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Original poster

Since when did kids get so... grabby?! (A Halloween one)

390 replies

MessyHouse91 · 31/10/2018 17:53

Perfectly happy to be slated here - I don’t spend much time with kids (expecting DC1) so this might just be a kid thing!

This is my first year living in a house on an estate (moved from my city centre flat) so my first year buying sweets for the trick or treaters. I love Halloween so I bought massive bags of sweets.

The first kids I held the bowl out so they could choose their own sweets from the selection, but each of the kids grabbed massive handfuls for 5 or 6 bags of sweets each.

For the next kids, I held the bowl out again and said ‘one each please’. The kids didn’t listen and took big handfuls again, and then Mum looked a little embarassed and told the kids to put them back. I didn’t know if it was the done thing to give them a limit and didn’t fancy standing on the doorstep while the kids rifled through their bags trying to figure out which ones it was, so I told her not so worry about it.

The third lot, I put the sweets into their bags for them. One little boy asked if he could have another for his sister, so I chucked in an extra, and then he got half way down the drive and asked for another for his sister. I said ‘I gave you one for your sister’ and he said ‘that was for my big sister, this one is for my little sister’. I gave him a third, and he shouted to his friends ‘SCORE! GOT ANOTHER ONE’.

I loved trick or treating as a kid (my mum only ever let me go to neighbours we knew) so I don’t want to be miserable about it. I was just so looking forward to decorating and seeing all the kids in their costumes! I know it’s just kids and just sweets but the whole thing seems a bit sad, especially as I’m now out of sweets before it even gets going.

Do I go to the shop and buy more and enjoy the whole thing and chalk it up to experience, or do I stop answering the door and be grumpy for the rest of the night?

OP posts:
Beamur · 31/10/2018 18:34

Kids round my way mostly very polite and nice. The 'grabbers' tend to be very little kids who don't understand the etiquette yet. Usually accompanied by parent repeating the 'just take one' over and over again!

cardibach · 31/10/2018 18:35

Escape Black Jacks! I bloody love them and haven’t had one in years!

Fadingmemory · 31/10/2018 18:35

No grabbers here so far. Parents supervising closely.

ohlittlepea · 31/10/2018 18:35

We lived on a deprived housing estate and left a help yourself bowl out when our daughter was a baby, still had sweets in in the morning. It doesn't depend on the area, you can get well mannered kids and grabby kids in all. The thing that made me laugh most in that house was a mum bringing her around 3 month old out..just her and him, sweeties for Mama then 😊.

AamdC · 31/10/2018 18:37

Only on mumsnet Hmm i live on a fairly rough council estate not one child has been greedy , they have all said thankyou, no one asks for money etc....

Veganfortheanimals · 31/10/2018 18:38

34 so far ..the 8 yr old is dressed up and answering the door..he puts one thing in each bag .

papaoomama · 31/10/2018 18:39

Why the need to say only on mumsnet?? Odd!

GreedyBastard · 31/10/2018 18:39

weve had lovely polite children and now we only have the rasins left Blush

agedknees · 31/10/2018 18:40

All the children that have knocked tonight have been delightful, polite little ghouls and witches.

We’ve had no grabbing here.

Hunlife · 31/10/2018 18:41

Blimey you’ve been unlucky we have only had lovely polite kids who have just taken one thing each. I even left the bowl outside the front door while I took my own DDs out and people had only taken a respectful amount (I was expecting to come back to find the bowl raided)

huggybear · 31/10/2018 18:41

I think you've been unlucky. We've never had anyone take more than two and they've all been so polite. It's a joy.

Tomatoesrock · 31/10/2018 18:42

All our visitors have been really polite. Next year hold the bowl and give individually.

I am nearly out so the older ones will be getting none.

Piggyhoolier · 31/10/2018 18:42

Been amazed at how many knocks we’ve had tonight, usually our street gets overlooked in favour of richer pickings at a nearby estate. Every child has been in a costume and taken only 1 sweet plus said thank you. Literally can’t fault them, it’s been a pleasure

Creepyexgirlfriend · 31/10/2018 18:42

Had this the first year I did it. Now I drop it in the bag for them. I also turn away no costume (if they're older kids).
I'm assuming OP means a housing estate.

Andro · 31/10/2018 18:43

We've had loads tonight! DS decorated the path up to the house (Loooong path) and it looks like it belongs to a haunted house, unfortunately, I think some of the real littlies have found it a bit too much (but everyone over about 6 has found it fun (a few parents excepted, much to the amusement of their dc).

I hand out pre-made 'webs' of sweets, there have been good manners all around.

EmmaGhostGhoul · 31/10/2018 18:43

We've had a constant stream of small children (with a parent) dressed as witches and ghosts and Dracula and a particularly good Grim Reaper - aged about 5. I have the sweets in a bag and dole them out, and so far, every child has said thank you.

Taffeta · 31/10/2018 18:43

Not one here yet Haloween Sad

We live up a dark, spooky road

I bought a tub of Swizzels sweets so I don’t eat them - the funsize chocolates are my downfall!

AlexanderHamilton · 31/10/2018 18:43

Very polite here. Mostly little kids with parents standing by.

I have created a Halloween musical theatre playlist and am currently blasting it out.

HavelockVetinari · 31/10/2018 18:45

@Andro those webs sound great, would you mind posting a photo?

AamdC · 31/10/2018 18:45

Because its rhe usual sucking the joy out of anything vaguely fun for kids, in the next few weeks we will have the competaive who can spend the least on their kids at xmas , every year .

HildaZelda · 31/10/2018 18:46

After the cheeky little brats I had last year I decided I'm not doing it any more. I'm currently out having a coffee and will head home in an hour or so when most of them should be gone.

One of my neighbours has two lovely little kids, so I gave them something earlier and just said that I wouldn't be home later.
Last year, like the OP, I had kids grab handfuls of crisps and bars. Some of them taking 4 or 5 each. Majority of them didn't even bother to say thank you.
I had one child (about 10 so definitely old enough to know better) moan that "I don't like that flavour crisps, I don't like those kind of lollies, I don't like that chocolate"

I told him next time try Tesco as I shut the door Hmm

YANBU at all OP. Way too many entitled kids about.

SheSparkles · 31/10/2018 18:46

Having done it for 20 years Ive bowed outs this year. All the lights at th front of the house are out. Either everyone has taken the hint, or no one’s out, because I’ve not had 1 ring or knock 😊

Binglebong · 31/10/2018 18:47

Had one lot who grabbed, the rest have only taken one (even if told to take two!) One little girl spent ages choosing Grin

All have been very polite with thank yous.

Frankswife87 · 31/10/2018 18:47

I remember a few years ago when I lived in a fishing town know to be the freindliest port, I had two cheeky kids about 10 year's old come trick or treating two weeks early! I kindly said it's a bit early come back on Halloween, the little brats told me to f#ck off !! And my windows got egged later on that evening off the little darlings. A few weeks later they had the nerve to come asking for penny for the guy, my husband answerd the door this time 😁

LethalWhite · 31/10/2018 18:49

We’ve had about 20 different groups - all polite and said thank you. Where do you live?!?!

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