Not everyone fits definition of "too old" for Halloween

As a mother of a special-needs adult man, I feel the need to share with the community how he was mostly treated great throughout the Trick or Treating community, but of course there were the houses that will probably make him stop.

With my son’s kind heart and love for children and his own child-like demeanor, he looks forward to wearing his “cop costume” every year and going out with his nieces and nephews to have one of his most memorable nights. For the last few years, his sister takes him out with them and, unfortunately, both years they come across the house(s) where “Oh, you’re too old to be doing this” and/or “I think you’re too old to be trick or treating” and they don’t put anything in his bag. After his feelings are hurt and he returns to the car, he is usually done for the night.

When I hear these stories after they return, it takes everything in me to not ask which house and go knock on their door and give them a piece of my mind. But as we know in this day and age, you will be reported as intimating or harassing and probably be videoed, so I’ll just write a public opinion instead so you all know. My son isn’t the only special needs adult that doesn’t understand “being too old” for this family fun, so I really wish anyone who treated them like this would stop having such ugly hearts that break hearts full of joy, over a 20-cent piece of candy.

I guess we have until next year to decide if this has to be his last year or how we fix this problem cast onto our family. Thank you to everyone else who welcomed him with a hello and kindness, we appreciate you.

Deidre Williams and my son

John Antone