To not do Halloween?

[curlyweasel]

DD (9) wants to go trick or treating tomorrow. No friends around as it's half term, so she wants me to take her. I really dislike it because I feel it's just begging (there are no tricks like we did when I was a kid). I feel like I'm being mean

[Annunziata]

Yes, you are being mean. Make her learn a trick if it makes you feel better.

[onedamnthingafteranother]

Sanity is not dead.

[curlyweasel]

Ah - now that's a good idea. She'd be MORTIFIED at that

[bendybrickpumpkinpatch]

I never do it ? I don't understand when it became a thing we HAVE to do??
I've got three DC and have never been trick or treating, decorated the house or anything so no. Yanbu

[curlyweasel]

I thought I was in a minority... Was going to carve a pumpkin with sweary words! X

[Fairylea]

I never do it either. Not a fan of the whole thing for tons of reasons. I even stick a big sign up on the door saying "no trick or treating, small children sleeping! Thanks!" - works every year.

I think the whole thing is becoming way over the top now. It's almost like a second Christmas or something.

[curlyweasel]

Agree. It's her birthday treat on Sunday with friends, family meal to celebrate it on Monday - then the whole bonfire night palava. DPs birthday on Thursday and we are skintight and dreading Christmas. Bollox to it.

[DisgraceToTheYChromosome]

Vile colonial custom, and round our way used by the local scratters as an excuse for extortion.

[curlyweasel]

looks at shoes I was one of those little scatters. . .

[Toadinthehole]

In my street (London, back in the 80s) there was a house that got egged every year. Was it yours?

[EatDessertFirst]

We never do or have done Halloween. I dislike trick or treating as our area isn't the safest. I refuse to answer the door (much to the chagrin of sweary parents) because the kids all want money. Even a sign doesn't work. I won't pretend I'm out though.

[Panicmode1]

I don't let mine trick or treat either, but we do put a pumpkin out. I do make the grabby ungrateful kids say thank you though!

[sashh]

Buy some sweets today, knock on neighbour's doors and ask them if it is OK to bring your dd t or t ing and provide the sweets for them. That way you are not begging and you know who will be happy to give out sweets.

[jenny1974x]

Why all the angst? Why give sweets to neighbours and make it a false experience? Just knock at the houses that are decorated who will welcome you.

I live on a council estate and everyone knows the rules and no knocks if your house is not decorated. Its fun!

[mariomadmum]

we never do anything. ds is autistic and hates it!! this is the first year we have lived in a house so am expecting people to knock. I think I will have to put a sign up, ds will get freaked out by people coming to the door dressed up.

[18yearstooold]

Locally it's only primary DC that go out (or very small high school kids)

In groups with an adult and they only knock on decorated houses or ones that the local residents association provide saying trick or treaters welcome

It's a really friendly, safe environment and its a bit of fun

[nic013]

Our doorbell doesn't work and I keep forgetting to change the battery so we probably won't hear the trick or treaters. We like celebrating Halloween as a family by putting decorations up inside and having some Halloween themed meals but I'm not that keen on answering the door to people I don't know.

[curlyweasel]

Not exactly angst - I just feel a bit guilty. DD's friends all go (when they're here) and I have let her tag along on occasion, but I don't really agree with it and I don't want to do it! Bad mum.

[nic013]

I don't think you're being unreasonable at all, curlyweasel. I don't take my son trick or treating.

[curlyweasel]

She had a Halloween party at brownies last week. I will remind her about that and we will bake something nice. Thanks all.

[mutternutter]

Hate it. Dreading it. But Halloween everywhere so can't really escape it

[littlejohnnydory]

We don't do it and the children seem relatively free of trauma.

[SylvaniansKeepGettingHoovered]

If I didn't want to take my DC I would have no problem telling them we're not doing it, but it is just a bit of fun. I think 'festivals' such as Halloween/Thanksgiving/Christmas help to get us through the dark winter months. The supermarkets have gone crazy again selling tons of stuff and it has become too commercial, but you can avoid that side of it if you want to.

My grandmother, bless her, is in her 90's and she loves halloween as she enjoys giving sweets to the little ones who come knocking at the door.

I always went trick or treating as a child, I'm 40 now and I take my DD's, as they enjoy it and we live on a very friendly street. We only go to the houses with pumpkins outside, we're only out for 45 minutes or so, and we come home and have a normal evening & bedtime routine. We put a pumpkin outside our house but I don't bother decorating the house or spending weeks planning the event, as it seems like a waste of time & money just for one day.

[browneyedgirl86]

Round here you have to do a trick to get treats. Usually jokes or a poem or something. The one and only time in my life I went trick or treating I hated it as I was painfully shy.

I wasn't allowed to go Trick or treating with the exception of that one occasion as a kid. I can't say I feel now I missed out. Where we stay now we don't tend to get trick or treaters although the neighbourhood is full of kids. It wouldn't bother me If they come by.