My husband asked what design we should carve in the pumpkin this year and I answered, “Blue’s Clues.”

“Can you go look up a stencil on the Internet?” he requested.

“Sure, it’s called Balancing Motherhood!” I told him about the post I did a few weeks ago with several pre-school templates.

Here are our results:

We started with the pattern I found online. Tracing it with a fabric tracing tool.

Began cutting, starting with the details on the interior of Blue’s face.

Worked toward the outside of the circle of the pattern.

Light it up! (We used LED lights in lieu of a candle which gives the light a rich glow.)

• The Blue’s Clues pattern we used.

Here’s wishing everyone a happy and safe Halloween.

Thought I would follow-up to the post I write the other day about my excitement for the Halloween special, “The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” Last night I watched it with my nearly 3-year-old.

I wrote that I wasn’t sure if he’d understand the plot or “get” the show. Turns out that he seemed to really enjoy it and especially liked the parts where the kids when Trick or Treating and going to the pumpkin patch. I, however, was a bit mortified. That’s sounds a bit strong; it’s just that I was caught off guard with a couple of the aspects of the program. In particular:

• Lucy and Sally both shake poor little Linus when they get mad at him. They physically grab him and shake him, calling him names (see next point).
• These kids call each other “stupid’ and “blockhead.”
• Snoopy, the WWI flying ace gets gunned down from his pretend plane. Then, he goes “behind enemy lines” where there are sounds of shooting and bombs.

These things aside, I was fine with the show. It just goes to show how I assess things now that I have a kid. I see everything through his eyes and wonder what questions he will have. And, I think it’s good to have them ask questions. Weather we like it or not, people are called stupid every day and there is war and shooting in the world. I just wasn’t prepared to discuss that last night while we were enjoying some Halloween family fun. I had forgotten that Charlie Brown isn’t “The Wiggles” or “Sesame Street.”

I think I’ll skip the Charlie Brown Christmas episode (or watch it first) this year — saving it for a bit later when I think my son would be better prepared to accept the answers I give him to some of his potential questions.

Earlier this year I read two books written about teen drug dependency. One is written by the teenager who was addicted to methamphetomines, the other by his father. Each book is written about the same time frame in each of his lives, but obviously the perspectives are very different.

Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines

Written by now 20-something Nic Sheff, he tells the tale in raw detail of how he started using drugs very early in his young life. As you read it you really feel like YOU are on drugs. He chronicles leaving home, stealing money from his little brother, getting high, living on the street, prostitution, sex (lots of sex, although not too much detail) and how he nearly dies several times.

As a parent, it’s hard to read. You feel bad for the father having to watch this. Or you don’t, and you blame the dad. You have to read the dad’s book before you decide who is to blame — if anyone.

Beautiful Boy

Written by the father, David Sheff, he accounts for how this came about, how his family dealt with it and the guilt he carries as a result. He takes you through his early divorce from Nic’s mother, how they live in different cities, his new marriage and family, and how much he loves his oldest son. He struggles with kicking him out versus taking him in and constantly wondering if he’s alive. He looses sleep while he deals with the pressure to help his son kick these drug habits and wonders if he’ll ever be the same again.

Both books are excellent reads, although you’ll probably find one more interesting than the other — they are so different. How often do you get the chance to read about the tragedy of drug use from two perspectives? They are both worthy reads that will educate you on how families deal with this every day in our country. While you won’t get the definitive answer on what “to do” or “not to do” to ensure your child doesn’t end up hooked on these deadly drugs, you will surely be more educated about the topic.

I saw a commercial last night for “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” and was immediately transported to my childhood. I haven’t seen this TV special in years. Now I have a tiny excuse to watch — a pre-schooler. I wonder if my son will enjoy it, if he will get the storyline. Although I’m probably over thinking it. He LOVES “Cars” and understands enough of that storyline, so I’m sure lil’ ‘ol Charlie Brown won’t be too hard to comprehend.

This show has been around since 1966 — that’s 42 years! Amazing that something like this can be a delight to so many generations.

It doesn’t come on until 8:00 p.m. (ABC) so I’ll probably record it and we’ll watch it tomorrow at an earlier hour. It’s the perfect show to get into the spirit of Halloween and fall.

Over the weekend I was surprised to hear about singer/actress Jennifer Hudson’s family — her mother and brother were murdered in their Chicago home. Her 7-year-old nephew is missing and may be dead as well.

Until this weekend, Jennifer was living the life. She became famous on “American Idol” and went on to star in her first movie, “DeamGirls,” with big-hitters like Eddie Murphy and Beyonce — winning an Oscar and Golden Globe (among other awards) for her performance. She’s gone on to appear in two other top releases, “Sex & The City” and “The Secret Life of Bees.” She recently released her first album and became engaged. What else does one need?

Then, this weekend happened. It is terribly sad for this to happen to anyone and just goes to show that money can’t buy happiness. Often we look up to celebrities thinking they are special, they are different, because (in part) they have money and success. While we struggle to pay the mortgage it seems celebrities don’t have the same worries. But they do. They are human just like the rest of us. They hurt just like us. It would be nice to not have to worry about money, but just remember that it may not change things.