Stress moderation on Halloween

Well, Alaska, the birch leaves have all but blown away and that smell of snow is slowly falling into the reality of big, flakey promises. But I don’t want to talk to you about our politicians. I want to talk to you about what’s really important, our youth and how to clear the haze between a subtle trick and a precarious treat.

That’s right, it’s Halloween! And as you spend those 30 minutes stretching that Spider-man outfit over snow-pants you might consider taking a moment to talk briefly with your little ones about responsible Halloween fun, especially when it comes to Liquor Lollies and Nicotine Nutbars. Since our government started to regulate the drugs used in these two revenue-producing products we know that they are safe, but kids should still be informed when it comes to proper consumption of each.

We all know that they are delicious, but when it comes to Liquor Lollies moderation cannot be stressed enough. Our children, still a bit immature, have a tendency to over indulge and though we know they will out-grow that immaturity by the time they hit 21.

One way to go about this is to remind them that Alaska’s winters are long and this one is just getting started. Liquor Lollies are carefully regulated and perfectly safe, but like my Great Granny always said, “A handful of Lollies can get you real warm for one night or nice and cozy for a good month.” It’s called escapism and it’s what many of us moved to Alaska for, right? So, when they come home with that bag of free candy coded distractions, show them how to divvy it up. I’m sure many of us remember our parents doing the same for us.

Now, when it comes to the topic of Nicotine Nutbars its important to hit upon the difference between addiction and habit-forming reliance. Nicotine is of course a drug that we know to be safe due to careful government regulation. That is why it is legal. But it can also be addicting. It’s important to explain to your child that Nutbar consumption needs to be kept under control.

This, as many Nutbar aficionados know, is easily done by not allowing the addiction to take hold. Keep it always at the level of habit. The difference being that an addiction does not let you get to sleep at night while a habit gives you something to wake up to. Addictions weigh your day down while habits give it an anchor, and in Anchorage, when all that light is fading away, who doesn’t need a good, heavy anchor in their every day? Habit. Not addiction. Does that make sense to you? I’m sure it will for your little one, as well.

Now many of you may feel tempted to forbid your children from partaking in the night’s festivities, but need I remind you of the old adage, “Prohibition does not work.” You see, ultimately it is not really up to you. Your children are going to be exposed whether you like it or not. Some of them will make it past these inherent problems and others will not, but by then they’ll be mature adults, able to handle their own bodies and everything they put into them. But if they can’t, there are lots of state regulated programs to help them with it.

Besides, what sort of message does prohibition really send to them? That you do not approve of it despite all of the safeguards that have been put in place? Try to remember that we are in the land of the free and the brave. It is their Constitutional obligation to go door to door and beg for what is rightfully theirs. And we all know what happens when you do not give an entitled adolescent their treat. (Need I mention the dastardly tantrum known as the “trick” eggs on your house or the “trickier” quitting your live news-broadcast with obscenities? Kids will be kids, won’t they.)

So, just be cool. Let the kids pretend that they are invincible superheroes for a night, and don’t bother giving them a curfew either, because when does tomorrow ever really come, anyway? Think about it. It’ll blow your mind. Just rest assured that this is all carefully regulated and, therefore, perfectly safe.

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Daniel Tantanella lives in Wasilla.