So we're handing out giant sized candy bars at the door and one kid reaches in and grabs two bars.

[Baitball Blogger]

Last edited Mon Oct 31, 2016, 09:02 PM - Edit history (1)

What is up with that? My husband let him have them, but, if it's who I think it is, he tried doing the same thing several years ago while his parents were watching. Let's just say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Update. Bummer. We had more middle-school aged kids come back for seconds, and it was obvious because they came back without their costumes. And wouldn't you know it? This is the year the high schoolers finally appeared late at night. We would have had enough for everybody if the younger kids had shown some restraint or, honesty when we asked them if they had been here before.

[Laffy Kat]

1. I just asked a couple of girls how old they were.

They had lame costumes and no masks or face paint. They were 14-years-old. I gave them some candy but mentioned that they may be getting too old for trick or treating. I don't mind giving teenagers candy, but they better be in a clever costume.

[Baitball Blogger]

2. That's the sad part. The high schoolers were in great gothic costumes.

I encourage creativity in kids, no matter what the age. But the younger, maybe middle schoolers, were just taking advantage of my husband's good nature. He didn't know, anymore than I did, that this year would be a great crop of trick or treaters. I think the younger kids learned to come back without costumes because a trio of blondies came to the door with very distinct lighted costumes a few years back, and it was easy to call them out.

I don't think I would have mind if I didn't have to turn away kids who were here for the first time. God knows I don't need the extra candy bars hanging around.

[Laffy Kat]

3. I'm afraid of getting my house TP'ed.

Just unplugged my "spiderweb" on the front porch, brought in the pumpkin, and turned out the light. I'm done. Just a handful of Fun-Sized M & M's left. Perfect time to end it.

[Baitball Blogger]

4. LOL.

TP is about the mildest thing that they do around here.

I don't know. I think some of the high schoolers are pretty cool. Around Christmas time a band group visits the houses to play carol music. So, I like to be able to reciprocate at Halloween if possible.

[JonLP24]

9. You remind me of Larry David

https://m.

[JudyM]

11. Love this! Thanks for posting.

[Baitball Blogger]

17. I bet the kids have to deal with that a lot in Florida.

LOL!

[MissB]

5. There is a house in our neighborhood that gives out

those big candy bars- king size I think. Maybe bigger (Hershey's?).

Anyway, the folks own a chain of grocery stores and probably do quite well. They are quite generous to give out such large candy to the kids, but they've come up with a system- they stamp the kids hands. Someone checks their hands before the kids are allowed to approach the house (think: bouncer.) I find it funny.

I much prefer the houses that make sure mom and dad get a glass of wine before heading to the next house.

[hunter]

8. 666? Pentagram? Other mark of the devil?

You could do it in visible-only-in-ultraviolet-light permanent ink.

Or you could hand out Chick Tracts.

Years ago we had neighbors who had an elaborate haunted yard, gave out great treats along with invitations to their church. And sometimes they felt compelled to tell kids what was sinful about their costumes. Wizards and witches were their most frequent target, and they'd also tell teen girls to cover up.

Some of the neighborhood teens would go the extra mile to wear exceptionally sinful costumes just for them.

Sadly they've moved away. My kids always found them entertaining.

Our oddest neighbor handed out Herbalife nutrition bars with a business card attached.

[Baitball Blogger]

18. I was thinking of imposing a stamp rule.

Just for the early birds. If they come late to take advantage of the excess candy they would be doing me a favor.

[hibbing]

7. I had some good ones this year

Had a group that consisted of a very good Mario, Dorothy, and then like a 4? year old boy as santa, that was worth the price of the candy right there. Most all mine had costumes on and good ones. I won't even tell any of the stuff we used to do on Halloween when I was about 12.



Peace

[Baitball Blogger]

19. Aw, come on. Do tell. The statute of limitations has passed for you.

[cleveramerican]

10. I once dragged the grill out front

and handed out cheeseburgers to everybody
I was young and my kis were young, and it was excessive
Trick or treating was a big thing in the neighborhood
I only did it once and its a nice memory in my family
I fed the whole darn street on Halloween night

[Baitball Blogger]

20. That was excessive, but it made sense for our time when Halloween

would run up to eleven o'clock. When I was a kid, the house that everyone loved was the house that gave out Koolaid that was popsicled in small dixie cups.

[ohnoyoudidnt]

12. Next time, you can keep a bowl of cheap candy nearby

and when you see repeat trick or treaters, open the door with that bowl.

Some people learn greed at an early age.

[Baitball Blogger]

21. Some people learn greed at an early age

There were at least five kids that returned more than once. I will check the security cams to be sure. Two boys formed one group, and three blonde girls in the other.

For the boys, I think a parent was encouraging them. My husband finally recognized one of the boys (greed and arrogance was written all over that boy's face.) You could tell his friend was just coming along for the ride. My husband asked them if they had been there before and the second boy just froze. Then, from the darkness comes a woman with long brown curly hair and she asks my husband a question, compelling him to come down to the street. She said there was a car on the street with its lights on. Thank God that my husband didn't walk far from the door. He told the parent that the boys had been to our house already and they all left. But it did occur to me that if he had walked down to the street the boys could have helped themselves to all the candy, which was next to the door.

Also, at the end of the night, one of my Halloween displays was unplugged, like someone tried to steal it, but stopped when they realized it was wired into the trellis.

I think it's time to rearrange the security cams to get a better view of the street.

[pfitz59]

13. My sister trick-or-treated Don Knotts house once

He gave out full-size candy bars....

[Baitball Blogger]

22. Of course he would.

He was a good guy.

[Orrex]

14. It's up to the source to control the flow

If you want each kid to receive just one candy bar, then hand one to each kid.

Otherwise, you're basically saying "help yourselves" and relying on candy-addled kids to self-police according to your unstated wishes, and that way madness lies.


Likewise, if you think kids are making two trips, then don't give them a second helping. But if you guess wrong, then you open yourself up to being "that jerk who gave everyone candy except me."

[Baitball Blogger]

23. Of course. I just have to figure out how to do it fairly.

[Orrex]

24. Two words: CAGE MATCH

Two kids go in, one kid comes out and gets candy.

[a kennedy]

15. We gave out giant size salted nut rolls.....yummmmmm, (already had my share prior to Oct 31st)

but only got 9 kids.... We hadn't done trick or treating for quite a few years, our dog would have a stroke every time the doorbell rang.........so we just got back into it, (our dog passed away), I was quite disappointed we got only 9 kids. We'll give all the remaining candy bars to the veterans that live a few miles away. Hope they can handle the nuts.

[Baitball Blogger]

25. It takes time.

If you hadn't participated in the past, the kids may have already taking you off the list. One way to let them know you're participating is to put up Halloween displays.

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

26. Yknow, you're allowed to set your own limits -"its one or nothing, kid." It takes a village to

raise an idiot.... or however the saying goes. if the parents are not parenting, you dont have to be a doormat or enabler to boorish behavior. IMHO this applies in public places and especially within your own home.

[benld74]

27. Never let them take, you give it

Happened to my wife last night.
I was giving out candy
She said let them take it
I gave bowl to her
1st 5 kids grabbed handfuls,,,,
😂😂😂😂😂

[GOLGO 13]

30. I have 2 bowls. 1 larger & the other smaller.

The smaller one has the "garbage candy". Stuff like taffy, Tootsie Rolls, no name lollypops--those are for the kids that are obviously too old.

Age appropriate children with obvious costumes get the "good stuff" like the Snickers, Tootsie Roll Pops, Butterfingers etc.

I stay outside on the porch nearly the entire evening so I easily recognize the costumes & candy grabbing migration patterns. Double dippers never make it up the driveway before I point them out & remind them they hit me already.

I make the older kids climb the 5 steps up to me so they can only come 1 at a time. The little ones I meet at the bottom when they reach the driveway.