I never dressed up for Halloween since I stopped trick-or-treating at age four because I didn't like people asking what I was supposed to be. I had no theroy of mind at that age and surely would have been able to recognize Big Bird from Seasame Street. I think "What are you supposed to be?" sounds quite rude anyway. When the few trick-or-treaters show up at my place I ALWAYS am able to tell what they are "supposed to be". If I ever did encounter a kid in a creative costume, I would just tell them they looked great and not even bother asking what were "supposed to be". I don't even care if uncostumed teenagers say trick-or-treat. They could be on the spectrum and have sensory issues when it comes to wearing a costume. They could also not be as socialy aware as other teens or never got to expirence trick or treating as a child because of the issues I had as a kid around Halloween. Anyway, I just think "What are you supposed to be?" just sort of has a condesending ring to it. I hated a condesending attitude even as a child.
I also was very afraid of some decorations. Luckly I grew up in the early 1990's before all of these creepy anamotronic decorations that jump at you when you don't expect it. If those things were around in the early 90's, I don't remember them either becuase the residents of that little hick town couldn't afford them or because I supressed them from my memory. Anyway, some of the ones on the market today would have made me have a meltdown every time. Also, what is it with people's obsession with gore around Halloween? Espicaly when trying to attract little kids? Other decorations were just plain creepy and intemadating looking. I know Halloween is supposed to be scary, but panic attack inducing scary?
The candy aspect was confusing because I was taught to never accept candy from strangers. Why was it okay on Halloween? The idea of accepting candy from strangers, even with my parents' permission is a creepy concept. The candy aspect really wasn't that special to me because my mom wouldn't let me binge on my candy and would only let me have it in limited amounts over several days or only when she felt it was okay for me to have candy. I just couldn't see why the candy part of Halloween was so appealing when that's how I was allowed to have sweets for every other day of the year. I'm not saying that was a bad thing to do, I just couldn't see what all the hubabaloo about Halloween candy was. Even a minascule about of sugar and caffine gave me moodswings.
I wanted to trick-or-treat without my parents but my parents thought that was dangerous. I had zero friends to trick or treat with because kids who didn't bully avoided me like the plaque. And anyway, even did have a few friends to go with me, my parents would have had to drive at least 15 minnutes away because we basicaly lived in the boondocks of the middle of nowhere. Our neighbors never handed out candy becuase they were fundemedlist Christians who felt Halloween was an evil holiday. Anyway, all of our "neighbors" basicaly lived five minnutes or longer away from each other on foot. We never got trick or treaters either. My mum and I once spent over twenty dollars on Halloween decorations, just to piss off the neighbors.
I think my mum felt bad for me becuase I did not like to go trick or treating so for years I was allowed to pick out a new toy as a "Halloween gift" instead of going trick or treating.
Anyway, did your autism prevent you from trick or treating?
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I'm not weird, you're just too normal.