Do you think that its rude for neither parent to stay home to hand out candy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not rude at all! There's no rule that you have to have out candy for Halloween. Trick or treaters come to our neighborhood in cars from who knows where. I don't understand pps saying there's some expectation of reciprocity for giving/getting candy. Our neighborhood has plenty of older people, people who work late, etc., who don't give out candy on Halloween. No one cares!!

Yes, plenty of people don't give out candy, but its a little different if your reason is because you work late, instead of PPs who has said they are leaving to go trick-or-treating during peak hours themselves. That seems like taking advantage of the system, without paying in. Halloween, free-loaders

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not rude at all! There's no rule that you have to have out candy for Halloween. Trick or treaters come to our neighborhood in cars from who knows where. I don't understand pps saying there's some expectation of reciprocity for giving/getting candy. Our neighborhood has plenty of older people, people who work late, etc., who don't give out candy on Halloween. No one cares!!

Yes, plenty of people don't give out candy, but its a little different if your reason is because you work late, instead of PPs who has said they are leaving to go trick-or-treating during peak hours themselves. That seems like taking advantage of the system, without paying in. Halloween, free-loaders

If they're leaving out a bowl of candy, then they are paying in.

[Anonymous]

No. My 3 year old is excited to trick or treat, and he wants us both to come. It's a fun family thing, and we won't be out for long. The other kids will manage if we aren't home for less than an hour so that we can spend a rare weeknight doing something fun all together.

[Anonymous]

We both go out, don't leave a bowl out. Just a little sign saying out trick or treating.

[Anonymous]

We always leave a bowl of candy with a sign asking people to "take two or three." Have never had a problem with that. Have fun OP!

[Anonymous]

Fwiw while I appreciate the gesture..I don't allow my kids to take candy from unattended bowls..you have no idea if someone else was out in. I am struggling with this as our kids are going to a Halloween party with parents invited and yes we want to be with out kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think rude is the word. But it is definitely self-centered. Parents count on each other to make Halloween fun for the kids. A lot of parents don't take kids to houses of people they don't know so if other parents don't stay home, Halloween doesn't work.

Well said.

[Anonymous]

If we left a bowl of candy out, in our neighborhood, it would be gone in minutes. Once our kid is old enough to trick-or-treat, one of us will take her out and the other will just have to stay home. It's really not a big deal to only have one parent accompany the child...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think rude is the word. But it is definitely self-centered. Parents count on each other to make Halloween fun for the kids. A lot of parents don't take kids to houses of people they don't know so if other parents don't stay home, Halloween doesn't work.

Well said.

+1

[Anonymous]

The scariest thing about Halloween is the fact that DCUMers will get hysterically angry about anything...including the best way to hand out candy.

[Anonymous]

OP, treasure this time with your family and don't feel bad about it for a second.

Unless you live in a neighborhood where every single house is owned by parents with toddler children, and therefore if all parents of toddler children enjoyed trick or treating with their children, the world would come to a standstill because no one would be home to give out candy, you're fine. I'm 41 years old and I've given out candy every year for the past 18 years, but you bet your bippy I'm going to be trick or treating with my kid for the 4 or 5 year window during which he needs a parent with him. Once he's old enough to trick or treat with friends, I'll be back home for another 30 years or so giving out candy again.

This window is short. Enjoy it. The rest of us will give out candy. That's how community works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If we left a bowl of candy out, in our neighborhood, it would be gone in minutes. Once our kid is old enough to trick-or-treat, one of us will take her out and the other will just have to stay home. It's really not a big deal to only have one parent accompany the child...

Then you live in a neighborhood of ill-mannered children and inattentive parents.

Most kids are trick or treating with their parents, especially in the early hours. Don't their parents make sure they don't raid the bowl?

For what it's worth, my husband and I both take our 3 kids trick or treating. In our neighborhood, 20% or so of the houses have kids that are trick-or-treating with their parents and leave a bowl out. Parents of older kids, non-parents, and older people are all home to hand out candy. I think those of you that think one parent should sit home while the other one trick or treats with the kids are nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, treasure this time with your family and don't feel bad about it for a second.

Unless you live in a neighborhood where every single house is owned by parents with toddler children, and therefore if all parents of toddler children enjoyed trick or treating with their children, the world would come to a standstill because no one would be home to give out candy, you're fine. I'm 41 years old and I've given out candy every year for the past 18 years, but you bet your bippy I'm going to be trick or treating with my kid for the 4 or 5 year window during which he needs a parent with him. Once he's old enough to trick or treat with friends, I'll be back home for another 30 years or so giving out candy again.

This window is short. Enjoy it. The rest of us will give out candy. That's how community works.

Well said!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We both go out, don't leave a bowl out. Just a little sign saying out trick or treating.

Now thats rude and free-loading!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, treasure this time with your family and don't feel bad about it for a second.

Unless you live in a neighborhood where every single house is owned by parents with toddler children, and therefore if all parents of toddler children enjoyed trick or treating with their children, the world would come to a standstill because no one would be home to give out candy, you're fine. I'm 41 years old and I've given out candy every year for the past 18 years, but you bet your bippy I'm going to be trick or treating with my kid for the 4 or 5 year window during which he needs a parent with him. Once he's old enough to trick or treat with friends, I'll be back home for another 30 years or so giving out candy again.

This window is short. Enjoy it. The rest of us will give out candy. That's how community works.

Well said!

+2 This is exactly right.
And I agree with the PP that those of you who say it's rude, but only if you have a child yourself who is TOTing, are CRAZY.

I also think it's crazy to only take kids to the houses of people you know, and then be mad if no one is home to "perform" for your child. You're probably the same people who get mad when your friends don't buy your kid's school fundraiser crap.