When my kids were trick or treating, we’d quickly sort through their bags when they got home and give all the crap candy to the latecomers at the door. I loved my kids so much when they would sit on the floor, surrounded by their candy, and sort it out and share and trade and just get along wonderfully. I really miss that.
We won’t be handing out candy this year because I have to work, and my elderly mom can’t deal with the task anymore…and she’s a grinch, but that’s beside the point! I’m working that night so a co-worker with kids can take her kids out for t-or-t. But I will miss seeing the neighbor kids come by…it’s my only chance to dispel Mom’s mean-old-lady aura.
I happened to be at our local “lifestyle center” yesterday during their t-or-t time, and I loved seeing all the little ones in their costumes! Hundreds upon hundreds of kids, and I almost couldn’t get a parking space! I sat at Borders and just smiled at all the sweet little ones! And the weather cooperated, too. I missed the t-or-t at the mall I work at, and my boss refused to hand out candy.
We were at slight odds this year - Mr. Wild said “no,” I said “find out from the upstairs neighbours with kids how prevalent trick or treating is here since we just moved in, and act accordingly.” Then the landlord had the front porch and steps removed to be replaced with safer stairs. So we’re off the hook. Sometimes you just can’t beat a good deus ex machina.
This SUCKS. Trick or treating started 20 minutes ago in our stupid little town (don’t ask - they do the stupid 3-5 on the weekends in the daylight TOT), and we haven’t had ONE freakin’ kid come to the door - but we saw a few pass by the house. We have the blinds open, we have Halloween stickers on the door, and we have a HUGE bowl of candy sitting by the front door waiting for the little ballerinas and ghosts to visit.
Nada. Nothing. Zilch. Zippo. Zero.
This is our first year out of an apartment and into a house, and dammit, I was looking FORWARD to some trick-or-treaters. We live in a main part of town, we were expecting non-stop TOTs.
Screw it. We’re breaking into a couple of Reese’s PB Cups. This is enough to turn a Halloween-lover into a major Scrooge.
When we came home from breakfast this morning, I drove through other parts of the neighborhood - fewer than 1/3 of the houses were decorated, so we’re in the majority here. Meanies unite!!
I hate the daylight trick-or-treating. It’s just fundamentally wrong. Besides, Halloween’s tomorrow!
I accidentally scheduled a business meeting for tomorrow night at 7pm. I didn’t realize it until yesterday…I can’t believe no-one said anything! Maybe they’re all meanies, too!
I hate the towns that limit hours and put it on a different day, but I remember being a kid, so I’ll always have candy. I’ve never gotten trick-or-treaters living in apartments before, but this apartment complex gives out little signs to indicate if you want to participate, so I’m going to.
That being said, I don’t expect to get many (or probably, in all likelihood, any) kids. But, for the kid that bothers to trudge around from apartment to apartment, I will reward them with copious amounts of candy.
For you grumps – don’t you remember the thrill and excitement of Halloween? Sure, candy was kind of the point, but not really the eating of it, rather the acquisition. Oh, the thrill when someone shelled out for king size candy bars! Filling several pillowcases full of candy! One year, I got home from school, trick-or-treated all afternoon, then went to a birthday party where they drove us to a nice, dense neighborhood and started all over again!
Sure, there are risks involved, and you may have to take your kids to a safe neighborhood. But, for goodness sakes, let them go. Follow them in the car or walk with them, if you feel that you must. It’s a great, fun tradition.
I forgot about the surly teenagers until I read this thread! I’m keeping a few peppermints that came with my Chinese take-out for 'em just in case. No costume, no reward. Or maybe I should give them this can of creamed corn I bought by accident?
