HAVE A SPOOKY GOOD TIME While Keeping Safety in Mind
Halloween is all about letting the ghoul times roll, but monsters and ghosts aren’t the only things parents need to worry about this holiday. Most older kids don’t want an adult chaperoning — they want to venture off with their friends to enjoy the night all on their own. Here are a few safety tips so that you and your older kids can enjoy the spooky evening with no worries. Plan a route and curfew. Some older kids still love the nostalgia of trick-or-treating, or maybe they plan to pull some Halloween pranks with their friends. Whatever the reason may be, they may want to enjoy the evening without a parent. One of the best ways to make sure they’re staying safe is to plan a route and a curfew. Pick and choose which routes you feel comfortable with them going on, either somewhere nearby or somewhere in the neighborhood. And choosing a curfew time is essential so you know when to expect their return. This way if something happens and you cannot reach them or they aren’t back in time, you have a general idea of where they can be on the route. Pack the essentials. Always make sure your child has their phone on them in case of an emergency, no matter if it’s to call you or an emergency line. You could even share locations so that you’re able to track where they are or use another location tracking app like Life360 or FamiSafe that’s available on your devices. If they plan to stay out for a while, have your child take water bottles, flashlights, and even a small first-aid kit with them. They actually come in handy when exploring the Halloween night and the unexpected happens. Older kids deserve a bit of freedom, as long as they can do it responsibly. Consider these tips to make sure the night is trick-free and full of the best treats.
WE’LL FINANCE YOUR PIZZA FIX
Text to Win a $50 Gift Card!
When my family isn’t in the mood to make English muffin pizzas at home, we like to support the pizzerias in our community. If you’ve never tried these spots, I recommend adding them to your list of restaurants to enjoy during National Pizza Month. Big Lou’s Pizza (BigLousPizza-SATX.com): Big Lou’s is home to the famous 42-inch pizza. It’s truly Texas-sized, and the novelty is worth it every time. My kids love splitting one enormous pie! You can have the giant pizza with any of Big Lou’s signature topping combinations, which range from white pizza (olive oil, mozzarella, tomatoes, and Italian seasoning) to BBQ pizza (two kinds of cheese with homemade barbecue sauce). Or, you can build your own. Ray’s Pizzaria (RaysPizzaria.com): Ray’s is a family-owned business that has been making great New York-style slices since 2009. They have a fantastic lunch deal that I always recommend. If you’re not feeling pizza, you can also find cold and hot subs, chicken wings, calzones, stromboli, pasta, and more on the menu. Mellow Mushroom (MellowMushroom.com): I love the laid-back atmosphere at Mellow Mushroom, and their stone-baked pies are wonderful. My favorite paired pizza toppings are breakfast bacon and pepperoni, or Canadian bacon and pineapple (controversial, I know!) If you are like me, then try their Pacific Rim pizza. It comes piled with mozzarella, ham, bacon, caramelized onions, pineapple, and jalapeños. I’m so excited about pizza month that I’d love to buy you a pie. Text your favorite pizza place to me at 210-756-5399 or email it to Giveaway@PackardFirm.com, and I’ll put your name in a drawing to win a $50 gift card to the pizza place of your choice — either your favorite or one on my list! Or, if you prefer, I’ll get you a grocery store card so you can try English muffin pizza if you’d like. It’s tastier than you might think.
Good luck!
– Michael Packard
2 PACKARDFIRM.COM
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