Now that we are officially into October, I suppose it is about time to seriously start thinking about the holiday season, and for our family the holiday season begins with Halloween. It used to be that the beginning of fall season signified the downfall of our family. My adopted stepson had so many unresolved emotional issues that the holiday season was simply too much for him to bare, and he would begin to systematically destroy absolutely everything that he could to ensure the terrible, tense, and stress filled holidays that he felt he deserved.

It wasn't only until a few years ago, after a few hearts to hearts and some emotional breakthroughs for him, that he was able to allow himself to enjoy the holiday season, and not set out to destroy it for the entire family. Instead of distancing himself from the family, and doing his best to sabotage everything holiday related, he embraced both the family as well as the special events and get-togethers.

One of the activities that we have enjoyed as a family throughout the years, regardless of how bad my adopted stepson would act out in an attempt to make us cancel the day trip, is to visit a local pumpkin patch and spend the day picking our pumpkins, drinking hot apple cider, listening to local bands, and roaming through the corn maze. Even the few times that we had to drag him out to one, as he put on his best "I am extremely disinterested in this activity,' attitude, he perked up quickly after arriving and getting sucked into the atmosphere. With slides, face painting, and hay rides, as well its pretty hard not to find something that will crack the bad mood out of you!

The trips have always been fun, and we always come home with loads of homemade jams, candy, cider, and of course your season holiday gourds and dried corn. Going to a local pumpkin patch is a great way to kick off the fall season, even if you aren't a big fan of Halloween. Many farms focus on the fall harvest theme, and not just the ghosts and goblins of Halloween. So if you are looking for some great family bonding, as well as something a little different than what you usually do with the kids on the weekends, think about taking them to a local pumpkin patch and spending the day in the beautiful autumn air, sipping apple cider, and enjoying one another's company.