WARNING: mixed metaphor will be uttered in 10…9…8…
Oh, whatever, here goes. Call me a Hallowe’en Scrooge (there it is, folks!), but I hate shelling out to kids who are old enough to drive. Maybe this is because I was banned from trick-or-treating at thirteen (when all, and I do really mean ALL) my other friends were allowed to go out that year (grade 8). Well, except I did know a Jehova’s Witness girl…I’m sure she didn’t go out, but the trauma of being banned from Hallowe’en would have worn off for her by then, right? I mean, anyone who can hack going out into the hall every morning when we sang ‘O Canada’ could surely deal with this one.
But for me, it was a blow. An utterly unexpected one. I came home from school, planning to go trick-or-treating. I had a costume. I had a pillowcase. I had a route planned out and friends to go with. Until my mom came home and uttered the fateful words "you’re a teenager and that means you’re too old to go out. Hallowe’en is for little kids. Now help me hand out the candy."
Wha? Too old? BUT ALL MY FRIENDS ARE ALLOWED TO GO!!!
That’s for their parents to decide. Your parents (read: mother) say NO. And that’s final.
And it was. I did not win that fight. Tears ensued, and theatrics of the thirteen-year-old girl variety. but she would. not. budge. I’m sure I hated her for a while, but now I see the wisdom of her choice. Thirteen is a nice, clean dividing point, isn’t it? You’ve passed the threshold from childhood to adolescence…you’re old enough to stay up, to get a job (in some jurisdictions…at least babysitting if nothing else), to watch PG movies. In a word, once you turn 13, you truly are no longer a child. A sentiment with which I’m sure any 13 year-old would agree wholeheartedly! Go ask one, "are you a child?" and you’ll get an emphatic answer, of that I’m sure!
So, sordid life history over with for now, can I tell you how much I hated 75% of the trick-or-treaters we had? I’m sure they all had to shave (either faces or legs) and likely they all drove their cars to my ‘hood. They were not only ringing the bell too early (teenager trick-or-treat tip: when the lights are off and there are no pumpkins out yet…don’t ring the bell! The residents are either a) out b) abstaining or c) STILL EATING THEIR FREAKIN’ DINNER!) but also staying out way too late (see last bitter parenthetical remark).
The thing that got me was, when I griped about it the next day to another mom, she just laughed and said, "let them have their fun…why make them grow up so soon?" Which got me thinking…am I way off base? Should the teenagers be allowed out on Hallowe’en (even though most of them likely have more disposable income that you or me)?
Oh, and by the way, I totally pigged out on mini-chocolate bars for the 2 days prior to the 31st. Then I wised up and took the leftovers into my daughter’s school on the 1st and donated them to the staff room. I tell you, if I went in there and said it was an unannounced PD day the teachers could not have loved me more!
So, I’ve been trying to find time to work out for about eight hours straight to atone for the bad, bad girl I was…so far not much luck. We’ll see what the damage is Saturday morning!
‘Till then, here’s a pic of my cuties in their costumes. For your reference, LEFT=PRINCESS (with bad, mom-inflicted face paint) and RIGHT=BIRTHDAY PRESENT (last-minute costume change entirely created by 6 year-old daughter!) Enjoy!
Oh, and I LOVE comments, so be sure to weigh in below with your opinion on how old is too old for trick-or-treaters!
If the teens have the nerve to be out begging for candy (which is what it is really), they can do it all they want. They get what the rest get.
I think as I grew older trick or treating was just something that one year I just didn’t do. No one told me not to go. I just didn’t go.
The oldest trick or treaters I heard of were my brother and his friends heading out after football practice (grade 12) with their helmets as the goodie container and then headed back to the change room to share the loot. I always seem to get a good laugh thinking about it!
So I guess I’m the mind of your never too old…if your respectful and not greedy.
Patti
Whhooops. Sorry about the comment below. I was going to say “I was hoping for a weight loss blog” and then erased it, but it posted anyways! I’m sure after 6 months, WW has become second nature to you, and you needed a week off the weight blog!
Cute costumes!!
Laura
I don’t mind the older kids at all. Better the candy be in their slim bodies than in mine! I do make them work for it though…they have to be in costume, and I like to make them sing or dance in order to get the goods.
I was hoping for a weight loss blo
I did not have one chocolate!!!! That’s the problem with weight watchers. With Weight Watchers, I was using up a lot of points on sugar, etc.. Soon enough, I was totally addicted. Then, I went on this detox, and, now, after a month of not eating sugar, I don’t even want it. It was a little tempting to have chocolate on halloween — for nostalgia’s sake, and because I was in a bizarre mood that I thought only chocolate could fix. But, last Friday night, I told myself: “everything in moderation, so I’m having dessert tonight. Out came the dessert (we were at my parents’), and I didn’t want one thing! And, the dessert used to be my fave!!!
Anyhoo. Don’t feel bad about the chocolate. It’s over and done with and it brought out the kid in you. 🙂
We had TONS of kids at our house, and I didn’t notice any that were too old. Except one kid had the lamest costume: a zipped up hoody. Nice….
I did not have one chocolate!!!! That’s the problem with weight watchers. With Weight Watchers, I was using up a lot of points on sugar, etc.. Soon enough, I was totally addicted. Then, I went on this detox, and, now, after a month of not eating sugar, I don’t even want it. It was a little tempting to have chocolate on halloween — for nostalgia’s sake, and because I was in a bizarre mood that I thought only chocolate could fix. But, last Friday night, I told myself: “everything in moderation, so I’m having dessert tonight. Out came the dessert (we were at my parents’), and I didn’t want one thing! And, the dessert used to be my fave!!!
Anyhoo. Don’t feel bad about the chocolate. It’s over and done with and it brought out the kid in you. 🙂
We had TONS of kids at our house, and I didn’t notice any that were too old. Except one kid had the lamest costume: a zipped up hoody. Nice….
Kath – I could not agree more. I was 12 and out with my pals, fully costumed, and eager, as I knew it was my last Halloween (mom’s rule of 13) but, to my embarassment, my 5’7″ frame caused many a homeowner to turn me away while my pals got a full bag of goodies! At the time I was bitter but now I totally get it.
Our first trick-or-treaters of the night were about 11 or 12. I held out the bowl of chocolate generously prepared to hand them each 2 pieces when they dive bombed me! They grabbed handfulls in a whirlwind and left. Then, after the jack-o-lanterns were long inside, our porch light was out, and our kids were snoring away, the doorbell rang and 2 uncostumed teenagers stood with grocery bags in hand. I didn’t even open the door. It is the selfishness that I can’t stand. It is about getting as much from someone as you can instead of the fun of dressing up and facing some fears.
Btw, love the make-up…I’m sure she did too! And what a creative costume the present is!
hi kath,we don’t celebrate halloween.but my teen daughters friends still do,all of whom are 12-13 years old.one of them wanted my daughter to go with her and i of course said no too big.too old.teens are getting too old for baby stuff like that.my daughters 14 and she thinks shes too old.so yeah,i agree teens are too old for trick or treatingyour little girls are precious.
I was thirteen, too, when I was pulled back from the candy-thon. But I was ready – I always had to go with my little sister, and I was starting to feel too big.
(What sweet little creatures you have there!)
I was thirteen, too, when I was pulled back from the candy-thon. But I was ready – I always had to go with my little sister, and I was starting to feel too big.
(What sweet little creatures you have there!)
What a great post, Kath! And, I agree with you wholeheartedly! I had a pile of older teenagers who looked to be around 16 and it annoyed the heck out of me. My son is not quite 12 and he debated right up until the last minute whether or not he would actually trick or treat – and he’s tiny and could easily be mistaken for a much younger kid. There’s just something about seeing older kids at my door that rubs me the wrong way. Not sure why!
Oh, and I hear you about the chocolate bars. I’ve gotta get rid of them. My daughter was up with the flu at three o’clock this morning and while I was waiting for her to finish vomiting…I ate, like, 6 mini chocolate bars. Houston, we have a problem.