it stung to watch her try to make sense of it.

I'm left with a mix of feelings. I'm committed to showing up for my street and my neighbors for a tradition that's supposed to be about getting to know the people around you and spending time with friends. But I also feel disappointed that some families headed to other neighborhoods for a bigger trick-or-treating scene, or to be with other friends. I know everyone has their own reasons, and it's totally fine to do your own thing.

Then I saw a post on my local Nextdoor app titled "Boo-HOO!!!" that read, "There wasn't even ONE Trick-or-Treater on our once kid-filled road tonight.” I am sad. It got me thinking about the disappointment this person and I were both feeling about folks not showing up, and how impossible it feels to shift when it's tempting to think "why bother?"

The disappointment is real. Right now my kid is young enough that she couldn't care less. For all she knows, she had the time of her life: she hung out with friends, stayed up late, and ate candy. But it's real for me, and eventually she will ask if we can go to a better neighborhood for trick-or-treating. I'm not sure what I'll say when that day comes, but for now, I'm not going to let the disappointment overshadow my commitment to showing up in a way that will hopefully shift things for my street and my neighborhood.

So if you're hopeful like me, I hope you'll keep showing up with us and offer big thanks to the folks in your neighborhood who open the door or leave treats out. And if you're like the writer of the "Boo-HOO!!!" post, please keep buying the candy, opening the door, decorating for Halloween, and leaving the lights on for us. We are doing our very best to find you. Don't let the disappointment win.

Christa Price

Kingston