Yes I noticed that too as we had alot of grownups trick or treating
instead of kids. We had more grownups than kids. What happened to the
kids? We didnt have that many this year like last year so we have leftover candy. Yes some of them just came to door & stood there
& didnt say treat or treat or anything. How weird is that.

The poor were bused to trick-or-treat at your house. The homeless were already wearing their costume.

We have a lower income neighborhood within walking distance and get a lot of their kids in our neighborhood. I don't mind giving them candy; it's more than they'll get in a year from their folks. All I ask in return is that they respect the people here, and they usually do.

Did have one father carrying a some sort of pan that you use to boil spaghetti asking for candy. He was with kids going up to the doors, pouting out his lower lip and saying "can you spare a piece for teh daddy?" It was sick, but I obliged with some generic candy (I buy a bag for the overage kids that insist on going T-or-T'ing.)

relevant comic
[warning: 1 mispelled f-bomb in comic]

momgoingbroke said:Forgot to mention...tired of seeing parents FORCING their kids to T-or-T! I saw this three times last night. the kids were young and had enough. They just wanted to go home. The parents wouldn't let them. One of the times, a toddler fell out on my lawn and the dad kept saying "get up, it ain't over yet" and the kid wouldn't budge! I mentioned to the father that it looked like the kid had enough, making it seem like a joke, but I was serious. The father ended up picking him up and carrying him to the next house. I think it is more about parents getting the candy. There is no way a kid still in diapers could eat as much as they had in that pillow case.

I so agree... I even had 2 people with DOGS in outfits trick or treating! I refused to give them candy

My 15-yr old stayed home and handed out the candy while doing his french homework he had been putting off; DH watched tv
I went out with the 11 & 9 yr old boys while they trick or treated, I usually stayed on the sidewalk or street to keep an eye on them because I didn't want the older one doing something stupid like shoving his little brother in front of a car

My peeves are:
* the number of homes that don't bother handing out candy (no lights turned on) - c'mon, we're in a family neighborhood, you can hand out candy for 2 hours to +/-50 kids!!

* I was pissed at the houses that turn on their lights but don't bother answering the door, for crying out loud, it's 7:30pm, if it's too late for you or you've somehow managed to run out of candy - turn off your house lights!

* If you have to drive your kid from house to house, go home! OR park your car (and turn it off!) at the end of the street and let your kids walk from house to house. Last night we had FOUR cars with their headlights blinding us driving 2mph down the street while the kids went from house to house (these homes are around 30' apart!).

I will say our neighborhood has kids that are pretty decent, there were a couple of houses that had bowls of candy outside and there were still some left in the bowls when we got there. No smashed pumpkins that I can see.

Hints for people that are clueless:
Turn your house lights on if you're handing out candy, turn them off if you aren't.
Put your barking dogs going berserk at the sound of the doorbell, in the basement or a back room.
Learn how to take out the top window or screen of your screen door - makes it much easier than trying to push open a screen door and pushing a pile of kids off the steps!

And something to keep in mind... a mom from a local online parents group of special needs kids was taking her autistic 17-yr old son out trick or treating last night. A lot of times, these types of kids couldn't handle going out trick or treating at the "appropriate" age. If you get one or two older teenagers at a time, keep in mind that they may appear normal/typical, but could be autistic or delayed.... let them enjoy themselves!

MadAnthony said:mom2jel said:
My peeves are:
* the number of homes that don't bother handing out candy (no lights turned on) - c'mon, we're in a family neighborhood, you can hand out candy for 2 hours to +/-50 kids!!

So because I bought a house in a neighborhood with a bunch of kids, I'm obligated to rearrange my schedule and supply them with candy? Isn't it enough that I pay thousands a year in property taxes, most of which goes to send those rugrats to school?

GET OFF MY LAWN, KIDS!

As a single guy, you're exempt

No, you don't have to reaarange your schedule... but if your home you're pretty lame to sit and watch tv and not hand out candy for at least an hour.

ETA: My (older, single) sister is one of those lame-asses

MadAnthony said:mom2jel said:
My peeves are:
* the number of homes that don't bother handing out candy (no lights turned on) - c'mon, we're in a family neighborhood, you can hand out candy for 2 hours to +/-50 kids!!

So because I bought a house in a neighborhood with a bunch of kids, I'm obligated to rearrange my schedule and supply them with candy? Isn't it enough that I pay thousands a year in property taxes, most of which goes to send those rugrats to school?

GET OFF MY LAWN, KIDS!Move to a gated condo complex. Problem solved.

mom2jel said:My peeves are:
* the number of homes that don't bother handing out candy (no lights turned on) - c'mon, we're in a family neighborhood, you can hand out candy for 2 hours to +/-50 kids!!

* I was pissed at the houses that turn on their lights but don't bother answering the door, for crying out loud, it's 7:30pm, if it's too late for you or you've somehow managed to run out of candy - turn off your house lights!

* If you have to drive your kid from house to house, go home! OR park your car (and turn it off!) at the end of the street and let your kids walk from house to house. Last night we had FOUR cars with their headlights blinding us driving 2mph down the street while the kids went from house to house (these homes are around 30' apart!).I had to leave my house mid-way through the event to bring my daughter to a party. I do not like coming back to a dark house, so I left my lights on. I didn't like doing that, but it's something I feel better doing for my own safety. It's the first year I have done it.

I try to be understanding when people choose no to give out candy. It can be expensive for some people. Good candy comes in bags with about 14-16 pieces, for close to $3. That can add up quick for some people. generic is easier on the wallet, but still more than some people can pay. Also, elderly have trouble getting up and down all night. I can see them bowing out.

I totally agree with you about the cars driving while the kids go door to door. It's pathetic, unless the parent has a physical disability. There was one SUV that had kids standing & hanging out the passenger door, so they were being groomed to be as lazy as the parents. It's not like houses in my neighborhood are that far apart!

I try to be understanding when people choose no to give out candy. It can be expensive for some people. Good candy comes in bags with about 14-16 pieces, for close to $3. That can add up quick for some people. generic is easier on the wallet, but still more than some people can pay. Also, elderly have trouble getting up and down all night. I can see them bowing out.

Shouldn't handing out candy be your own choice? This year we chose not to hand out candy. We turned off our porch light and no one knocked. We have a diabetic in our household and do not want the temptation of loads of candy sitting around.

I live in a family neighborhood too but the kids that come trick or treating are mostly not from my neighborhood. Big van loads of them go from street to street and they run from house to house to get as much candy as they can. They are from Detroit and they come about 9 pm! I live 20 some miles from Detroit and I am not going to hand out candy to kids that are not from around my area.