Families that go Trick-or-treating but don't hand out candy?

[luvmy3]

You think this one is bad, just wait until after Halloween when all the "parents with alcohol while their kids are Toting" threads start


I always knew this one night was known for bringing out the crazies, but I always figured it was the serial killer behind the mask they were talking about, I never knew it was just the stressed out, costume checking, tally keeping neighbors

 

[marcyinPA]

You think this one is bad, just wait until after Halloween when all the "parents with alcohol while their kids are Toting" threads start


I always knew this one night was known for bringing out the crazies, but I always figured it was the serial killer behind the mask they were talking about, I never knew it was just the stressed out, costume checking, tally keeping neighbors

Trick or Treat night is my DH's favorite night of the year! The guys all take the kids, and load their pockets with beer. And the neighbors usually give out beer to the grown ups! Hey, how else are you supposed to survive a zillion kids running around high on sugar?

 

[Mickeypooh99]

because the community isn't paying for it the neighbors are. If the people in the other towns want to go to the mall and trick or treat or go to the downtown stores where businesses are giving it out go for it but to come into neighborhoods and take the candy that is for the kids who live there and know each other I feel is wrong. If I could buy just for the neighborhood kids I could buy much bigger bars but since w always get 50 to 100 from outside we have to get smaller sizes. do you at least rotate neighborhoods each year so the same one doesn't get hit each year?

The neighbors are the community. Everyone is part of it. We go to the same neighborhood each year. It is the one where all my kids friends live. They see their teachers and friends when we are out. They all know we live in the country. I have the teachers and parents tell me to make sure I bring the boys to their house this year. We have actually had years when we couldn't get to everyone, and people commented on missing us. They aren't going to exclude us because we live a couple miles out of the village limits.

I am so surprised by this whole attitude. Do you never just give something without expecting something in return? Do you not just give something to make someone happy. I wish kids came to our house to trick or treat. I would love to give out candy. I would give it to any kids from anywhere. Not just the kids I know.

The really funny thing is last night I was talking to one of my friends who lives in town, and she said she is going to take her son trick or treating Saturday night in our town, and Sunday night in the neighboring town. (since the towns are holding trick or treating on different nights)

 

[Becc1]

My oldest ds15 stays home while my dh and I take the little ones trick or treating. If he were to go out with friends or something I would give my candy to our neighbor to pass out (which we have done for them in the past). I live in a townhouse community with lots of houses so many kids from the single family homes come over here so they can hit up alot of houses in a shorter period of time. It has always been like this since we moved in 8 years ago so I don't really have a problem with it. We get at least 500 peices of candy to pass out because that first year we underestimated how many kids we would get and ran out Thankfully my ds was finished for the night so we hit up his bag, lol. This is just me but I think I would be embarassed if I were to be home and not give candy out, my neighborhood turns Halloween into a little block party and everyone sits out on their steps and talks. Plus I know alot of the kids ToT from school so I love to see them dressed up.

 

[DeniseinNS]

That is really judgemental to say!We live in the country...NO ONE trick or treats at our house so we should NOT take our kids trick or treating? Alot of people are in that same boat...not everyone lives in town.That is really a crazy thing to say.

If you don't get any kids because you live in a rural area it's different. No point getting treats is noone is going to come.

 

[kamik86]

When I was little I never did trick or treat near my house... at least not once I was past like 5. I would go to my cousins house and go with her or to my sisters house and go with my neices (my sister had a step children near my age). The reason is the area I live in didn't have many kids and has alot of hills so no one really went there so most houses stopped handing things out and also went to other areas.

I don't think I would go to an area where I didn't know anyone but an area to go with my cousin or sister (whose family was handing out stuff) always seemed ok.

 

[marcyinPA]

Something just occurred to me while reading this....do the "trick or treat police" on this thread really know all the kids in their neighborhood?? You guys really know each and every one, and can pick out those who do not belong??

We live in a very large city neighborhood, where the school cut-off lines kind of blur...so my side of the street goes to one elementary school, and the other side goes to another. I don't know those kids. And some go to private school. Don't know them either.

In fact, on an average trick or treat night, I probably know only about 1/4 of the people who come to my door. (well, when we used to stay home. Now we trick or treat in another neighborhood....) I can't imagine turning people I don't know away! That is soooo wrong!!

Plus, they come to our door in groups of like 20 at a time...it's a madhouse! There have been times that I didn't even recognize the kids that I knew, because it's dark, and it's crowded!

 

[DeniseinNS]

Originally Posted by Hannathy
I hardly think a 9 or 8 yr old wouldn't know to look for cars and stay on the sidewalk so that is kinda of a stretch don't you think? that it take 2 parents for a 2 yr old or all your kids will die?

There is NO WAY that I would let my 8 year old go out trick or treating without a parent!!!!

 

[luvmy3]

Something just occurred to me while reading this....do the "trick or treat police" on this thread really know all the kids in their neighborhood?? You guys really know each and every one, and can pick out those who do not belong??

I know all the kids in my sub-division, some very well and some that I just know live here. I also know alot of the other kids that come here to ToT because of volunteering at the school, of course if they don't live in my neighborhood i shun them and give them fruit, only those kids I know and that are dressed in the most lavish costume whose parents give out candy get to pick from what I call my "top shelf" candy supply.

























I'm kidding of course, everyone that comes to the door gets to grab a handful out of my basket

 

[Colleen27]

We used to live in a neighborhood that was a drop off neighborhood for the kids that lived in the country and I LOVED it. We would get about 300 kids each year. If the weather was nice we would sit outside and chat with neighbors as the kids came. It was GREAT.

I like being part of that kind of neighborhood too. Our town has pretty strict traffic control/enforcement on Halloween, to the point of recommending certain parking venues for those coming in from the country (we live in a small town in the middle of corn fields). A lot of folks park at the public library or community center, which are both just a few blocks from our house, and I've never heard any neighbors complaining about handing out candy to their kids' classmates just because they don't happen to live in town.

 

[golfgal]

Something just occurred to me while reading this....do the "trick or treat police" on this thread really know all the kids in their neighborhood?? You guys really know each and every one, and can pick out those who do not belong??

We live in a very large city neighborhood, where the school cut-off lines kind of blur...so my side of the street goes to one elementary school, and the other side goes to another. I don't know those kids. And some go to private school. Don't know them either.

In fact, on an average trick or treat night, I probably know only about 1/4 of the people who come to my door. (well, when we used to stay home. Now we trick or treat in another neighborhood....) I can't imagine turning people I don't know away! That is soooo wrong!!

Plus, they come to our door in groups of like 20 at a time...it's a madhouse! There have been times that I didn't even recognize the kids that I knew, because it's dark, and it's crowded!

In our old town, yes, we knew all of the kids in our neighborhood as well as their parents. I knew probably 90% of the kids that came to our door, many of whom did not live in our neighborhood but it was also a town where kids pretty much went all over town to trick or treat. Here I know most of the kids at least by sight. Most of the kids are younger then our kids so we don't know them all that well.

 

[tlbwriter]

Something just occurred to me while reading this....do the "trick or treat police" on this thread really know all the kids in their neighborhood?? You guys really know each and every one, and can pick out those who do not belong??

I often recognize a kid who I happen to know doesn't live in our neighborhood. We live in a neighborhood known for its great TOTing, so lots of kids come from different areas. In fact, we invite DD's best friend to TOT with us, since she lives in an isolated area. But I like the extra kids. It doesn't cost me very much to buy candy, and it's just fun to have a neighborhood full of cute kids in fun costumes. If it was a financial burden, I wouldn't participate, and I don't hold it against anybody who chooses not to.

 

[HelenePA]

Maybe its just me but I dont know every kid in my town am I alone here?!? I live in a town of about 2000 people.. there are two school districts here.. my side of "line" street goes to one school the other (majority) goes to another school. I dont know anyone from that side down does that mean I should only stay in my 6 blocks?!? I am learning so much new ToT rules here...

 

[HelenePA]

Originally Posted by Hannathy
I hardly think a 9 or 8 yr old wouldn't know to look for cars and stay on the sidewalk so that is kinda of a stretch don't you think? that it take 2 parents for a 2 yr old or all your kids will die?

There is NO WAY that I would let my 8 year old go out trick or treating without a parent!!!!

We are just selfish parents..not wanting our kids to be safe and all... shame on us!!


Tomorrow is ToTing up our local mall.. now what are the rules for this? only kids living with in eye shot of the mall should go? or are they allowed to drive in from another town?

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Maybe it is because I am not observant or just don't care, but I don't keep tabs on this sort of thing. Neither does it bother me.

At this point, my kids are old enough to go around by themselves. For a few years, one of us would go with them and the other would stay and give out candy. But there were some years we would both go with the kids. Sometimes we set out a bowl, other times we didn't. We never considered it as a "Halloween balance sheet".

I also don't know who "belongs" in my neighborhood, nor do I care. I buy candy, I give out candy. When it's gone, I am done. Usually I end up with extra. Why should I care of kids from other neighborhoods trick or treat in my area?

I've also taken my kids trick or treating in other neighborhoods. We went to my niece's neighborhood last year because it was on a different day than our trick or treating day (yes... we don't do it on Halloween here), and on our day, our kids had football practice and/or marching band.

One year we went to my old neighborhood because we lived in an apartment complex and nobody seemed to give out candy.

This year our nieces are coming to our neighborhood.

 

[htmom]

Oh, WOW what a great thread for me to read today. I was already sad I couldn't tot with my kiddo. I have to work tot night, I am a single mom (yeah, that means I DO IT ALL!) So the only way for my kid to TOT is by going with my friend and her kids. Now since I am WORKING and PROVIDING for my child, he shouldn't be allowed to TOT because I can't stay home and hand out treats, take him tot, and work at the same time?

And truthfully the Wisteria lane thing makes me crack up, no my neighborhood isn't like that, we are all grownups not little crybabies and tattletales!

 

[golfgal]

We are just selfish parents..not wanting our kids to be safe and all... shame on us!!


Tomorrow is ToTing up our local mall.. now what are the rules for this? only kids living with in eye shot of the mall should go? or are they allowed to drive in from another town?

Just make sure you bring photo id's for the kids just in case

 

[madcam]

This has gotten a bit ridiculous, don't you think? I mean if you are really that stressed out about Halloween "etiquette" you must need Xanex to get through Christmas! It's candy. For children. If you don't want to give candy out...don't. If you do...do that. If you want to leave a bowl out...do. If you are worried about greedy ToTers or deer or racoons or candy stealing aliens...don't. Do you have a candy quota that you must meet? If you are not meeting it, go to Walmart and pick up a bag for your own kids. Or take them to a church or a mall or whatever. Why is it your business if your neighbors decide to spend an evening with their children? Don't tell me that it's your business because you might come home with one less Kit Kat if they do! Who cares? I give candy out because I want to. I leave a bowl out because I want to. I'm not keeping score or a tally or worried about why houses are "dark". I am not going to let my kids ToT alone when my DH is out of town. When I feel comfortable with them going alone...they will be too old to ToT. Not trying to be rude, but this argument is beyond stupid.

 

[Momvic5]

Trick or treating has always been a lot of fun in our neighborhood, but within the last couple of years, our streets have become heavily flooded with drive by trick or treaters (meaning they don't walk from house to house, they drive).... honestly, it has taken away some of the fun and good spirit of the holiday. Last year, the police were called into our neighborhood to help keep the traffic moving...cars would literally stop at each house or they would park along the curb and sit until their children walked the entire street. I would be lying if I said I wasn't irritated by them......they just made it more dangerous for everyone...unknown parked cars were sitting everywhere, cars were darting from house to house, children were running to and from cars, and two parents were almost required if you and your friends and family were walking. My kids and I still had fun, but it wasn't the same as times past....I always thought that part of the fun was walking with your family and friends, talking, and enjoying the kindness of your community. To me, drive by trick or treating doesn't even seem fun.

 

[Nik's Mom]

While that might be YOUR experience, there are quite a few on this thread that have clearly stated that they have different experiences. Now I'll add myself to that list. We've left bowls out before and have come back to only half-empty bowls. Obviously no kid dumped the whole lot into their bag. And while taking my kids around, I've seen other bowls left out that weren't emptied all over the neighborhood. Why can't you realize that some places are different??

And Christa, that's a pretty nasty blanket statement to make about all 13 year olds. Do you not realize that MOST teens are good, honest kids, or are you one of those who assumes that all teens are rude? If so, let me tell you, they're not the one who is rude.

We have left a bowl on our porch for 2 halloweens in a row. We returned with candy still in the bowl each time. Now, our old neighborhood, we could have never done that.

I agree with Madcam. There is a lot more going on with my life than to worry about who is handing out candy.