Bowling - Brunswick Zone

We’ve been to this Brunswick Zone bowling alley in Algonquin a few times.  It’s nice and big and also has an arcade.  Aiden picked up on the purpose of the game fairly quickly but still needs to gain some patience while waiting for his ball to finally get down to the pins.  He also really liked the arcade area. He doesn’t really know how to play the games, he mostly just enjoys the ones you can ride or have to be physically active with. Update: This Algonquin Brunswick Zone has now changed to Bowlero.

Halloween Party - Dundee Township Rotary Club

Every year the Dundee Township Rotary Club has a special Halloween party for children with special needs.  There are about 4 rows of tables in 1 room that are each decorated by the rotary club members with different themes like cartoon characters, superheros, etc. and the special kids (and their siblings) get to walk around to each table and trick-or-treat.  The candy givers are all dressed up and usually take pictures with the kids.  When you finish all your trick-or-treating you can walk into the cafeteria which is right next door and have a free hot dog, chips, and drink.  

We have gone the past 3 years now and Aiden loves it.  It is always such a relief to go to places like this where I don’t have to worry about my kid being, or feeling, left out or too different.  It feels really good to see my child being accepted and appreciated for exactly who he is.  I am super grateful for all the work the Rotary Club puts into this!

Nightmare on Chicago Street - Elgin, IL

I wasn’t really sure if Aiden would like this event.  He does like Halloween and whenever I watch a scary movie on tv he wants to join me, but only for the really scary parts, so I thought we’d give this a try.  I think Aiden would give it a mixed review if he could.  He seemed to be amused by a lot of the costumes he saw walking around but I think he was scared of a lot of them as well.  I think the staged scary scenarios that we would pass like flipped cars and spilled blood made him a little nervous too.  He’s a trooper though. He just held my hand tight and continued the tour.  I’m not sure if I would take him again though.  Not just because he was kind of scared but because as time went on we were starting to come across more and more drunk people acting like idiots.  That was starting to scare him and it really annoyed me, so we left.

Halloween Trick or Treating - Spring Hill Mall

We’ve taken Aiden a couple times to Spring Hill Mall for some trick or treating.  It seems like such a good idea, indoor trick or treating.  It’s warm inside, no need for coats, so everyone gets to show off their full ensembles. And if you get tired or hungry there’s a place to sit and eat.  But in reality it’s not that nice.  It’s not warm inside the mall, it’s hot!  There are so many people and the lines are so long, the kids start sweating in their costumes and the lucky parents holding the coats are burning up. This last year we went but didn’t stay long and we were warned as soon as we entered the mall.  A dad was walking out with his kids and he advised us not to go in.  He said the lines were crazy long and that not all the stores were participating.  He was right. After only a couple stores we left and we were so relieved! So was Aiden.