I'm a nice person. I make sure I have plenty of candy, decorate the house real cute so it looks welcoming, and I will give candy to any trick or treater of any age. I prefer they are in costume, but if they are polite and in the holiday spirit, they will still get candy. Tonight I refused a trick or treater for the first time.
Three middle school aged boys, not wearing costumes came up. They don't say a word and simply hold their pillowcases opn for me to fill. They were a bit old and not making much of an effort, but I reached for my candy anyway UNTIL...
I saw one of them yacking on his cell phone and barely glancing at me, continues yacking, holding the phone with one hand as he holds out his hand for a treat with the other!
I BLEW MY STACK!!! I told them, "You come up here with no costumes, you don't even say trick or treat, and that one can't even bother to speak to me or look at me when you ask for candy." I yelled "get some costumes, get some manners and GO!!!" And they ran!
Maybe I am high strung or old-fashioned, or both.
I'm with you, Jeri. That was pretty rude of those boys. No costumes, and on a cell phone?!? Geez. :rolleyes: Good for you for sending them away....maybe they'll think twice about their behavior next time. Personally, I feel that once kids reach 14 years of age, they're too old to go trick-or-treating.
I'm with you, Jeri! I think after you hit 13 or 8th grade - whichever comes first! - you are old enough to leave it to the children. I have also had it with the young mamas who, even though their babies are in costume, are out trick-or-treating for "the baby"! C'mon - if the kiddo is too little to walk,s/he is too little to trick-or-treat! We know who's gonna eat that candy, anyway, right? :verdict:
Right on !!!! I agree - I think 13-14 is the limit AND they should have a costume. I am proud of you for sending them away !!!
I agree, and have mentioned to some "older" trick-or-treaters that they looked a little old to be begging for candy.
Still, once they "graduate" from trick-or-treating, it's more about tricks!! I remember Amy telling me how they would hide the TP in the trunk, so that if they got caught, they would only be charged for one roll!!! :2funny:
I agree they were very rude! Also the point made about mom's trick or treating with their babies, I totally agree. The baby isn't going to get any candy (hopefully!) and will just be tired and cold anyway. Why subject them to that?
Since I'm 24 and agree with you, that should tell you you're too old fashioned. :grin: I think its just generally how kids are now, they aren't being taught any manners.
Good for you Jeri! There is no excuse for bad manners! I would have done exactly the same thing.
I agree with everyone on the age thing...with on exception! LOL
There is an elderly man in my neighborhood who goes trick or treating every year. Halloween is also his birthday. He comes to the door with his drivers license in hand explaining that he has been trick or treating every year since he was two! He has never missed a year and he is seventy years old!
That is crazy rude! I'd have refused to give them any candy if they'd done that to me too. As far as the baby in the costume thing, I did walk around our block with Elf last year in costume, but only to let her get out and see everything and the people who were out in the drive way giving out candy did give her some although I told them not to worry about it since she didn't eat it. Elf loved it and we walked around the block this year too. The difference was that I let her have a few pieces of candy, but not the chocolate, peanut butter or nut candies. She's barely two and can't have any of that yet. I don't think I'll ever understand why it's a good thing to give high allergy foods out for treats, but that's just me I guess. I left our treats on the porch beside our pumpkin for the few minutes we were walking around and some were gone but I think most kids only took one piece. I give them handfuls if I'm there. It'll probably be the only non-chocolate candy they get (I give jolly ranchers and things like that.)