Interesting trick-or-treating last night--my kids skipped McCain houses.

[knitter4democracy]

I sat and gave out candy at home while my stepdad and my husband took the kids around the neighborhood for trick-or-treating. They laughed when they got back home and told us how our two children refused to go to any door if they saw a McCain sign in the yard. Now, this was totally their idea (probably our 8 year old daughter's, as she's a huge Obama fan and always working on her friends at school to turn them over to Obama in hopes they'll work on their parents). I thought it was interesting that they were okay with giving up candy for their principles.

With our five yards signs for all the Dems (Obama, Levin, Schauer, Segal, and Haadsma) and my Obama symbol pumpkin, we were obviously an Obama house, but there were only a couple of kids who walked past out house without coming up for candy. I didn't figure out why (here we were, sitting on the front porch with a huge bowl of candy) until I heard about what my kids did. They probably were Republicans, then.

Oh, and the numbers of trick-or-treaters were way down. I bought a bit more than last year (ran out last year), and I ended up with two huge bags left over (like we need that around the house). When I helped out with my son's class party yesterday, I found out that his teacher had somehow managed to make costumes for a couple of the kids with what she had around the room so that they could be in costume for the school parade. I have so much more respect for her now, and it just broke my heart that there were kids who couldn't afford costumes and went to school feeling bad about that. One of them was a little guy who's stolen my heart--a tough little first grader with a huge chip on his shoulder but warms up into the sweetest little man if you give him any positive attention or respect at all. I was so sad for him and so proud of their teacher that she figured out how to dress him up and help him feel better about the holiday. That's how bad it is here in Michigan--kids without costumes or costumes they've worn for a couple of years now that don't fit anymore.

Edited for a really stupid spelling error

[Turbineguy]

1. I took down my sign during those hours.

I do not wish to discourage anybody. I live in a heavily repub neighborhood. I'm generous with the candy.

Only about 10 kids this year. Little kids, parents in the background. One group being driven around in an electric golfcart.

[knitter4democracy]

3. I'm generous too and usually run out.

I've never had candy left over. Even when I left the bowl out, no one took much, if any. Weird.

[BlooInBloo]

13. That's a good idea.

[Connonym]

16. I didn't think about my sign until I saw this

We only had a fraction of the kids we usually have. That kind of makes me sick to think about. We've got the only Obama sign on the street.

[seabeyond]

2. and i wondered if mccain people would skip mine. thought it silly.

doesnt look like they did. seems like we are all able to live in neighborhood together.two couples, opposite ends of street came to my house and both sat around chatting, with four signs in yard, but massive decoration in huge yard and porch..... one said the reall scary was our signs. surprised, but i let it go and we all seemed to get along.

most kids from our poorer nieghborhood were chanting obama. but i agree, halloween is a non political event and for the kids

family came over and all kept mouth shut about signs.

[radfringe]

4. no trick-treaters at our house

we're in a real rural neighborhood, the only "kids" on the street are past the age of trick-treating, and the knuckle-dragger's kids next door aren't allowed to participate in "heathen" rituals..

[knitter4democracy]

7. Yeah, well, some of us like those heathen rituals.

Personally, I like Easter eggs, yule logs, and trick-or-treating. :) I grew up in an evangelical church, and I know how over the top they can get. My mom tried to get me to take my kids to her church's "trick-or-trunk" thing at their church, but after getting suckered into a parade with them while they handed out proselytizing flyers that made it clear they don't think we Orthodox are Christians, I refuse to have anything to do with their church.

I grew up in the country, and we always went into town to trick-or-treat. Much easier than walking across fields to get to one or two houses. :) Last night, we had a lot of Latinos from other parts of town, and the kids were soooo adorable in trying to say trick-or-treat. They calmed down when I answered them in Spanish. :)

[radfringe]

9. if we lived in a more populous area

i would have been tempted to put out a sign

McCain-Palin house
Trick-or-treating is teaching socialism to our children
get a damn job if you want candy

:rofl:

[knitter4democracy]

18. Can't. stop. giggling. Must. nominate. for. DUzy.

:rofl: Oh man, that is totally DUzy worthy!

[Occulus]

12. Must suck in their house on Dec. 25, then

:D

[Toucano]

5. Thank you for sharing your experience.

It really says a lot.

[Toucano]

6. double post - delete

[ensho]

8. teachers have saved many a life - teachers are important

thanks for the telling

[knitter4democracy]

19. The teachers at my kids' school are amazing.

I used to teach high school English, and my mom's a retired high school art teacher of 35 years, and I have huge respect for my kids' teachers. They have a terrible principal, and yet, they pull out miracles like that. I'm knitting them jewelry for Christmas.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

10. a number of kids came to our door saying they Liked our Obama sign! -nt

[renate]

11. caring, compassionate teachers like that are da bomb

That's a nice little story.

I didn't see many signs last night (only one, actually--Obama), but what I did notice is that NONE of the houses that had "Bush/Cheney" signs four years ago had anything up this time.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

14. Your kids didn't want those horehound drops anyway

Old folks candy. That's what McCain supporters would give out. With Bible tracts.

My mom would go through our candy and take out the Bible tracts, apples (razor blades) and homemade treats (poison).

Then my dad would go through and take out all the chocolate. Thanks alot, Dad!

[knitter4democracy]

20. I take out the Reeses Peanut Butter cups.

Just doing my part to help my kids, you know. ;)

Who the heck gives out Bible tracts?! That's sooooo lame.

[Arugula Latte]

15. My kids would have done the same, if we'd seen any McCain signs last night.

They did go to several houses with Obama signs and after they got the candy and thanked the people they yelled "Go Obama!" There was a lot of Democratic camaraderie going around last night.

[gollygee]

17. Nobody passed by our house

our neighborhood is pretty mixed between Dem. and Repub. supporters. But we all know each other and that isn't an issue when neighborhood events come up.

[quiet.american]

21. That's a great story about the teacher. I love hearing about kindness. nt