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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not have bought any sweets for trick or treaters?

236 replies

CurlyhairedAssassin · 31/10/2021 12:02

Even though my kids are older and not bothered by all that anymore, pre-COVID I did used to buy lots of sweets and put a pumpkin out for any other children.

Now I just imagine the bowl sweets as COVID soup waiting to happen. Not to mention numerous hands ringing the doorbell. So my plan was to leave the front of the house in darkness and sit in our main living room ignoring anyone who might ring the bell. 😬

But I’m not sure if I’m being a Halloween Grinch (whatever the equivalent would be for Halloween, I guess the Grinch would be a Halloween lover not a hater).

YANBU - too risky and there won’t be many kids coming knocking anyway

YABU - the kids have missed out last year, let them have their fun this year, the risk is low etc

OP posts:
diddl · 31/10/2021 17:31

"thanks. I already feel my anxiety rising as it's getting darker now."

Oh dear, I didn't mean to make you feel bad/worse.

It's incomprehensible to me that people could feel so pissed off about a door not being answered & them therefore (in their mind) missing out on free sweets for their kids.

AnonAnom940 · 31/10/2021 17:31

I haven't decorated at all and have had 3 lots of trick or treaters already. I've not got any sweet either.

I've told them I don't have anything sorry. I didn't expect anyone as I haven't decorated and I don't personally know any kids trick or treat age.

I feel sorry for the kids because they were so excited but their parents shouldn't be letting them get their hopes up knocking on stranger's doors.

LittleDandelionClock · 31/10/2021 17:33

@CurlyhairedAssassin

In our little area, there is a strict 'no trick or treating' rule this Halloween. Around 50% of the people who live here are over 55, and around half of them are over 70, so we have a lot of older and vulnerable people. (I mean vulnerable to covid.)

Covid is still absolutely rife again, worse than it's been since January/February, and it's foolish to take your children 'trick or treating.' We have decorations in the window, and (lit) pumpkins in the window, and so do quite a number of other homes, but there is no treat or treating, because of covid. Kids are super-spreaders, and the last thing anyone wants is multiple dozens of children on their doorstep, hanging around, and making contact with them.

Hopefully, things are different next year.

Annoyingly, 3 different families (with 11 or 12 children in total,) have been up and down the road doing trick or treat in the past hour, despite solid and firm requests on the local noticeboard, and on the facebook page, and on everyone's doors to NOT do trick or treat this year! The daft parents have ended up disappointing some 11 or 12 children tonight, because nobody answered, and nobody gave them anything!

NotMyselfWithoutCoffee · 31/10/2021 17:33

I don't think yabu it's a personal choice, I normally don't take part but did decide to this year. I feel a bit guilty sometimes when I remember how much I enjoyed it as a child.

SoupDragon · 31/10/2021 17:35

I've got a table with sweets spread out on it. No rummaging needed and it's more difficult to grab a huge handful at once. I'll top it up.

It's easier this way otherwise the dog gets over excited when people knock on the door (and his base level of excitement is already very high!). And I don't have to get up off my fat arse.

Starcaller · 31/10/2021 17:36

We are the opposite. Loads of sweeties but no one has come yet Sad We usually get dozens of them. But it's awful weather here. I'm surprised we haven't had any at all though. Guess it's sweeties for dinner tonight!

NotMyselfWithoutCoffee · 31/10/2021 17:40

@starcallerah that's a shame, I've had at least 6 knock so far I'm a little surprised by it.
I live on a new development though so maybe more families with kids.

NotMyselfWithoutCoffee · 31/10/2021 17:40

@starcaller I mean Blush

Starcaller · 31/10/2021 17:42

Yes we are too, which is why I'm so surprised! Pre-Covid we had well over 60/70 kids to the door. So I've bought tubs and tubs! DD is in her element Grin

MarshaBradyo · 31/10/2021 17:46

I am but I have a three year old that’s so excited (her words)

Starcaller · 31/10/2021 17:49

We just had some visitors! Grin

janj2301 · 31/10/2021 17:57

I printed a poster from my local council saying sorry we are not doing trick or treating this year, stuck it on the front door. Will need to check for eggs tomorrow

SoupDragon · 31/10/2021 17:58

I've just heard the cutest kids saying "just take one! Just one!" As they visit my table of sweets :)

I'm thinking "take lots! Please don't leave me with them!"

MarshaBradyo · 31/10/2021 17:59

@SoupDragon

I've just heard the cutest kids saying "just take one! Just one!" As they visit my table of sweets :)

I'm thinking "take lots! Please don't leave me with them!"

Me too

They are being so mindful and sweet and we have loads

I’m take as many as you like

SlugRose · 31/10/2021 18:00

@SoupDragon

I've just heard the cutest kids saying "just take one! Just one!" As they visit my table of sweets :)

I'm thinking "take lots! Please don't leave me with them!"

Haha they are grabbing handfuls here.. if they're all gone and the next kids are left staring at an empty box that's not my fault.
Starcaller · 31/10/2021 18:01

Yes I had to say 'please, take a handful!' as they all politely just took one Grin Double Dips were first to go obv!

SlugRose · 31/10/2021 18:04

@Starcaller

Yes I had to say 'please, take a handful!' as they all politely just took one Grin Double Dips were first to go obv!
They're turning their noses up at the cheap sweets.. rude
SlugRose · 31/10/2021 18:04

Oops sorry didn't mean to quote you!

FourTeaFallOut · 31/10/2021 18:06

I've bagged up the sweets in
halloween organza bags so that they take a good amount.

SlugRose · 31/10/2021 18:07

@FourTeaFallOut

I've bagged up the sweets in halloween organza bags so that they take a good amount.
Might do that next year
SpookyScarySkeletons · 31/10/2021 18:13

We were wondering about leaving some out due to not being able to answer the door.

However it's absolutely throwing it down and crazy wind so I think they will probably end up in a bush within 5 mins.

GellerYeller · 31/10/2021 18:13

I was feeling 'meh' about it but so far we've had really sweet little ones and what I assume was a parent in a full Stormtrooper costume. Getting soaked in the rain. Fair play.

It wouldn't occur to me to do Trick or Treat tourism but I've seen it discussed on local social media and we did have a few car fulls park up and dispense loads of kids and parents pre covid. Cheeky or enterprising?!

Fraine · 31/10/2021 18:17

@Mojoj

First up, it's guising. Unless you're American. And I hope I'll see some guisers tonight. And anyone who sits in their house with all the lights off is bloody miserable.
Isn’t ‘guising’ Scottish? We always called trick or treating.
Hesma · 31/10/2021 18:24

My kids are with dad this weekend, I have no decorations up, lights off and 2 lots have come already🙄. Opened the door to one lot thinking it was my girls coming home and kids moaned that I didn’t give them sweets but I honestly forgot to buy them

Original poster
CurlyhairedAssassin · 31/10/2021 18:25

I just looked out of the window to see if there were any groups around and not a soul is in sight. This is the city suburbs, usually lots out. In our little end of the street, without about 30 houses, not one has been decorated. This includes the house over the road which usually goes the whole hog. They usually get large boards out of their shed that they've written stuff on and stuck things to, having smoking cauldrons, motion-sensitive music playing, often sit out in their front garden dressed up and having a laugh with the local kids, one of those trick "hand" bowls of sweets where the hand grabs you as you try and take a sweet etc etc. She is from the US. They no longer have any kids at home but usually love it anyway. Even they haven't decorated their house in any way at all. If even they can't be arsed, I don't feel so bad now.

OP posts: