Halloween: Taking a year off?

[Luv Bunnies]

I'm seriously thinking of leaving the porch light off on Halloween this year. Last year just wasn't fun. There were carloads of teens running from house to house, gathering candy and then jumping back in the car to drive to the next area. There were some very rude kids who didn't say a word, let alone thank you. Then there were the kids who wanted to negotiate over the Tootsie Pops we were giving out. "I don't like red. I want brown." And, "Can I have another one for my brother?" "Why didn't your brother come with you?" "Because he's too small and he can't walk." "Then he's too young to eat candy, isn't he?" (Silence).

There was one memorable little pair of girls from down the street. DS15 answered the door. Both girls immediately tried to step into the house while mom stood behind them and said nothing. DS kind of blocked them and quickly gave them each a Tootsie Pop. The younger one said, "I don't like those." Mom said, "Can she have something else?" DS said, "No, that's all we have." The girl drummed her fingers on the door jam and looked at her mom. Mom said nothing. Then the girl said, "I want to go in and use the bathroom." Mom said, "Can she use the bathroom?" DS looked at me and I shook my head. DS said, "Um, no. Sorry." Finally the girl sighed and turned around and left. I know these girls and the mom. The older one was my preschool student. They like to manipulate their mom and she caves in. They didn't need to use the bathroom. They just wanted to come in and mess around. Besides, they only live a few houses away and could easily walk back home if they really needed to go.

So I was thinking about this Halloween and began dreading the whole candy distribution thing. DH is in a musical and has rehearsal that night. DS18 will hide in the den so he doesn't have to deal with it. DS15 said one of his friends is planning a party that night. So that leaves me. I think I'd rather leave the porch light off and have a peaceful evening.

Do you like giving out candy? Have you ever taken a year off?

 

[NAB]

I'm seriously thinking of leaving the porch light off on Halloween this year. Last year just wasn't fun. There were carloads of teens running from house to house, gathering candy and then jumping back in the car to drive to the next area. There were some very rude kids who didn't say a word, let alone thank you. Then there were the kids who wanted to negotiate over the Tootsie Pops we were giving out. "I don't like red. I want brown." And, "Can I have another one for my brother?" "Why didn't your brother come with you?" "Because he's too small and he can't walk." "Then he's too young to eat candy, isn't he?" (Silence).

There was one memorable little pair of girls from down the street. DS15 answered the door. Both girls immediately tried to step into the house while mom stood behind them and said nothing. DS kind of blocked them and quickly gave them each a Tootsie Pop. The younger one said, "I don't like those." Mom said, "Can she have something else?" DS said, "No, that's all we have." The girl drummed her fingers on the door jam and looked at her mom. Mom said nothing. Then the girl said, "I want to go in and use the bathroom." Mom said, "Can she use the bathroom?" DS looked at me and I shook my head. DS said, "Um, no. Sorry." Finally the girl sighed and turned around and left. I know these girls and the mom. The older one was my preschool student. They like to manipulate their mom and she caves in. They didn't need to use the bathroom. They just wanted to come in and mess around. Besides, they only live a few houses away and could easily walk back home if they really needed to go.

So I was thinking about this Halloween and began dreading the whole candy distribution thing. DH is in a musical and has rehearsal that night. DS18 will hide in the den so he doesn't have to deal with it. DS15 said one of his friends is planning a party that night. So that leaves me. I think I'd rather leave the porch light off and have a peaceful evening.

Do you like giving out candy? Have you ever taken a year off?

If it is not enjoyable anymore I would leave the light off. The is no law saying you have to give out candy. I too hate the car loads of people that come and the teenagers that most don't even have a costume on. I used to be afraid they would target my house if I didn't give out candy but there a few on our street that never gave out candy and never had a problem. But when it gets to be that I do not enjoy it anymore my light will be off. We still have lots of little ones in the neighbourhood I love seeing all dressed up.

 

[Christine]

I've taken a year off here and there and will probably permanently do so. We don't have a lot of kids in our neighborhood, nor is the the neighborhood very walkable. So we end up getting drive bys and older kids much later in the evening.

I've never experienced the rudeness you have but I find it just too disruptive anymore. I work early and I can't be having people knocking on the door all night. I really wish that they'd move it to the Saturday closest to Halloween and enforce times. Back in the day, they definitely enforced times and people paid attention. Sadly, no one really follows rules anymore.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I despise giving out candy. We have loads and loads of teenagers who don't even bother with costumes-they just hold out pillowcases and then walk away without saying thank you. My aunt does it, and only while it's light. After that, the little ones are usually done and we switch off the porch and sidewalk lights and put the "Out of Candy" sign on the door.

When I was little, I remember Halloween as being a wonderful holiday. We went all over the neighborhood (*in* costume), neighbors sat out on their steps with big bowls of candy, and nobody over twelve went out unless they were supervising a younger sibling. Now it seems like it's all about teenagers extorting candy in a vaguely threatening way.

 

[Hrhpd]

I'm seriously thinking of leaving the porch light off on Halloween this year. Last year just wasn't fun. There were carloads of teens running from house to house, gathering candy and then jumping back in the car to drive to the next area. There were some very rude kids who didn't say a word, let alone thank you. Then there were the kids who wanted to negotiate over the Tootsie Pops we were giving out. "I don't like red. I want brown." And, "Can I have another one for my brother?" "Why didn't your brother come with you?" "Because he's too small and he can't walk." "Then he's too young to eat candy, isn't he?" (Silence).

There was one memorable little pair of girls from down the street. DS15 answered the door. Both girls immediately tried to step into the house while mom stood behind them and said nothing. DS kind of blocked them and quickly gave them each a Tootsie Pop. The younger one said, "I don't like those." Mom said, "Can she have something else?" DS said, "No, that's all we have." The girl drummed her fingers on the door jam and looked at her mom. Mom said nothing. Then the girl said, "I want to go in and use the bathroom." Mom said, "Can she use the bathroom?" DS looked at me and I shook my head. DS said, "Um, no. Sorry." Finally the girl sighed and turned around and left. I know these girls and the mom. The older one was my preschool student. They like to manipulate their mom and she caves in. They didn't need to use the bathroom. They just wanted to come in and mess around. Besides, they only live a few houses away and could easily walk back home if they really needed to go.

So I was thinking about this Halloween and began dreading the whole candy distribution thing. DH is in a musical and has rehearsal that night. DS18 will hide in the den so he doesn't have to deal with it. DS15 said one of his friends is planning a party that night. So that leaves me. I think I'd rather leave the porch light off and have a peaceful evening.

Do you like giving out candy? Have you ever taken a year off?

I love giving out candy.

I don't stress out about kids not saying trick or treat, thank you or anything else. They are kids, this is a fun holiday and I am not their mother.

My house is also not Halloween Runway where I judge the appropriateness of costumes. I don't care if a kid has a costume or not. Again, it is a fun holiday and I am not their mother.

I don't care if the kid is 2 or 22. I give out candy regardless.

And I would NEVER question a child asking if they ask if they can have a piece for their brother/sister/dog. If you are stressing over a 5 cent piece of candy and kids not following your set of Halloween rules, you should probably leave the porch light off. There is no rule that you have to give out candy.

So, yes, I buy lots of candy and open my door with a smile. That said, I have never had a problem with any kid in the 30+ years we have been handing out candy.

 

[anniemae]

Go out for a nice long dinner that night.

We usually shut the light off when the little ones are done. I can't stand the teenagers covered in shaving cream ringing the bell.

 

[mumto3girls]

We don't have issues with carloads coming in. I will only get 50-60 kids and will know most of those by name from the neighborhood and the kids' schools. We do get some older kids that seem like they are maybe getting too old, but as long as they are in costume and respectful I don't really care. The only years we have taken off were once or twice when we were out of town and once when we had football tickets that happened to fall on the same night. Those times were pre-children.

 

[mom2rtk]

We have an awesome neighborhood for Halloween. Everyone gets in the spirit, even a handful of parents dress up. It's a great time to catch up with neighbors and kids we knew from my daughter's grade school. We usually buy 10-12 bags of candy and run out. So somewhere between 200 and 300 trick or treaters. Of course it helps that my husband gets into the act and decorates everything up nicely. We live in an older neighborhood with gorgeous mature trees and just thinking of the sound of kids crunching across the leaves gets me in the spirit. Can't wait!

But OP..... if it has become drudgery for you, then you probably deserve a year off. I hope you find the Halloween spirit again next year!

 

[Janepod]

I'm seriously thinking of leaving the porch light off on Halloween this year. Last year just wasn't fun. There were carloads of teens running from house to house, gathering candy and then jumping back in the car to drive to the next area. There were some very rude kids who didn't say a word, let alone thank you. Then there were the kids who wanted to negotiate over the Tootsie Pops we were giving out. "I don't like red. I want brown." And, "Can I have another one for my brother?" "Why didn't your brother come with you?" "Because he's too small and he can't walk." "Then he's too young to eat candy, isn't he?" (Silence).

There was one memorable little pair of girls from down the street. DS15 answered the door. Both girls immediately tried to step into the house while mom stood behind them and said nothing. DS kind of blocked them and quickly gave them each a Tootsie Pop. The younger one said, "I don't like those." Mom said, "Can she have something else?" DS said, "No, that's all we have." The girl drummed her fingers on the door jam and looked at her mom. Mom said nothing. Then the girl said, "I want to go in and use the bathroom." Mom said, "Can she use the bathroom?" DS looked at me and I shook my head. DS said, "Um, no. Sorry." Finally the girl sighed and turned around and left. I know these girls and the mom. The older one was my preschool student. They like to manipulate their mom and she caves in. They didn't need to use the bathroom. They just wanted to come in and mess around. Besides, they only live a few houses away and could easily walk back home if they really needed to go.

So I was thinking about this Halloween and began dreading the whole candy distribution thing. DH is in a musical and has rehearsal that night. DS18 will hide in the den so he doesn't have to deal with it. DS15 said one of his friends is planning a party that night. So that leaves me. I think I'd rather leave the porch light off and have a peaceful evening.

Do you like giving out candy? Have you ever taken a year off?

What you're describing sounds like a typical Halloween night. If you don't want to do it, don't do it. But don't let it fill you with dread for a month and a half.

 

[Southernmiss]

For many years, even well before kids, we had a cool graveyard display and nice decorations. I even have a Halloween cd of music I played. We bought at least 12 big sized bags of candy each year. We were a fun house to trick or treat.

Now our youngest is 11 and oldest is 19.

Last year there were so few houses in our neighborhood with lights on that the ones who did got mobbed. We had the rude bigger kids and adults and dh prefers to sit inside and not on the porch handing out candy. Also Halloween is on Thursday this year and the kids have band until 6.

I can see us not turning the light on this year, especially if dd doesn't trick or treat.

But you know, it might turn out like Skipping Christmas, the book that became the movie Christmas with the Kranks. I might be looking for the last pixie stick to be had at 530 on Halloween! Lol

 

[usnuzuloose]

I haven't celebrated for years and do not intend to.

 

[akhenaten]

This!!

I love giving out candy.

I don't stress out about kids not saying trick or treat, thank you or anything else. They are kids, this is a fun holiday and I am not their mother.

My house is also not Halloween Runway where I judge the appropriateness of costumes. I don't care if a kid has a costume or not. Again, it is a fun holiday and I am not their mother.

I don't care if the kid is 2 or 22. I give out candy regardless.

And I would NEVER question a child asking if they ask if they can have a piece for their brother/sister/dog. If you are stressing over a 5 cent piece of candy and kids not following your set of Halloween rules, you should probably leave the porch light off. There is no rule that you have to give out candy.

So, yes, I buy lots of candy and open my door with a smile. That said, I have never had a problem with any kid in the 30+ years we have been handing out candy.

 

[jdb in AZ]

We get so few trick-or-treaters around here we don't bother. If we don't have other plans, we just go to a "trunk or treat" at a church parking lot where people hand out candy from the back of their cars. The kids love it because they get lots of candy walking from car to car instead of house to house. It helps that our fall evening temps are mild.

As for the teenagers, I like the idea of the woman who saved candy canes from Christmas and handed them to the teens the next Halloween. When the kids looked disgruntled, she said, "Is the candy too old for Halloween? So are you."

 

[mom2rtk]

I love giving out candy.

I don't stress out about kids not saying trick or treat, thank you or anything else. They are kids, this is a fun holiday and I am not their mother.

My house is also not Halloween Runway where I judge the appropriateness of costumes. I don't care if a kid has a costume or not. Again, it is a fun holiday and I am not their mother.

I don't care if the kid is 2 or 22. I give out candy regardless.

And I would NEVER question a child asking if they ask if they can have a piece for their brother/sister/dog. If you are stressing over a 5 cent piece of candy and kids not following your set of Halloween rules, you should probably leave the porch light off. There is no rule that you have to give out candy.

So, yes, I buy lots of candy and open my door with a smile. That said, I have never had a problem with any kid in the 30+ years we have been handing out candy.

As for the teenagers, I like the idea of the woman who saved candy canes from Christmas and handed them to the teens the next Halloween. When the kids looked disgruntled, she said, "Is the candy too old for Halloween? So are you."

Bah humbug! Everyone's a kid at Halloween! I actually encourage my teens to embrace their inner child and join in the fun. They don't always do it, but the occasional times they have just made me smile.

 

[Planogirl]

I have been giving out candy early which usually just means the little kids and then we go somewhere since it is Halloween and we love the holiday. I suppose that the teens might come later but we're already gone by then.

I get a kick out of seeing the little kids in their costumes. This is such a big deal for them.

 

[pigletgirl]

Last year was the first year we gave out candy. I was surprised to see 17 and 18 year olds trying to take handfuls. I've decided this year to have two different bowls, one for the younger kids and another for teens. If the teen bowl is gone then there will be no more.

 

[lizabu]

By about 8pm I turn off the light and blow out the candles in the Jack OLantern. To me, that's the universal signal for we don't have any more candy. After 8 its just big kids and I figure they can go buy their own candy...lol

 

[Kitty 34]

I love passing out candy and being a substitute teacher for 30 years in this town......I know most of the kids AND their parents so I usually have a lot of fun seeing everyone out and about.

 

[burnurcomputer]

If you want a year off, take it! Participation is voluntary


I will have tons of candy ready, and my four kids 15, 13, 5 and 3 will be dressing up and hitting the neighborhood! Teens going door to door are teens that aren't drinking, causing mischief, or destruction. I don't care if you are wearing a costume or not when you come to my door, you will get a greeting and some candy. I have handed out candy to adults who have said yum when they see the options! Maybe thats why my house gets decent Halloween action....or its just my neighborhood? Some houses go together and have a food and drink spread along with adults sitting in the driveway with a fire pit. Our police drives around and hands out candy or glow products. Halloween is fun!

 

[minnie mum]

By about 8pm I turn off the light and blow out the candles in the Jack OLantern. To me, that's the universal signal for we don't have any more candy. After 8 its just big kids and I figure they can go buy their own candy...lol

This is pretty much what we do. The lights go on around 5:30 and off at 8:00. And when I hand out candy, I do just that- I hand it to them. I don't offer the bowl and let them grab as much as they can. I do try to buy a nice selection of treats, but the kids don't get to choose what they get.