Feel like I screwed up Halloween for my kids
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Anonymous
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I'm rarely negatively affected by Facebook, but damn, it feels like we are the only ones who didn't go trick-or-treating. They were upset, too, even though we tied to make a fun at-home party. Our city asked people not to trick-or-treat so we followed that request. Just feeling like I let my kids down.
Blah. |
Anonymous
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I’m sorry, OP. It sounds like you tried to make the best of it, and that’s really all any of us can do. It’s still rough for the kids, but that doesn’t mean you screwed up Halloween. Hugs.
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Anonymous
| 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. |
Anonymous
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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. |
Anonymous
| How old are your kids, OP? |
Anonymous
| Our county had confusing guidance, but nothing that expressly said “don’t trick or treat.” Given the confusing wording, some people took it to mean don’t trick or treat, but it was a close to normal turnout on our street. I know some families that didn’t do it were pretty upset to see all the kids out and about. It put them in an unenviable position. |
Anonymous
| Our county sent emails asking people not to ToT. Most everyone realized how stupid that was. It’s an outside activity that is easy to make precautions. Wear a mask, only go with your family, and don’t knock on doors. Every, and I mean EVERY, house had a table or bowl set up at the end of driveways. It was a ton fun. I am no COVID denier, quiet the opposite, thankfully most people used common sense on this one. |
Anonymous
| I live in Silver Spring Montgomery county and did not see any trick-or-treating. |
Anonymous
Yeah I really don’t think you should’ve answered the door. Both because you didn’t let your son do it, but also because that’s not even the Covid safe way to trick-or-treat this year. If you’re going to do it, you don’t answer the door knock. You leave bags of candy spaced out on a table or get a candy shoot or something. |
Anonymous
| I get it, OP. Just repeat to yourself this mantra: may this be the worst parenting mistake I ever make. |
Anonymous
+1 |
Anonymous
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We didn't trick-or-treat. I baked cupcakes with orange frosting and Halloween sprinkles with the kids. I hid candy for a scavenger hunt, and DH created an "old" pirate map with clues.
The kids say they had fun, and the older one says she knows ToT-ing with coronavirus wasn't possible. With the exception of actual abuse and neglect, I think kids generally do fine if their parents act like they're fine. |
Anonymous
I’m sorry, but that’s on you. What on earth made you think trick or treating was unsafe? It’s an outdoor activity for goodness sake! And you can easily social distance and wear masks! I seriously do not get the mindset of people who said it was unsafe. Bars, gyms, and indoor dining all open. But no, you can’t go trick or treating?! People, start making your own reasonable decisions instead of following Fauci’s edicts blindly. |
Anonymous
It could be a lot worse. you could be like this idiot. |
Anonymous
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You didn’t use common sense. Masks, distance, outdoors = FINE.
People will scare you into anything, but we must hold on to our logic. |