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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:
WildBluebell · 31/10/2021 18:33

I haven't bought anything either. Hope no one shows up.
We never decorate our house, but that doesn't deter people from knocking on the door, sadly.

JesusIsAnyNameFree · 31/10/2021 18:37

I saw a man with some kids looking through the lounge window of the man across from us when he didn't open the door. He is into his 90s. I really hope the fucker didn't scare him.

Also, if someone doesn't open the door, that's your clue. Acting like a creep and looking through windows is not the next move to make to gain sweets Hmm

RubyRedSlippers1 · 31/10/2021 18:39

I'm a bit sad, because we haven't had any trick or treaters! Well, one family, but they're the next door neighbours.

We've got a pumpkin at the end of our drive and everything - feel a bit of a saddle 😂

EatSleepRantRepeat · 31/10/2021 18:43

We've had a few in big groups, I'm down to rationing the sweets though because of some cheeky monkeys swiping loads in one go Smile we're the only house on our street doing it this year though.

Mammma91 · 31/10/2021 18:52

YANBU. Its not compulsory.
My DC are very young so not trick or treating. We bought a pumpkin and left it at the door. Think i spent £5 on Halloween treats, so far I’ve had about 6 kids knock. All dressed up and excited, all kids have been wonderful with perfect manners. I don’t usually participate but after the last year I decided to go ahead. I won’t do it when my DC have outgrown it.

RubyRedSlippers1 · 31/10/2021 18:53

There are a few in our street doing it, but they all have kids themselves. Everyone in our street used to do it. Definitely some conspicuously dark and quiet houses this year! Expect it's covid worries or just don't want to do it, which is obviously fair enough.

We've had another set just now! Feel a bit less sad with my wee pumpkin on my driveway Halloween Grin

Takemetothe90s · 31/10/2021 19:04

@CurlyhairedAssassin

and a bloke knocked on with two little kids, I’d say about 4/5, Lights were off but as he knocked he shouted “open the fucking door.” And when I didn’t he screamed “miserable fucking cunt!” Through the letterbox.

ShockShockShock

Why do I not believe this?
SpookyScarySkeletons · 31/10/2021 19:05

Our estate is usually non stop trick or treaters. We have had 3 groups so far who read the sign on the door and wandered off. It's so quiet out there. The weather is horrendous though.

RVN123 · 31/10/2021 19:06

I always assumed that guising was a Scottish term (I'm Scottish and no-one else I know apart from other Scots use the term).

We also call apple bobbing 'dooking'.

Never heard that outside Scotland either?

Now we generally hear 'trick or treat' at the door. It's definitely more common to hear that now than 'guising'.

We used to get money as kids, it was actually pretty rare to get sweets. You maybe got the occasional apple or a handful of monkey nuts! Or a clementine. This was in the late 80s.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 31/10/2021 19:07

Dh and I are pretty ancient and we’ve never thought of COVID as a reason not to do it, esp. since we’ve had our boosters. Our dds used to love it, and Gdcs now do, too.
We’ve had 10 round so far.

(But I’m hoping there will still be some of the mini packs of Smarties for me to 🐷 out on later.)

phoenixrosehere · 31/10/2021 19:11

Lots of people here, took me quite a bit of time to walk home, hadn’t expected so many. On a massive newish estate and the weather isn’t too bad. It rained off and on until about 1:30 pm and clear ever since. I took my youngest out but didn’t trick or treat. Let him walk/run off a bit of energy and then when he got home, knocked on our door and said ‘trick or treat’ to his dad and husband gave him a tiny Milky Way. He grabbed it and ran off with a smile. Can’t wait til next year 🙂

coogee · 31/10/2021 19:12

I bought sweets last year and nobody called. I bought sweets this year too then remembered that we would be away.

I’ve brought them with us but if anybody calls here I will be very surprised/alarmed. We are in the middle of nowhere.

Justgettingbye · 31/10/2021 19:15

We went around tonight and went to decorated houses, some were decorated but dark so didn't bother with them and some were decorated and had a note saying no t or t - fair enough

StoneofDestiny · 31/10/2021 19:22

And anyone who sits in their house with all the lights off is bloody miserable

Nope - they are having a peaceful night in the warm, feet up on the settee with a nice glass of wine. Getting up and down all night to look at other peoples kids isn't my idea of happiness!

jeaux90 · 31/10/2021 19:26

I've had loads tonight it's been lovely Smile

I've enjoyed opening to door really slowly with my witches hat on and scaring the little ones Grin

cricketmum84 · 31/10/2021 19:31

And anyone who sits in their house with all the lights off is bloody miserable

Actually busy taking care of my covid positive DD, not sitting here being miserable! We partake every year but I would rather not affect the tiny witches and ghouls knocking on our door.

sofakingcool · 31/10/2021 19:41

We're not doing it this year, DS has Covid so we hadn't planned on getting anything for T or T, also I thought in case the rest of us end up too unwell to want to open the door.

Feel quite sad about it, I love giving out sweets to the young ones Sad

ParkheadParadise · 31/10/2021 19:46

We had lots of excited kids at the door. Dd had a great time.
DH was a star and kept my wine glass topped up🍷🍷
Off to have a Halloween cupcake, mini mars bar and chocolate banana.

SpookyScarySkeletons · 31/10/2021 19:53

@sofakingcool

We're not doing it this year, DS has Covid so we hadn't planned on getting anything for T or T, also I thought in case the rest of us end up too unwell to want to open the door.

Feel quite sad about it, I love giving out sweets to the young ones Sad

We are the same :( DD (12) had planned an outfit, decorated a bowl and was so excited to dish out sweeties as she felt she was "too grown up" for TorT this year.

Unfortunately got her positive PCR back yesterday 😢

TheOriginalEmu · 31/10/2021 19:58

@AlternativePerspective

YANBU. I never allowed mine out trick or treating, but the first year I agreed to open the door at least I was greeted by a group of 15 year olds. Hmm never again.

Few years later, different house in a different town and a bloke knocked on with two little kids, I’d say about 4/5, Lights were off but as he knocked he shouted “open the fucking door.” And when I didn’t he screamed “miserable fucking cunt!” Through the letterbox.

I don’t decorate the house so as far as I’m concerned I am perfectly within my rights to close the curtains, switch off the lights, and not answer the door.

Why are teenagers not allowed to participate in having fun? Halloween is really popular among teens here, my own included. They went out in 2019 (we were at a party this year and covid nixed last year) when they were between 12-16, they dressed up, they were respectful so what’s the problem?
KnottyKnitting · 31/10/2021 20:04

Nope- I am not having my Sunday evening roast prep and meal disturbed by sugar induced children. Used to do it when my DDs were small but now I don't feel the need to reciprocate. ( #hallowe'engrinch)

anon51 · 31/10/2021 20:07

We only knock at decorated house

chubley · 31/10/2021 20:28

I didn't mind in years gone by when polite teenagers knocked, if they were dressed up.

Generally, Kids used to knock at every house before it became a thing to only go to decorated houses. We gave out sweets for years before kids and before ours started going trick or treating. 25 years giving out of which a few years of my DC going for a big haul. So I feel I didn't have to decorate this year as I couldn't be bothered and have done our bit to contribute for a long time.

Original poster
CurlyhairedAssassin · 31/10/2021 20:34

@KnottyKnitting

Nope- I am not having my Sunday evening roast prep and meal disturbed by sugar induced children. Used to do it when my DDs were small but now I don't feel the need to reciprocate. ( #hallowe'engrinch)
Well, exactly. When I used to take mine out we only ever went to the houses that were obviously into it. Houses in darkness or where we knew there was a couple who no longer had children at home, or with older teens, we didn't bother with. Even though I was taking mine out, I always planned a nice time for other children visiting ours. I thought "fair enough - I'm taking my own kids out, only fair that we do the same for other visiting kids".

So, DH used to stay at home and dole out the treats. He used to have a pot of chilli or something on the go before it got dark so that if he got interrupted answering the door it didn't matter too much. And also meant we didn't feel tied to coming home to eat at a certain time.

I have a feeling that most people who take their kids trick or treating are happy to open the door to other local kids and give out treats up until their own kids about 16-17, at which point they just want a break from it all and there's a lull for a number of years until either grandkids come along, along with that renewed sense of fun about stuff like that, or new families move into the area with young kids. I reckon that some estates and streets have more young families on them. But if no-one moves into the area those kids are going to grow up and not be arsed about Halloween in a few years.

OP posts:
Original poster
CurlyhairedAssassin · 31/10/2021 20:35

@chubley

I didn't mind in years gone by when polite teenagers knocked, if they were dressed up.

Generally, Kids used to knock at every house before it became a thing to only go to decorated houses. We gave out sweets for years before kids and before ours started going trick or treating. 25 years giving out of which a few years of my DC going for a big haul. So I feel I didn't have to decorate this year as I couldn't be bothered and have done our bit to contribute for a long time.

That is EXACTLY how I feel now.
OP posts: