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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be annoyed at trick or treaters?

32 replies

laurenamium · 31/10/2010 20:42

Im not a killjoy, and I have bought sweets, lollies etc in and even put apples and carrots in the bowl for any healthy kids too...and I have answered the door everytime, making sure I've been in the house since 5pm for the younger children as the dogs bark EVERY TIME someone knocks on the door and I know it would be irritating for the neighbours...

My point is, now its getting later, the cute dressed up kids with their parents have turned into taller than me teenagers wearing normal clothes and a scream mask or scarf...The last one that knocked said 'halloween day' and held out his hand then tutted when I offered him haribo/apples, never said thankyou and as he left, threw the haribo packet at his friend waiting at the gate (Im pretty sure it will still be on the floor).

Is it just me being a moody 8 month pregnant witch or is this completely out of order? If I was elderly I would be quite intimidated by this type of behaviour!

OP posts:
pippylongstockings · 31/10/2010 20:45

Sound's unlucky where do you live?

We had trick and treaters from about 5.30 when we put the pumkin out & stopped at about 7.30 when we took the pumpkin in!

Hulababy · 31/10/2010 20:45

I have turned the light off downstairs and blown out the pumpkin candle. Did it just before 8pm. No more TTers allwed here now as it is too late and DD's bedtime has gone anyway.

Fortunately all our TTers have been really polite, regardless of age. We have had so many despite the rain too. Started around 4:30 and last ones not long before 8pm.

However beyond 8pm is too late here - so no more door answering.

ForMashGetSmash · 31/10/2010 20:50

I stop answering the door at 8 and remove the pumpkin then too. It's the only way!

Original poster
laurenamium · 31/10/2010 20:50

I havent done a pumpkin, I think I would have taken a finger off and ended up in a&e Grin

I live in Redcar and its not a bad area at all, not as bad as the press make out thats for sure...we've had a steady flow from around half 5 until now but they are definitely getting older and more obnoxious, when I was growing up (in the same area) I wouldnt have dreamed of knocking on someones door when I wasnt dressed up never mind at that age! and it wasnt that long ago either Im only 23!

OP posts:
DeadBodyofKaraStarbuckThrace · 31/10/2010 20:51

No YANBU! I have had lots of guisers at the door since about 5pm, been happily handing out sweeties, the children have all been very polite and not greedy, only taking 1/2 sweets each (have mini packs of Haribo and treat size Cadbury's ).

What annoyed me is that we took down our Halloween decoration and turned off the porch light to indicate "no more", as we needed to pu DS to bed, and they still kept knocking Angry

Original poster
laurenamium · 31/10/2010 20:52

Good idea, think I'll switch the lights off and sit in the back room, the dogs might not hear the door from in there! Grin

Im glad I have no elderly relatives that live alone though, I think I would end up camping at theirs to make sure they were ok!

OP posts:
A1980 · 31/10/2010 20:53

I didn't answer the door all night even to the little ones.

Reason being their parents don't even bother to say hello to us year round, I gave up saying hello to them becuase I get blanked or grunted back at. So I damned if I'm answering the door to give their kids sweets.

MumBarTheDoorZombiesAreComing · 31/10/2010 20:53

YANBU, My friend and I took dc's at 5.30 until 7pm. We walked about 1 1/2 miles around the village just knocking on doors that were decorated and obviously wanted and expected trick or treaters.

Got enough sweets until xmas tho Grin

SocialButterfly · 31/10/2010 20:54

We have just had older kids of about 16 or 17 putting fireworks in peoples pumpkins exploding them all down the street. My neighbour drove after them and they threw fireworks at her car. We have had to call the police - they always have to spoil it.

Original poster
laurenamium · 31/10/2010 20:56

[butterfly] thats so scary! These people actually have no fear! Im petrified of fireworks and do the whole 'gloves with sparklers' thing! Its worrying that they can get hold of them so easily!

OP posts:
A1980 · 31/10/2010 20:56

Social Butterfly I hope the fireworks blow up in their bare hands. That'll teach them!

MaMoTTaT · 31/10/2010 20:56

I have a "No trick or treaters please" sign on my door - and still one lot earlier obviously couldn't read it as they knocked regardless.

I've heard a couple of very loud ones (older ones) going down the street in the last few minutes).

pintyblud · 31/10/2010 20:58

Blow out you rpumpkin lanterns for the night and hang up your goody bag.

My guisers have been fab this year.

SoMuchToBats · 31/10/2010 20:59

We have had about 10 lots here, mostly smaller kids, dressed up, accompanied by parents, but the last couple were bunches of teenagers. They had made an effort with their costumes though, and were polite.

We didn't have a real pumpkin but ds (aged 9) drew some on paper and put them up in his playroom window, to attract the trick or treaters! He dressed up as a policeman Hmm to get into the spirit....

Spirita · 31/10/2010 21:01

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Clary · 31/10/2010 21:01

Actually most of ours have been fine.

We were having a mini party here with my 3 and 2 of DS1's pals; quite a lot of kids came round but I or one of my DC knew them all (most neighbours, at least 3 were good pals of DS2 who is 7yo).

Ran out of sweets and took in pumpkin about 7ish after giving last of jelly babies to a bunch of teens and thinking Hmm.

Then lovely pal of DS2's who lives 4 doors down came (a bit late - all mine were in pjs!) and DS2 ran to get last of some doughnuts.

Then mates of DS2 and DS1 appeared and we had nothing!!! Felt a bit bad then DS1 and 2 ran to get chocolate lollies from our halloween cake bless them. So so so sweet I thought.

No more now tho - agree OP, rude teens not OK.

AnyFuleKno · 31/10/2010 21:02

Ours were really sweet but the last few were older boys (maybe 10 or so) who grabbed a few things out of the bowl. I made them put some back Grin then they raced off with me shouting after them "SAY THANK YOU". Then I spotted the mum waiting at the end of the road looking at me like I was a right weirdo Grin

MumBarTheDoorZombiesAreComing · 31/10/2010 21:10

I had a few after we returned, kids I know from my street who also bought DS some sweets as they hadn't seem him [bless them].

I live in a flat so just unplugged the falt intercom when DS went to bed at 8pm but left a bowl with sweets/ chocs in and a sign to help themselves for those who may have got in via neighbours.

MumBarTheDoorZombiesAreComing · 31/10/2010 21:13

Oh and we have street watch here so they would just talk to older teens if they were disturbing neighbours late, or add them to the anti-social behaviour list Wink.

All the kids pretty much know each other from the park on the road so just sort of trick and treated each other. I'm sure they'll all be at the park tomorrow high on sweets and sugar but at least they'll all share.

RockBat · 31/10/2010 21:17

We are never in on Halloween as my mother has a party so every year I leave a bowl of sweets on the doorstep. Just come back and some sod has taken the bowl. Never happened before and it was only a plastic Halloween bowl but I'm still pissed off. Won't bother next year.

redflag · 31/10/2010 21:18

We had lovely trick or tr eaters, Ds was very generous with the first lot and gave most of the sweets away Grin Last lot that came got nothing, but they didnt mind.

Had a lovely little fairy tell me her name was Annabelle very sweet.

sharbie · 31/10/2010 21:20

my pumpkin got run over [hshock]

Original poster
laurenamium · 31/10/2010 21:21

Grin redflag thats very sweet!

rockbat im Shock at taking the bowl! Its such a lovely idea too to have thought about other halloweeners even though you werent in!

OP posts:
Original poster
laurenamium · 31/10/2010 21:22

why was it in the road sharbie? [hhmm]

OP posts:
pigletmania · 31/10/2010 21:26

Awww tomuchbats thats so cute your ds Grin We had about 10 groups of trick or treaters, ran out of sweets so put a sign on the door saying 'please don't knock as we have ran out of sweets'. Did not recieve anymore trick or treaters.