Halloween: The safest day of the year

[Disney Dad Canada]

Believe it or not, in the summer of 2009 I saw someone doing this. He had a ladder leaning on the limb he was cutting off. We were on a city bus, and the driver said over the speaker "Do you mind if we wait and watch this guy fall? I can't believe anyone is this dumb."

 

[mainegal]

Halloween!

Oh, Halloween was so much fun for my brothers and me. We would go in small groups, two or three friends. Maybe four. No adult. Mom was home handing out candy. She would always quiz the kids "And who / what are you supposed to be?" Not sure where dad was, hiding maybe?

We would be out for an hour or so. Then we would return home, dump our loot, grab a quick hot dog Mom had waiting for us and go back out again. Mom would remind us to go the neighborhood where the houses were smaller and closer together, so we would get more treats. The dentist always gave a toothbrush.

No, we did not know who answered the door. Hadn't a clue.

We dumped the candy on the living room floor and compared our loot. We sorted by full size and mini, chocolate and gum, good candy and the stuff that came out only at Halloween. We had some homemade candy apples and popcorn balls. We never sorted out any candy we could not eat because it might have been tainted. We ate it all!

And, yes, of course we ate some of the candy while we were out walking and trick or treating! We had to keep our strength up, you know.

Boy, do I miss being a kid at Halloween.

Now that I am older, my trick is to stay away from the stores selling Halloween candy at half price. I really do not need any candy!

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

Halloween!

Oh, Halloween was so much fun for my brothers and me. We would go in small groups, two or three friends. Maybe four. No adult. Mom was home handing out candy. She would always quiz the kids "And who / what are you supposed to be?" Not sure where dad was, hiding maybe?

We would be out for an hour or so. Then we would return home, dump our loot, grab a quick hot dog Mom had waiting for us and go back out again. Mom would remind us to go the neighborhood where the houses were smaller and closer together, so we would get more treats. The dentist always gave a toothbrush.

No, we did not know who answered the door. Hadn't a clue.

We dumped the candy on the living room floor and compared our loot. We sorted by full size and mini, chocolate and gum, good candy and the stuff that came out only at Halloween. We had some homemade candy apples and popcorn balls. We never sorted out any candy we could not eat because it might have been tainted. We ate it all!

And, yes, of course we ate some of the candy while we were out walking and trick or treating! We had to keep our strength up, you know.

Boy, do I miss being a kid at Halloween.

This is exactly what still SHOULD be happening, but far too often doesn't. If you even suggest that it should be this way now adays, some people will accuse you of being a horrific, lazy parent and fear for the safety of your kids.

That's more what I'm upset about. The loss of fantastic natural fun times like Halloween being ruined by unnatural and totally unfounded fears. Let kids be kids, and allow them to have fun without scheduling it in.

 

[soupy11]

These are words I've never had occasion to speak or type.

This made my day.

 

[SamSam]

Halloween!

Oh, Halloween was so much fun for my brothers and me. We would go in small groups, two or three friends. Maybe four. No adult. Mom was home handing out candy. She would always quiz the kids "And who / what are you supposed to be?" Not sure where dad was, hiding maybe?

We would be out for an hour or so. Then we would return home, dump our loot, grab a quick hot dog Mom had waiting for us and go back out again. Mom would remind us to go the neighborhood where the houses were smaller and closer together, so we would get more treats. The dentist always gave a toothbrush.

No, we did not know who answered the door. Hadn't a clue.

We dumped the candy on the living room floor and compared our loot. We sorted by full size and mini, chocolate and gum, good candy and the stuff that came out only at Halloween. We had some homemade candy apples and popcorn balls. We never sorted out any candy we could not eat because it might have been tainted. We ate it all!

And, yes, of course we ate some of the candy while we were out walking and trick or treating! We had to keep our strength up, you know.

Boy, do I miss being a kid at Halloween.

Now that I am older, my trick is to stay away from the stores selling Halloween candy at half price. I really do not need any candy!

Oh, yes, I miss the old Halloween. A group of us would go out and trick or treat for blocks and blocks, get tons of candy, and have a blast!

Yes, I know some may say that times are different now, but studies have been done that there actually isn't anymore child abductions, child harm than in the past. We just know about all of it now because of 24 hour news. Back when I was growing up, we mainly knew what went on in our own city. Now we hear about every horrific crime across the nation, which makes it seem as if there are more crimes than in years past.

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

Oh, yes, I miss the old Halloween. A group of us would go out and trick or treat for blocks and blocks, get tons of candy, and have a blast!

Yes, I know some may say that times are different now, but studies have been done that there actually isn't anymore child abductions, child harm than in the past. We just know about all of it now because of 24 hour news. Back when I was growing up, we mainly knew what went on in our own city. Now we hear about every horrific crime across the nation, which makes it seem as if there are more crimes than in years past.

Another example of parent craziness, I was taking a photo of my kids school a couple weeks ago for a fundraising event, and before I knew it a police car arrived, sirens on. The policeman said I wasn't allowed to stand on a public sidewalk and take a picture of a public school. It was "in the interst of children's safety", and if I deleted the pictures, "he would let it go this time".

I insisted on NOT deleting the pictures, after all it's well within my rights to take as many pictures as I damn well please in public. We talked to the principal who explained what I was doing. The policeman said that they got a report from "a concerned parent", and "you can never be too careful when it comes to kids". Yes you can, and this proves it.

 

[Spaceace5150]

Another example of parent craziness, I was taking a photo of my kids school a couple weeks ago for a fundraising event, and before I knew it a police car arrived, sirens on. The policeman said I wasn't allowed to stand on a public sidewalk and take a picture of a public school. It was "in the interst of children's safety", and if I deleted the pictures, "he would let it go this time".

I insisted on NOT deleting the pictures, after all it's well within my rights to take as many pictures as I damn well please in public. We talked to the principal who explained what I was doing. The policeman said that they got a report from "a concerned parent", and "you can never be too careful when it comes to kids". Yes you can, and this proves it.

If I saw someone doing this, I would definitely call the school and alert them. If there were kids outside, I would call 911. I guess I am a crazy parent.

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

If I saw someone doing this, I would definitely call the school and alert them. If there were kids outside, I would call 911. I guess I am a crazy parent.

Sorry, but why would you cal 911? Taking a picture while on a public street of a public building? That's a basic right of a free society.

I had the same arguement with the police officer. He said "Well you be up to something sinister". Excuse me, but you can't arrest people for things they MIGHT do. Why not stop all the cars driving in front of the school because they MIGHT hit a child with their car? Why not make all schools no fly zones, because a plane MAY crash into the building?

Taking a picture is not, nor should it be even considered the least bit nefarious. It's a very sad day when people are so over paranoid that they even think this way in the least.

 

[jcb]

Sorry, but why would you cal 911? Taking a picture while on a public street of a public building? That's a basic right of a free society.

I had the same arguement with the police officer. He said "Well you be up to something sinister". Excuse me, but you can't arrest people for things they MIGHT do. Why not stop all the cars driving in front of the school because they MIGHT hit a child with their car? Why not make all schools no fly zones, because a plane MAY crash into the building?

Taking a picture is not, nor should it be even considered the least bit nefarious. It's a very sad day when people are so over paranoid that they even think this way in the least.

I can (and do) completely agree with your thinking about your rights (though I know absolutely nothing about a Canadian's free speech rights) but I have to say this discussion is getting pretty far afield from any topic discussed on the podcast or to Disney. You have made your point very well but now, please, give it a rest. You have many very well-stated posts about going to Disney as a single parent and doing something special for your children. I enjoyed those immensely but speaking for myself, I just don't come to the disboards to be confrontational. I have enough of that in my day job.

 

[Launchpad11B]

I can (and do) completely agree with your thinking about your rights (though I know absolutely nothing about a Canadian's free speech rights) but I have to say this discussion is getting pretty far afield from any topic discussed on the podcast or to Disney. You have made your point very well but now, please, give it a rest. You have many very well-stated posts about going to Disney as a single parent and doing something special for your children. I enjoyed those immensely but speaking for myself, I just don't come to the disboards to be confrontational. I have enough of that in my day job.

Best post I've seen in a while.

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

I can (and do) completely agree with your thinking about your rights (though I know absolutely nothing about a Canadian's free speech rights) but I have to say this discussion is getting pretty far afield from any topic discussed on the podcast or to Disney. You have made your point very well but now, please, give it a rest. You have many very well-stated posts about going to Disney as a single parent and doing something special for your children. I enjoyed those immensely but speaking for myself, I just don't come to the disboards to be confrontational. I have enough of that in my day job.

As opposed to iPhone, movie reviews, or endless other non-Disney posts on here? You have the right not to read or post, but please don't tell others what they can or cannot do. If you don't like confrontation, that's something you need to deal with, not me.

 

[Joshua_me]

On a semi-sort of related but just barely note....

I remember watching TV with my Mom on a 4th of July weekend a few years ago...

A PSA came on warning the public about the dangers of fireworks, and how to not over-indulge in alcohol and other substances and how to keep your pets inside so they won't be frightened by the fireworks and how to avoid high calorie BBQ foods and not to leave the house if you didn't have to so as not to contribute to the expected heavy traffic and how to not let your children in the pool or ocean without proper "floaties" on, and so on...

And with that, Mom turned to me and said something I'll never forget.

"You know, son, when I was young the TV ads used to be about all the things to do over the holidays. Now, they're about all the things NOT to do..."

That still sticks with me today.

Just thought I'd mention it.

 

[jcb]

As opposed to iPhone, movie reviews, or endless other non-Disney posts on here? You have the right not to read or post, but please don't tell others what they can or cannot do. If you don't like confrontation, that's something you need to deal with, not me.

Saying I have issues with confrontation is like saying an army sergeant doesn't like guns. I live for confrontation (in a nonviolent way) but there is a place for it and historically the podcast thread has been about friendships, not controversy. (I mean cake v pie, hard or soft peeps, those are fighting woods.) There's irony in your post, "telling" me not to do posts "telling" others what not to post, but ultimately, you are right, life is too short to keep reading posts like this.

Things change, sometimes not for the better.

 

[DisneyKevin]

We've discussed Halloween candy and whether it should be checked by a parent a couple of times now.

We can save all of the other silly rules an injustices for other posts.

Looks like this particular thread has run it's course.