The pretty princess elbowed aside the grim reaper at my door to dig another dainty handful of candy out of my bowl. It was her third. Only then did I truly understand the meaning of "trick or treat." I got taken by a 4-foot thief in pink satin and lace.

Oh, the magic of Halloween. Dressing up, showing off your little ones and the pirate-like joy of sifting through the bag of goodies to separate the popcorn balls from the chocolate bars and the raisins from the lollipops. Together, these experiences create a memorable holiday for you and your toddler.

However, Halloween can easily turn out to be a nightmare in disguise. I know. I've been there, terrorized even before October 31 arrives. Luckily, I've found a few coping tactics that have helped me avoid the worst of the evils.

Imagine your beautiful little girl decked out in a ballgown, screaming because the netting inside itches as you drag her down the street or whining because she doesn't want to wear the floppy rabbit ears any more as they slip down past her chin again.

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