"Sisters, All Hallow's Eve has become a night of frolic, where children wear costumes and run amok!"

Memaw loved Halloween. She loved the decorations, the "scariness" of the holiday, and the Halloween movies. However, she loved most the children in their costumes and trick-or-treating. Because she lived in the country and had very few trick-or-treaters, she would come to our house when we were little and help my mom pass out candy. It always made her giggle:)

My family also loves Halloween. We go all out with decorations, especially when the girls were younger. I love decorating the entire house with different holidays. And Joe has lights, decorations, and blow-ups outside to celebrate all holidays. We have toned it down a bit since we are empty-nesters, but we still do the decorations. My favorite part is having candles and making the whole house smell wonderful.

My least favorite part of Halloween is the trick-or-treaters. Not because of the children (they are great) and I love their costumes. It's just that I am an introvert and it's hard for me to "like" having people coming to my house. Also, this night is hell for the dogs! They are so overwhelmed with all the people, coming to the door, ringing the doorbell, and looking "funny". It is their worst nightmare!!

But we live in a suburb neighborhood that is overrun with children. So, to make it better for us, we try to sit in the driveway on Halloween night, have a fire in the fire pit, have the dogs with us (far from the sidewalk), and go to the children to give them their treats. It makes for a peaceful night for the dogs and more fun for us. We usually have a few "refreshments" while all of this is going on, so it really is a nice night.

I read an article the other day that some people are "skipping" this Halloween....i.e. either won't be home for Halloween or make sure their porch light is off to discourage any trick-or-treaters. They sighted two specific reasons for this--candy is very expensive this year and because "greedy trick-or-treaters spoil the fun".

Now, if you don't celebrate Halloween or other holidays, I have no problem with that, nor should I. Everyone needs to live their lives the best way they can. However, I do have a big problem with those two specific reasons--but mostly with the second reason.

Candy is VERY expensive this year, between the tariffs and the high price of cocoa. There is no denying that. And yes, children LOVE candy. But I think trick-or-treating is more than just getting candy. The children love getting dressed up in their favorite costume, being with their parents and friends, seeing people, and going out sometimes after the sun goes down and it is dark. Children feel so much excitement about all of this and are "high" from this night (and the candy:) for days after Halloween. Just look at their faces--it's almost like Christmas. For most, this is their first or second favorite holiday!

So, as someone on a budget, what do you do about the candy? Well, this is what I did this year. I bought in bulk (some bags from Costco and Walmart). I didn't buy much chocolate, since it was the most expensive. I bought more Skittles, Smarties, Jolly Ranchers, Taffy, etc. That helped with the expense. I also bought early because if you buy it later, the big, less expensive bags are gone and you are stuck with the expensive candy. So, problem pretty much solved.

I have a HUGE problem with people saying that Halloween is no fun anymore because the children are greedy. They sited 4 ways of this greediness.

They take handfuls of candy.

People were upset with those children that take handfuls of candy. "I tell the children to take 2 or 3 and they take handfuls!" Well, of course they will!! They are children! They see something they love and are going to town. They can't control themselves, no should they. They need limits and it is up to you to give them that limits. Don't tell them to take 2 or 3. YOU take 2 or 3 and put it in their bags. This controls how much they get but it also allows you to acknowledge their costumes and say how wonderful/pretty/scary/realistic they look. They LOVE to hear about how great their costume is!

I leave the bowl out and all the candy is gone.

No shit!! Sorry, but duh! Again, you leave (maybe to take your own children trick-or-treating) and leave the bowl out so they can still get some candy. Yes, as children, they will take all the candy! Either have someone at your house to pass out the candy, or just don't pass any out until you get home. Most parents and children only go for an hour or two and then come home from exhaustion. You still have plenty of time to pass out the candy yourself--and give each child 2-3 pieces of candy:)

I see teenagers trick-or-treating. They are too old!

I'm sorry but I didn't see it written anywhere the age limits of trick-or-treating. Some teens love to dress up. Some don't. Their choice. I don't mind having the older kids out. Why? Because they could be out doing a hell of a lot worse than just asking for candy. As a parent of a teenager, I would love it when my girls went out. Good for them. They are out, having safe fun, and not doing anything illegally, immorally, or just wrong. I knew where they were. They were out at night, with their friends. Yay!! Stay a kid as long as possible.

These greedy children have no manners.

Good God, get over yourself! This holiday is for THEM, not you. Stop expecting things. In my experience, when I talk to the children, say Happy Halloween to them, comment on their great costume, as I am putting candy in their bags, they are usually delighted, happy, and compliment my decorations or say "Thank you". But I don't expect it. Why? Because they are kids. They are excited, overwhelmed, some are shy, and for some this is a difficult task for them to do. "Yes, go up to a strangers house, ring the doorbell, talk to that stranger, get the candy, and don't forget to say Thank You." Yup, too much. They are not being rude or greedy. THEY ARE BEING KIDS! Lighten up and let them off the hook. They are trying.

Finally, I hear the criticism that parents are on the sidewalks, with their Yeti's, filled with "Momma Juice". Yup, probably. Do you want to do this sober? Let the parents have fun too. They try to make their kids have manners, but they can only do so much on a night like tonight. Let them enjoy their holiday too.

Stop judging, stop expecting, and pass out the damn candy.

Happy Halloween!