Feel like I screwed up Halloween for my kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get it, OP. Just repeat to yourself this mantra: may this be the worst parenting mistake I ever make.

+1. Also, while I happen to think ToT is very safe, we had zero people come by our house and saw very few houses with lights on, so if your kids live near me they missed nothing.

[Anonymous]

Except if everyone thought masks, distance, outdoors = fine, then it would have been crowded in a lot of neighborhoods, social distancing would not be possible, and it wouldn't be fine at all.

[Anonymous]

Kids will be disappointed. You are doing yourself and your kids a disservice if you think or try to get through childhood without them ever being disappointed.

Your kids will be fine. If this is an issue for them in the future, they can pay for a therapist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had one person knock at our door even though the porch light wasn’t on. We had candy so I masked up and gave the little kid some candy, but my son was mad. “How come she gets to go out.” I just told him that other families made different choices, and even though I did not think it was smart, I wasn’t going to not give a small child some candy. They will all get over it.

I can understand your kids being mad at you for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Except if everyone thought masks, distance, outdoors = fine, then it would have been crowded in a lot of neighborhoods, social distancing would not be possible, and it wouldn't be fine at all.

+1

[Anonymous]

OP I have 3 elementary aged kids and we live in the city so didn’t do a thing. I figured it would be tight to even have a table with candy bags or whatever. We had plans to watch a scary movie and eat lots of junk but didn’t even end up doing that.
Well today my kids have seen tons of photos of their friends trick or treating in the suburbs, posing with neighbors, etc. My kids aren’t that upset about missing out but instead worried about friends inadvertently bringing covid to school now. It’s so tricky.

[Anonymous]

My family went trick ot treating. I felt like we could do so safely. Many of my kids friends decided not to. One of my kids friends asked my daughter why she could trick or treat and he couldn't? In the end I answered for my daughter and said "every family is different and has a different risk tolerance. Your parents have planned a lovely night of movies and candy. I'm sure you will have a great night." Hee friend seemed happy with that answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Except if everyone thought masks, distance, outdoors = fine, then it would have been crowded in a lot of neighborhoods, social distancing would not be possible, and it wouldn't be fine at all.

+1

Wrong. Because they’d be wearing masks and they WORK. Masks work. 🙄

[Anonymous]

We didn’t go trick or treating but did do the Lowe’s curbside trick or treat (kinda late) and a nearby mega church drive through trick or treat which was really good and far exceeded my expectations. I too was surprised to see the photos the next day that ppl were doing that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had one person knock at our door even though the porch light wasn’t on. We had candy so I masked up and gave the little kid some candy, but my son was mad. “How come she gets to go out.” I just told him that other families made different choices, and even though I did not think it was smart, I wasn’t going to not give a small child some candy. They will all get over it.

I can understand your kids being mad at you for this.

Me too! If I was a kid I’d be outraged, lol!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had one person knock at our door even though the porch light wasn’t on. We had candy so I masked up and gave the little kid some candy, but my son was mad. “How come she gets to go out.” I just told him that other families made different choices, and even though I did not think it was smart, I wasn’t going to not give a small child some candy. They will all get over it.

I can understand your kids being mad at you for this.

Me too! If I was a kid I’d be outraged, lol!

New poster here and I wouldn't have been outraged. Because from the time I was little my parents taught me that fair does NOT mean equal. And, that life isn't always fair. I had really strict parents in some ways - I wasn't allowed to watch cartoons or MTV, but could watch an R-rated movie, and read any book and listen to any music I wanted. I couldn't eat Twinkies or Twizzlers but I could use the sharpest knife in the house. Different homes have different rules. Even a 3 year old can understand that concept. "At Yuki's house, I have to take off my shoes before I go inside." This is not a difficult concept.

[Anonymous]

You got a dose of critical thinking and healthy skepticism which you can now pass down to your kids.
Trick or treating is one of the safest things to do if you wear masks and keep distance. You can’t get covid in a fleeting passing outdoors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The past 7+ months I've heard the phrase "our kids have already lost so much" countless times. And, my friends, I'm over it. It's a bit pathetic, in my opinion, that as adults we are perpetuating the victim mentality for our kids instead of teaching them the art of grit and pivoting in unexpected or challenging times. Using a current issue as an example, are kids really going to "suffer" if they don't trick or treat? No. Only if WE (the adults) model a "loss" mindset. What if, instead, families looked at it as a way to plan a really fun evening? Maybe doing a family art project, bobbing for apples in mixing bowls, packaging up sweet treats to door drop for neighbors, creating a spooky themed meal together. I assure you, if WE (the adults) started finding the OPPORTUNITY instead of inflating the perceived losses, we may actually find that we have opportunities to create lasting memories for our children. They'll remember that year they had a SPECIAL Halloween instead of trick or treating like every other year. Shift your OWN perspective so we can look back at this time and remember how much our kids (and ourselves) LEARNED during the pandemic, not lost.

My aunt posted this recently, and I mostly agree. People acting devastated that their kids can't do what they do in normal years is overly dramatic - if you have a good attitude, the kids won't think it's a big deal. Shield them from seeing social media postings of kids going out trick or treating, and do fun things at home. We had a "candy hunt" yesterday - Dh and I hid 40 pieces of candy around the house and let our 4 kids go nuts finding them. That was right before lunch. Then they could eat candy after lunch while we roasted pumpkin seeds. No, it wasn't as exciting as going out to different houses and seeing everyones costumes, but everything is a bit different this year. And that's okay - we're staying safe and keeping others safe by staying home.

+1,000,000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Except if everyone thought masks, distance, outdoors = fine, then it would have been crowded in a lot of neighborhoods, social distancing would not be possible, and it wouldn't be fine at all.

+1

Wrong. Because they’d be wearing masks and they WORK. Masks work. 🙄

You're wrong. No competent expert says that masks (especially the pointless thin cloth masks so many people wear because "comfort") are anywhere near 100% effective. Which is why we're still supposed to be DISTANCING and not gathering in crowds. Yes, even outdoors. Yes, even on Halloween.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Except if everyone thought masks, distance, outdoors = fine, then it would have been crowded in a lot of neighborhoods, social distancing would not be possible, and it wouldn't be fine at all.

+1

Wrong. Because they’d be wearing masks and they WORK. Masks work. 🙄

Masks help, but they don't always work or we wouldn't be increasing numbers so quickly.