?Yes?

David Eddie, dad of three
For years, our Halloween decorations included a dummy with a pillowcase for a face wearing clothes stuffed with rags, sitting on a chair on our front porch. But the neighbourhood kids all got used to it, so one year my wife inserted herself into the clothes, tucked rags at her ankles and cuffs, and sat stock-still in the chair. When kids approached the door, the ?dummy? came to life?and the poor trick-or-treaters almost jumped out of their skins in fear.
Ours is not the most elaborate Halloween display in the neighbourhood, but we do try to max out the creepy factor. We?ve had live rats crawling around the porch, severed hands, witches hanging from nooses and spooky sound effects. We?ve also supported our kids when they decided to dress up as serial killers, axe murderers and, one time, a doctor whose surgery had gone terribly wrong. Bad parenting" Bad neighbouring" Bad karma" I can see how some might say so. But here?s my feeling: In a couple of months, kids will be celebrating a holiday that?s all about family, warmth and coziness, presided over by an apple-cheeked figure who snacks on milk and cookies. Halloween is the antidote to that. It?s about the other side, the dark side, the side of life we as parents would like to pretend doesn?t exist?but it does. It?s about going out into the night and confronting your fears, a little more each year. And what?s better than facing your fears and finding out they?re not as scary as...