I grew up in a small, rural town where everyone did everything everyone else did.  There were no minorities of any kind.  Everyone was pretty much the same.

My kids are growing up in a very diverse area.  They don't think anything of someone having different colored skin or a dot between their eyes.  They have grown up next to Italians, Indians, Africans (and I mean straight from Africa), Asians, you name it, they probably know something about the culture and someone who celebrates it.

I got the title for this blog from my 4yr old son.  It was a simple statement that made me think.  He didn't say "Look at the pumpkins" or "Look at the decorations", rather he said "Look, they're having Halloween."  I can't be sure what he meant but I suspect that even at such an early age he realizes that not everyone celebrates holidays the way we do.

My little guy attends a Christian school for preschool.  My husband and I don't belong to a church but feel it is our duty to expose our kids to as many life styles as possible so they don't make life decisions by default.  My parents did the same for me and I feel I am a very stable, secure person.  Anyway, his school doesn't celebrate Halloween.  They are having a Fall celebration the same day my older son is having a Halloween party at public school.  My little guy is really mad that he has to dress like a farmer rather than wear the "scary monster" costume he wants for Halloween.

Our neighborhood is peppered with Halloween decorations.  Last year's experience was that even the homes that didn't seem to celebrate the holiday turned out to give candy to the kids and wish them well.  I love that about the community we are raising our kids in.  People have their own beliefs but seem to respect others in general.