Halloween: Taking a year off?

[mhsjax]

I didn't realize there was a limit on how many people can have fun on Halloween, so that it needed to be "reserved" for the little ones.

Just how DO you go about making sure the little ones are taken care of first? Do you tell the teens to come back later to see if there's any candy left?

In our neighborhood you can't even tell which teen is with which little kids. No way to tell who is escorting a little kid and who is just out with a few friends trick or treating on their own. We typically just have a constant stream of kids.

Everyone here gets into the act. The people across the street don't even have kids but the man puts out dry ice, puts on a microphone and shouts scary things at kids. He "chases" them down the street sometimes, and it's all just great fun. The other neighbors dress up as a statue and stand really still until someone comes out and they jump out at them.

Around here, Halloween is probably more anticipated than Christmas. It's just a great time for all of us to embrace our inner kid. Even the teenagers.

Besides, wouldn't you rather have them out asking for treats than coming up with "tricks" to play?

I am glad you love it, I am glad that around your area people get into it more than Christmas ( very sad IMHO)

YOu won't change my mind. I don't like Halloween never have never will. A complete wast of time and money. My kids did it when they were little and then like me, they decided it was a waste of time and money.


OH and why is it either or, Kids around here don't have to get candy in order to stay out of trouble. So I guess where most of you are, kids who trick or treat are boozing it up? Sad. YOu don't have to do either. Oh and I bet plenty of them booze it up before or after if they are that type of kid, the candy has nothing to do with it.

Have fun this Halloween, obviously you love it and that is fine, it is also fine that I HATE it.

ETA: For me personally, As an adult I think think of many easy to have more fun that don't include dressing up and asking for candy. I prefer a nice dinner at a wonderful restaurant or some shopping. My kids would also much prefer a dinner out at a nice restaurant with real food and not candy. What can I say, they are foodies.

 

[mhsjax]

I went out trick-or-treating (in costume) with my friends every year until I went to college. I never encountered anyone who thought we were "rude" or "stealing candy from little kids." Most people enjoyed seeing our costumes because we worked hard on them for months.

There was one older guy who was especially excited to see us every year... because our arrival, to him, meant that he could turn his light off and go to bed. He would give us every single piece of candy he had left and say, "I don't feel bad giving this to you kids since you're old enough to know not to eat it all at once. Happy Halloween, and GOOD NIGHT!" That guy was good for half a pillowcase on his own.

While we were planning our costumes, there were plenty of kids planning how to steal their parents' booze for their Halloween parties. Is that really preferable to handing a teenage kid a piece of candy? I didn't know Halloween was "for little kids." Someone should send that memo to all those megastores selling adult Halloween costumes!

Stores will make money on ANYONE they can sell to. lol

 

[plutotek]

I am glad you love it, I am glad that around your area people get into it more than Christmas ( very sad IMHO)

YOu won't change my mind. I don't like Halloween never have never will. A complete wast of time and money. My kids did it when they were little and then like me, they decided it was a waste of time and money.


OH and why is it either or, Kids around here don't have to get candy in order to stay out of trouble.

Have fun this Halloween, obviously you love it and that is fine, it is also fine that I HATE it.
ETA: For me personally, As an adult I think think of many easy to have more fun that don't include dressing up and asking for candy. I prefer a nice dinner at a wonderful restaurant or some shopping. My kids would also much prefer a dinner out at a nice restaurant with real food and not candy. What can I say, they are foodies.

Personally, I'd rather kids celebrate and have fun on a holiday that wasn't contrived to placate the masses.

I'd be more inclined to believe your kids adopted your attitude because it was foisted upon them rather than choosing that attitude themselves.

For the last, you just have my sympathies.

 

[mhsjax]

Personally, I'd rather kids celebrate and have fun on a holiday that wasn't contrived to placate the masses.

I'd be more inclined to believe your kids adopted your attitude because it was foisted upon them rather than choosing that attitude themselves.

For the last, you just have my sympathies.

So sorry you feel I can't dislike something. I will leave your negative comment about Christmas alone, you are free to dislike it, you see how that works?

Al least I didn't attack the holiday itself, I just expressed that fact that I didn't like it and didn't as a child.

YOu can believe what you want about my kids, doesn't matter to me, I know them you don't. I don't begrudge younger kids having fun at halloween, I personally don't like it.

OH and thank you for your sympathies, but I really don't need them.

YOu all seem so offended that I don't happen to like a holiday.

ETA: My DH said thanks for the laugh, he found your post quite amusing.

 

[mom2rtk]

I am glad you love it, I am glad that around your area people get into it more than Christmas ( very sad IMHO)

YOu won't change my mind. I don't like Halloween never have never will. A complete wast of time and money. My kids did it when they were little and then like me, they decided it was a waste of time and money.


OH and why is it either or, Kids around here don't have to get candy in order to stay out of trouble. So I guess where most of you are, kids who trick or treat are boozing it up? Sad. YOu don't have to do either. Oh and I bet plenty of them booze it up before or after if they are that type of kid, the candy has nothing to do with it.

Have fun this Halloween, obviously you love it and that is fine, it is also fine that I HATE it.

ETA: For me personally, As an adult I think think of many easy to have more fun that don't include dressing up and asking for candy. I prefer a nice dinner at a wonderful restaurant or some shopping. My kids would also much prefer a dinner out at a nice restaurant with real food and not candy. What can I say, they are foodies.

Bah humbug.

How shocking that your kids are no longer fans of the holiday.

You obviously feel very strongly about it. Enjoy your time out. We'll continue to enjoy the little goblins crunching through the leaves screeching at all the fun decorations. We enjoyed it long before we ever had kids, and will likely continue to love it long after they are grown and gone. People come to our street because of all the fun and elaborate decorations. Instead of bemoaning how much the candy costs, we look at it as money invested in a great family holiday.

I can see that some get burned out on it. But to HATE it? I guess I just don't get it. Turn your light out and go to dinner. Why the hate?

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I'm not a big fan of Halloween, but my husband sure loves it! I really don't care for teens trick-or-treating, either. I always just thought that if you were old enough to go to a Halloween dance at school, you were too old to trick-or-treat. To each their own, though. I would get irritated handing out candy, as well, because so many people would come to our neighborhood, line our street with cars and go from house to house. I wouldn't mind except that many of them end up actually double parking and blocking traffic because the majority of the town comes to our neighborhood. I enjoy going to our fall festival that we have downtown and it has gotten to where I won't be able to get to my house after the festival because of all of the trick-or-treaters' cars. So now, we go to the festival and then out to dinner for a while until we think everyone has left, or we don't go out at all and stay home watching fun movies like It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.

 

[mhsjax]

Bah humbug.

How shocking that your kids are no longer fans of the holiday.

You obviously feel very strongly about it. Enjoy your time out. We'll continue to enjoy the little goblins crunching through the leaves screeching at all the fun decorations. We enjoyed it long before we ever had kids, and will likely continue to love it long after they are grown and gone. People come to our street because of all the fun and elaborate decorations. Instead of bemoaning how much the candy costs, we look at it as money invested in a great family holiday.

I can see that some get burned out on it. But to HATE it? I guess I just don't get it. Turn your light out and go to dinner. Why the hate?

Than enjoy it, I never said not to did I? My family doesn't look at it that way, We don't consider it a "great family holiday" your does, never said that you shouldn't. I should be allowed that same luxury. And yes I HATE it. Again, always have always will. But I am not stopping anyone from enjoying it, or asking anyone to.

YOu don't have to "get it" it is an opinion and that is what is being talked about here.

ETA: My friends know I hate it, they don't get it, but they don't care and I don't care that they love it. I sure don't care what a bunch of strangers think about me not liking it. I endured it with all smiles when my kids were younger and last year when I asked if they wanted to go out they said no. I went to visit a friend and help her hand out candy, but my kids all but 1 stayed home, they other just walked around but didn't "trick or treat" I asked them this year what they wanted, they said to go out to their favorite restaurant, for those of you that don't believe me, oh well. I don't care.

 

[mhsjax]

I'm not a big fan of Halloween, but my husband sure loves it! I really don't care for teens trick-or-treating, either. I always just thought that if you were old enough to go to a Halloween dance at school, you were too old to trick-or-treat. To each their own, though. I would get irritated handing out candy, as well, because so many people would come to our neighborhood, line our street with cars and go from house to house. I wouldn't mind except that many of them end up actually double parking and blocking traffic because the majority of the town comes to our neighborhood. I enjoy going to our fall festival that we have downtown and it has gotten to where I won't be able to get to my house after the festival because of all of the trick-or-treaters' cars. So now, we go to the festival and then out to dinner for a while until we think everyone has left, or we don't go out at all and stay home watching fun movies like It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.

This sounds like fun.

 

[Sorsha]

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.

All of this, YES!

We love Halloween, it is our favorite holiday. We always dress up (DH and I included) and decorate the house. DH sets up the fog machine with a trigger so it goes off when we open the door, the kids are met with a POOF of spooky fog. We do EXTREMELY detailed carved pumpkins and line the walkway. We have thunder-and-lightning sound effects with the fog, and spooky music playing.

We live in a neighborhood with a lot of kids, and they love to come to our house, we are the "Halloween" house. I usually see some of the same kids a couple of times a night. That's OK though, I enjoy hosting them. We just buy huge bags of candy from Costco.

I can't wait for Halloween - it is about time to start decorating! October 1st, and the pumpkins come out!!

 

[Sorsha]

We also have a historic distric downtown, and people there get VERY into their Halloween. Sometimes, we try to get there as well as man our own house. It reminds me of the town in "Hocus Pocus" when Halloween is their town holiday because of the Sanderson Sisters.

The sidewalks are always crowded, and EVERYONE, not just kids, are in costume. I love to see all the creative costumes people come up with. The houses go ALL OUT on decor; several of the houses even shove back the furniture and turn the insides of their houses into walk-through haunted houses. Last year one of the owners dressed up as Lurch the Butler and greeted everyone at the door with a "Good EEEvening" and had a tray with a candy bowl on it on his arm. One house had a buffet table laid out with the creepiest candy they could find - eyeballs, worms, etc. Another house, as you approached the porch, there was a scarecrow "prop" sitting in a rocking chair on the porch. I say prop because as you raised your hand to knock on the door he would pop up and cackle "Let me help you with that" and knock for you. I don't know how many people he made shriek with that one.

Awesome neighborhood. My Halloween loving family is always inspired to come up with new ideas for our house.

 

[Katy Belle]

I'm a big fan of doing what works for YOU! If you don't enjoy giving out candy, shut off the light and don't worry about it. In nearly every neighborhood there are dark houses that the kids just stay away from.

We usually get over 100 trick-or-treaters. I LOVE handing out the candy! I'm the lady that gushes over the costumes, teases the teens without costumes, etc. I look forward to seeing what the popular costumes are, etc. I find it all fun.

My own kids are now 13, 16, 18. Last year they ALL still went door to door. I've been worried for YEARS that people would treat them badly at the doors, especially since DS18 is 6'4", 250lbs and obviously not a little kid. They always go in full costumes and always go in a group of friends. They have been met with kindness. Last year one man told DS18s group.."I saw you were all big kids and I was going to tell you I was saving the candy for little kids, but that was so great, here you go!" They were dressed as Christmas Carolers, hats, scarves, holly, garland, etc, carrying choir folders, when the man opened the door they sang We Wish You a Merry Christmas. He actually liked it!

That being said, there are many teens here that dress up and go door to door. I would say it is the norm, rather than the exception.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm a big fan of doing what works for YOU! If you don't enjoy giving out candy, shut off the light and don't worry about it. In nearly every neighborhood there are dark houses that the kids just stay away from.

We usually get over 100 trick-or-treaters. I LOVE handing out the candy! I'm the lady that gushes over the costumes, teases the teens without costumes, etc. I look forward to seeing what the popular costumes are, etc. I find it all fun.

My own kids are now 13, 16, 18. Last year they ALL still went door to door. I've been worried for YEARS that people would treat them badly at the doors, especially since DS18 is 6'4", 250lbs and obviously not a little kid. They always go in full costumes and always go in a group of friends. They have been met with kindness. Last year one man told DS18s group.."I saw you were all big kids and I was going to tell you I was saving the candy for little kids, but that was so great, here you go!" They were dressed as Christmas Carolers, hats, scarves, holly, garland, etc, carrying choir folders, when the man opened the door they sang We Wish You a Merry Christmas. He actually liked it!

That being said, there are many teens here that dress up and go door to door. I would say it is the norm, rather than the exception.

Send your kids to my house. I'll gush over over their costumes! What a great idea for costumes!

In 24 years in this neighborhood, the only teenage trick or treater I took issue with was the one who came by just as I was closing the door for the night. With no costume and a cigarette dangling from his mouth he stuck a pillow case out to get his candy. Since I was home alone that night, I gave him some candy and sent him on his way. But that was probably 20 years ago. There have been so many great trick or treaters since then (both big and small). I'm so glad I didn't let that taint my opinion of all the other great ones.

That trick or treater has just faded to family folklore now.

 

[Arielle22]

We never got many kids, even when my girls were young. This year both of my girls are away at college. DH and I plan on going to my sister's house to see our nephews in costume.

So our light will remain off on Halloween.

 

[LilyWDW]

Let me explain my costume feelings. Wearing a costume on Halloween is a long standing tradition even back when it was All Hallows Eve or Sanhaim. Same with "trick or treating" though both have changed over the years. As such, I personally expect people who come by to get candy to make a little bit of effort and have a costume of SOME sort. I am not expecting people to spend hundreds . Throw on a pair of jeans, a plaid shirt, and a cheap straw hat and you have a costume. Throw a white sheet over yourself with two eye holes and you have a costume. Those will cost less then $5!

Right now I don't have to worry about it because I get no kids around here. Just a bad and dangerous place for those sorts of activities since we live on a 2 lane country road with hills and sharp (blind) curves, no lighting, and no sidewalks. When I move up north I don't know if I will stay home to hand anything out or help take the kids in my family out. If I go with the kids, I will be dressing up because why the heck not!

 

[krnlmustrd]

I go all out for Halloween. Anybody that braves the path to my door, be it a kid, teen or adult, gets candy!

Trick-or-Treating is one of my favorite memories from my childhood. I especially remember the one house in my neighborhood that always had the scary decorations and music. The owner answered the door in costume. It was terrifying as a kid! But so much fun! And I'll never forget it. That's the sort of memory I want the kids these days to have. It's sad when so few houses bother doing anything decoration-wise. It's ONE night a year. You can put a little effort in it and MAKE it enjoyable.

 

[DVC-Don]

We stopped participating last year. Traffic has really dropped off at our home the past few tears anyway.

 

[Sparkly]

We don't have any kids nearby anymore. I only went trick-or-treating a couple of years when I was 7/8 or so. It's not really as big a event over here.

What's people's definitions of "little kid" anyway?

 

[Sorsha]

We don't have any kids nearby anymore. I only went trick-or-treating a couple of years when I was 7/8 or so. It's not really as big a event over here.

What's people's definitions of "little kid" anyway?

You are only as old as you feel! Especially on a holiday like Halloween!

My standard "little kid" definition is probably 11 and under or so, but that doesn't matter to me on Samhain!

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I also used to make treat bags, putting a variety of candy into each bag. Handing each kid a bag stopped the "I want that one" requests. This took time and effort, but I enjoyed it. Then my ds was old enough to be selling candy through school. We don't like to ask our co-workers t buy stuff, so we'd just buy the lot and give them away for Halloween. That was popular too because the kids were getting a full-sized candy bar.

My neighbors stand outside and we often form a line, chatting and handing out candy. My dh has done it for the last few years. My ds is a mid-teen now, and does not go out.

We douse the light at 8, and don't answer if the bell rings. By that time everyone we know is done.

My dh makes an elaborate display in the front yard with a cage and hanging severed heads. The neighbors have come to expect it.

We have a bit of a different situation in that we live in a city and there is a large housing project on our street, but much further down. The first few times I answered the door I was annoyed that a lot of these kids were older and barely had a costume, but then I thought for 2 seconds and realized that a lot of these kids couldn't buy their own costume or candy, and this might be the treat they are getting. These are the same kids who receive the gifts at Christmas and backpacks at the start of school from our church or other non-profits. When I think of it that way, I don't have a problem giving them a happy moment at Halloween.

I think I'm going back to making the bags this year, if I can find the $.10 bags again. I enjoy making them, and it's better to be assembling them than eating!

I've been on hiatus from Halloween, but I'm feeling the spirit this year and happy to get back into it. I think a break was just what I needed. You should only do it if it seems like fun. Being resentful is no way to spend your Halloween!

Maria

 

[Disneyland1084]

I love Halloween, and handing out candy. We got over 100 trick or treaters last year, and expect the same amount this year. Some were teenagers, but they didn't bother me at all. I gave them candy. It's better they're out trick or treating instead doing something that will get them in trouble. And I'd rather my candy go to teenagers instead of my hips.