#Halloween, Tieri’s Questions, and Daddy’s Response: Where Our Family Stands and Why

Parenting, for me, remains the greatest classroom of life. Every Monday, I sit down to write about the lessons I’m learning while raising my four-year-old son, Tieri. This week, the conversation that found me began with a question I knew would come sooner or later.

“Daddy, Why Don’t We Celebrate Halloween?”

It was Sunday afternoon. We had just returned from church, and Tieri had noticed a few children in our neighborhood dressed in bright costumes, pumpkins on their porches, and buckets full of candy.

“Daddy,” he asked, “why don’t we celebrate Halloween like my friends?”

I paused, not because I didn’t have an answer, but because I wanted to give him one that was simple, truthful, and kind. At four, he doesn’t need a sermon; he needs a seed, something that will grow with him.

Our Conversation

I said, “That’s a good question, my boy. Some families celebrate Halloween, and that’s okay for them. In our family, we don’t. We like to focus on things that make us feel peaceful, thankful, and close to God.”

He looked at me, curious, still waiting.

I continued, “Halloween is a day when people dress up, sometimes in fun costumes, and go from house to house asking for candy. Some like it just for fun, but many of the stories and pictures, ghosts, monsters, and fear don’t show what we believe about God, love, and kindness. So, we choose not to join in.”

He thought for a while. “But we celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter!”

“Yes,” I smiled. “Thanksgiving reminds us to be grateful. Christmas tells us Jesus was born and brought hope. Easter shows that love conquered death. Those days lift our hearts toward God. Halloween doesn’t carry that message for us, but we can still be kind to those who enjoy it.”

He nodded, satisfied, and ran off to play. The conversation was brief, but I knew it had planted something, clarity without contempt.

A Father’s Reflection

At four, children may not understand doctrine, but they understand peace.
They can tell when your belief is grounded, not fearful.

My goal wasn’t to make Halloween the enemy; it was to make our values visible. I wanted him to know that conviction does not need aggression, and that faith can stand firm without raising its voice.

Children mirror how we explain life. When they see respect in how we speak about what we don’t do, they learn to hold their beliefs without hostility.

The Lesson for Parents

We don’t have to attack another belief to affirm our own.
Negative reinforcement doesn’t produce positive behavior; example does.
Respect builds understanding. Understanding builds wisdom. Wisdom builds peace.

If you ever face this question in your home, you can simply say:

“Our family focuses on things that remind us of God’s love, peace, and goodness.”

That’s the sentence that anchors Tieri’s little heart.

A Gentle Reminder

Different families celebrate different things. That’s okay.
Teach your child that love and respect are not cancelled by difference.

End every explanation with belonging:

“This is who we are, and I’m glad we’re doing life together.”

My Guard This Week

To raise wise children, we must first practice wise communication.
Gentleness of wisdom doesn’t dilute conviction, it dignifies it.
When we teach with peace and lead by example, our children learn not only what we believe, but why we believe it, and how to live it with love.

“The wisdom that comes from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits.” James 3:17

Have an INSPIRED week with your family.