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'MUM it's not fair. ALL my friends get to go trick or treating.'

84 replies

Spidermama · 31/10/2006 13:50

So said my dd to me last night as she wiped away the tears. So dh is busy making vampire collars and digging out fangs for this evening.

We are meeting friends and their kids in a pub which has special games laid on for this kids this evening but it's not enough.

Other parents, who disapprove of Trick or treating, are coming under similar pressure. The kids appear to be leading a revolution and forcing this cultural change.

Will you be going trick or treating?
What are the rules? Who can you call on?

OP posts:
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roisin · 31/10/2006 16:52

My boys (7 and 9) aren't going T&T, as I don't agree with it.

We have got a pumpkin though, and some sweets and chocs, and they will get to greet halloweeners at the door. We also bought them some Dr Who cards each instead.

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JimmyBobbla · 31/10/2006 16:59

Oh, I hate trick or treating too. My dd drives me 'batty' (no pun intended?!) about it. Probably because she's obsessed with sweets. There are kids in her class trick or treating in our road this evening, and to avoid them, we're going out to a Halloween Disco. It's gonna cost me 10 quid a child (they do get food and party bags too) but I'd rather pay it than be in when the undesirables come a calling.

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MarsLady · 31/10/2006 17:04

Just had about 20 of the wee beasties at my door, moments before I put my sign up. So.. Sign up now!

I opened the door and said "Sorry, I don't do halloween" Which was greeted by lots of pouty faces and moans, and that was just the parents!

Still, lights off.... don't see why I have to live in darkness so that the wee blighters don't ring my bell...... grrrrrr!!

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Issymum · 31/10/2006 17:06

Foxinsocks! You are so lovely and the first person ever to have felt overcome by my mothering abilities which are normally met by pursed lips and disapproving stares from shoppers in John Lewis, swimmers in the local leisure centre and my own nanny!

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longwaytogo · 31/10/2006 17:09

There were posters at the police station indicating if trick or treaters were welcome or not. opps not a clue where mine are though

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Waswondering · 31/10/2006 17:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

magnolia1 · 31/10/2006 17:12

Mine love it and My 2 sisters take them with their kids too. Just our local roads and they all dress up
I have a bowl of sweets here but once they are gone I pop a note on the door.
Dh wanted to hide in the wheelie bin or on the porch roof his year but I persuaded him not to. Just the thought of scaring a child half to death or giving the parent a heart attck right on my doorstep put me off

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foxinsocks · 31/10/2006 17:14

aah well at least you sound fab online!

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LIZS · 31/10/2006 18:17

Ours are happy to decorate, dress up and give out treats at the door. So far we've only had 2 groups of neighbours' kids.

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LadyDooM · 31/10/2006 18:22

From my experience, I have found that elderly people love halloween. They love seeing the kids all dressed up in their costumes, and they give the most and best sweets as well.

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SparklyGothKat · 31/10/2006 18:24

Have refused to let my kids go Trick or treating. I have let them dress up and they can greet the door knockers, but I don't agree with T-or-T because I see it as begging, and I also don't agree with children knocking on stranger's doors. The kids are now stressing because they want to go out...

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mummyscaryhouseonthehill · 31/10/2006 18:31

My dd is dressed up and after I have answered the door and made sure it is similar small children she is bringing out a pumpkin of sweets for them to have a lucky dip. When she is older will be happy to take her out in the culdesac we live in as we know many of the residents.

I am politley turning away older cjildren who have not made an effort and it's sweets or nothing. I was called miserable last year as I refused to give out monetary treats.

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mummyscaryhouseonthehill · 31/10/2006 18:44

I am impressed so far this year we have had lots of little groups of well mannered ghosts, goblins, witches, vampires and ghouls. And it looks as thought they are only going to houses such as ours which are suitably decorated.

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southeastastra · 31/10/2006 18:48

my sons (5 and 13) aren't interested in dressing up. i'm sure all the mums around here think i'm mean keeping them in, but i can't make them

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roisin · 31/10/2006 18:53

Going for a meal out and a cinema treat sounds like a good idea for next year. Despite switching off all the lights at the front of the house we've still had loads of callers.

I'm a bit narked that ds1's teacher seems to have made a big deal of it, and asked for a show of hands as to who was going trick-or-treating; hence ds1's grumpy because he feels hard done by. Yesterday he was fine about it.

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chenin · 31/10/2006 19:08

I think everyone should do what Terry Wogan suggests which is to answer the door and offer...........
chocolate covered brussel sprouts!!!!

They won't come back next year.

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bloodyhowler · 31/10/2006 19:26

You miserable lot Life is short let them have fun!

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pinkdolly · 31/10/2006 19:27

We also dissaprove of trick or treating.
We are a Christian family and as such is against our principles. Our children are only 4, 3 and 15 weeks. So they themselves are not so aware of halloween. Although we have attempted to educate them about it a little.

We live on a tri-forces estate and they have tonight put on a halloween party for the kids on who live here. My friend asked me, what should she tell everyone if they ask where I am. So I told her to be honest.

My Dh has now gone to his Youth group to explain the origins of halloween to his "kids".

I shamefully have to admit that I did hide a little earlier on when the doorbell went.

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LIZS · 31/10/2006 19:29

Spoke to soon ! They got all mopey and when dh came in they wanted to go out . He took them to 3 houses whose kids had already visited and which had Jack o'Lanterns still alight . Now they're happy

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iris66 · 31/10/2006 19:29

bloody hate it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - we get so many teens who have made no effort at all & just want something for nothing!!!!. I used to get DD to hide with me & pretend we weren't in (luckily she enjoyed the game!) Now, we're living in an area that really does trick or treating to death and I'm made to feel a right old bag for not doing it!!! Hey, maybe i just am a killjoy old bag humph

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iris66 · 31/10/2006 19:30

just to add though --- went to a party tonight and I was impressed with the bravery of one mum who took a stand and gave out fruit instead of sweets!

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Waswondering · 31/10/2006 19:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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venusinfurs · 31/10/2006 19:47

I think it should be pre-arranged and with friend's houses only. I had some children just now, don't know them, and the mother was just standing back and talking on her phone, completely ignored me, didn't say thanks for the hundredweight of chocolate I just gave them. Not even a smile when I caught her eye. Cow. Hope she gets eaten by a monster

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mummyscaryhouseonthehill · 31/10/2006 20:39

Well I had a sign on my door telling them that they were welcome until 8 but then no more as my children were going to bed and I have only had to turn 1 lot of boys away who didn't make much of an effort anyway. Luckily they were quite polite and understanding when I told them that I was putting the children to bed accompanied by DS screaming and dd crying cause the fun was over for tonight.

She has a bbq with friends and fireworks to look forward to at the weekend though so I am sure she will get over it.

I have just taken down our decorations to reinforce the message on the door which will remain till dh comes in from training at 9.30. If there are still any older kids messing about at that time of night he can deal with them!!!!!

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Blu · 31/10/2006 20:59

DS and a gang of his little friends have just been out with some of the Dads - to people they know in the neighbourhood only. Except that they got a bit over-enthusiastic, and when I went to meet them, they were going to any house that had a pumpkin in the window, and at one house I had to run in and catch one 5 year-old as he was making his way up a man's stairs in pursuit of his cat!
Some people were very sweet - one man was practicaly doing a puppet show with a stuffed dog on the doorstep. One house had a notice and I was checking that it didn't say 'no T or T' - and DS ended up shouting 'open the dooor, we're not Junk mail'!!

We did make the children say 'thank you' very politely.

But I don't really approve of T or T.

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