16 year olds trick or treating

[Lucky4me]

Yesterday I thought 16 was too old for trick or treating. I said some things to my daughter about her plans to go door to door that weren't very nice. I made her feel bad for wanting to dress up and go out with her friends to get candy, but she went anyway. I thought by that age, they should be over and done with that stage of their life, I know I was.

On the way to pick her up, I noticed several groups of teens hanging around the streets. They did not have costumes on, they had no candy, but they were smoking cigarettes, drinking beer, and I smelled pot too. I realized that group of teens could have been me and my friends 25 years ago. As I slowly drove by those kids who are my daughters age and younger, I was overcome with a sense of thankfulness she was not one of them.

I pulled in the driveway and she got in the car with her bag of loot. I reached over and kissed her. I told her she looked great in her 80's costume (lol) and asked if she had fun. She said all 8 of them made up a short song and dance routine and earned their candy at every house. Someone videotaped it so I could see. She was laughing and told me all the stories of the evening. She had a blast.

I've decided she can Trick or Treat till she's 40 if she wants.

It's amazing when your children teach YOU something, isn't it?

 

[Lars624]

I'm glad that your daughter is a good kid. My two 13 year olds went t-o-t-ing and they had a blast. I have no problem with teenagers coming here for candy......especially if they dress up because sometimes they have the most creative costumes that they come up with themselves.

 

[believe]

It is great when they remain kids at heart longer than expected....just ask DH, he has personal experience with this.

 

[holycow]

Good for you for letting her know!..and then she felt she could open up and share her night with you.

Yeah for mom!

HC

 

[dianeschlicht]

I would have been like you and would not have been happy a 16 YO was trick or treating, but when you put it in those terms...I see what you mean!

 

[gina2000]

My initial response would have been the same as yours. But she certainly taught you something....and me, too! What a great daughter!

 

[fireplug]

We let ours go out trick or treating until they wanted to stop. The only rule was they had to dress up. They are kids and most of us try and make then grow up too fast anyway. Then we grumble they grew up too soon.
Let them be young as long as they want. As we have discovered, most of our teenagers are really pretty good kids.

Steve

 

[browneyes]

Sue, that's a great story. I know your dd had a LOT more fun than those other kids. So, did she share her candy with you?

 

[newmousecateer]

That was great. Thanks for sharing that with us.

You should be (and I can tell you are) very proud of her.

 

[4greatboys]

My 15 yr old hung out with his friends for Halloween--he did dress up, he wore a trash bad over his clothes--said he was white trash. I thought it was funny and so did his friends. They went to a few housed mostly just to see their other friends. I think its good they still enjoy this. Most kids try to grow up way to quickly.

 

[Pam]

Lucky4me,
You hit the nail on the head! My 17 yr. old DD did not go TOT'ing this year but she did dress up to march/dance with the HS band in the Halloween parade. She usually goes out after the parade to TOT but this year her BF turned 18 and he didn't want to go, so they came back home and passed out treats.

14 yr. old DS did dress up and go TOT.

I was like you, last night I looked around at all of the teens, dressed up and having so much fun and I just sent up a little prayer to heaven that these kids were out having fun instead of hitting some of the beer parties.

Pam

 

[JulesMom]

My DD is still trick or treating at 16.

Feel free to give Jules a hard time if you want, but you know she's a kid at heart!

We had several teens come to the door. They were all well behaved and said thanks.

 

[d.kurz]

Great story!

I opened this thread expecting to have to defend the 16 yo's that want to ToT! I don't have a problem with it. If you show up at my door, and have made some attempt at a costume, you'll get candy! I don't care if you're 40!!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>So funny you posted this.

I kind of thought the same thing - 16 - too old to Trick-or-Treat. My ds was 13 yrs last year & said he was too old, so I expected the same from my dd this year – wrong. She and her friends have the motto – “You’re never too old to Trick or Treat,” and got dressed up – DD as a 60’s hippy, one friend in a kimono, and the other dressed as Scarlet O’Hara (and they wore the costumes to school). This year, my 14 yr old ds decided he wanted to, also, so he got a Michael Myers mask (ugh), and went w/a friend. Oh … he also wore it in the car, trying to scare other drivers – he got a lot of laughs and even a couple of screams. Heh heh

The kids had so much fun last night, and as I drove up & down the neighborhood looking for them, it was nice seeing the Trick-or-Treaters, very young and not-so-young having fun. I really enjoyed watching them, and it made me rethink my position, and change my opinion. Oh… I finally found the kids… or should I say, they found me – I heard this screaming, and it was the girls chasing after my car (funny) …. And the girls had got the attention of two ghoulish guys, and as they entered the car, the two guys in full mask were acting like they wanted to come in – it was a great way for the girls to end the evening – with some simple excitement.

I’ve been smiling all morning thinking of the fun the rascals had last night.

 

[AngieBelle]

Oh I'm so glad! I'm also an avocater of "You're never too old for free candy!" hehe. I trick or treated right through my senior year of high school. In fact, I desperately wanted to go this year but couldn't find someone to go with and didn't want to go alone, so I just went to the mall for a little while instead. I say as long as you wear a costume and are well mannered, there's no problem with us big kids going trick or treating! I *still* love dumping my loot on the floor to see what I got.

 

[Serena]

I've figured out that when it comes to candy, they are all 10.

Oops, didn't mean to push send yet.

I like your story.

 

[ripleysmom]

What a great story!! What a great kid!!

 

[abaldacci]

MY 14 DD and her 11 yr old friend got ran off from a house for trick or treating. I thought after she told me what happend they could have been doing worse thing ie egging houses and such. What is wrong that a child because 14 is a child going trick or treating. They can't go to work and buy candy. I give candy to anyone who dresses up adults too. Where is there a law about not trick or treatin after a certain age.

 

[nativetxn]

There is no law, abaldacci, sorry your daughter had a bad experience

I love this story Lucky4me. My son never trick or treated after he entered high school but only because he was always in rehearsals for a play that time of year and the Drama teacher made them rehearse every night. They usually had a little "party" at the Halloween rehearsals

 

[Buckalew]

Lucky4Me,
I have read your posts for a long time now. You've been here for a very long time. I just have to tell you that I so often agree with you and often may see another side to an issue because of your posts. I didn't really have an opinion about teens and TOT but I did decide to read this thread today. I'm certainly glad I did. It was very touching and since I have an 8yo DD I do listen and take a lot of this stuff in around here thinking I may be able to use it or not use it as she grows. Thank you for this post. Thank you for letting your DD know that she was right and you were wrong. I think she will respect you so much for that. Your posts always show me what a great mom you are in RL. I just wanted to say that even though it doesn't mean much coming ffom an Internet stranger...
Sounds like you have a really great teen there, Sue. I'm not surprised.