Begruging Teen Trick or Treaters Halloween Candy

[amileegirl]

I was reading on a group how a person gave someone they thought was too old to be trick or treating one piece of gum. If it was late and all the little kids had already been out, why begruge someone in costume some candy? One piece of gum was pretty mean spiritied! The holiday is supposed to be about fun.

I am in my thirties and I can be mistaken for a teenager at times and even when people know I can't be that young they still estimate my age ten years younger. So, on the flip side someone very young can look older than they are. So even if you think that someone looks "too old" it could very well be a very tall fourteen year old. Not everyone matures at the same pace. And even if the person was in their twenties, what is the harm in just treating them to some candy? After all, they went through all the trouble of dressing up! Why not let them have a good time?

I have NO problem with teenagers coming to our door. My two rules are that it has to be late when no little kids are out (for example you can't come to the door at 5:00) and they have to be in costume (you have to work for it no plain clothes). If the parents come to the door and are in costume, I give them candy too!   If I lived nearer to a college, I would expect that some of the college students would be out having themselves a last hurrah (I did it when I was 22 in a very nice neighborhood that had their doors open until midnight and beyond). What's wrong with that? We were dressed, the people in the house were dressed, and some had a little role reversal going where the little kids were giving out the candy to the big "kids" ! Enjoyment for all.

What little kid is out randomly trick or treating in the middle of the week at 9:00 or 10:00 at night anyway!? If you have candy left over and you intend to take it to work or don't want to eat it all yourself, why not spread it to the late trick or treaters?

What harm is inflicted by being generous and embracing the Halloween Spirit?

[wearygram]

Nov. 1, 2007 at 10:28 AM My kids loved trick or treating till their teens! Would people rather they were out egging your cars or TPing you house and other mischief? We always took small kids, my kids had awesome costumes and were very respectful. I didn't realize there was an age limit on fun! Some people need to lighten up!