What happened to Halloween?
No, I don't mean "what happened" as in where did the day go (I can tell you; 3 parties in 24 hours with a very cranky 1 year old, that's where the day went!). I mean, what happened to the Halloween traditions I remember as a kid?
Last night, as some friends and I lugged our children through the neighborhood in a pair of Radio Flyer wagons, we couldn't help but noticing that we were-- for all intensive purposes-- the only parents outside, accompanying their children. Where were the majority of our peers? In cars, chauffering their kids from driveway to driveway. I don't live in a ritzy neighborhood-- the houses are, at most, 25 yards apart. Where do you think America's obesity epidemic begins? With parents who allow their children to be gluttonous lazy and ride from house to house, devouring candy in the backseat mere moments after it's dropped into their bulging bags, that's where.
And while I'm on my Halloween rant (because, apparently, that's what this post has turned into), let's talk about the parents who didn't even both to escort their children through the dark streets. These are the parents who send their pre-teen kids out into the night, barely reminding them to look both ways before darting across the street, then shut the door behind them and TURN OFF THE LIGHT. Yup, they are more than happy to allow their children to meticulously collect my candy, yet are too cheap scrooge-like miserly thrifty to hand out candy to my kid! I really think Halloween should be a little more reciprocal than it's become.
Then, there are the costumes. Lord, I'm just getting warmed up, folks. The costumes are, shall we say, inappropriate to say the least. I saw a seven-year-old last night with cleavage. Seriously! I saw a five-year-old and her mother dressed up as matching sexy cats-- complete with kitten heels for them both! My friends and I acknowledged that the children/costumes relationship is one of phases and stages. First, for the first 2-3 years, you get to choose what they are. Then, for the next few years, girls go for everything frilly and lacey and princessy while boys go for the of-the-minute superhero or cartoon character. For the first few years of elementary school, children of both genders want to be whatever is the bloodiest, gutsiest, goriest (a friend of mine's step-daughter dressed like a dead cheerleader). But after about 10 years old (and it seems like even younger, at times), pre-teen girls are decked out in whatever will attract the attention of most boys. I think I saw my husband cringe at least half a dozen times when he opened the door to hand out candy to a slutty angel/devil/firefighter/bee/etc. At this rate, he's going to force G to dress like the flying nun for every Halloween after she turns 8.
Yet, despite it all, I know that next year, I will still be one of the first houses in our neighborhood to turn on the light, open our doors to the hungry masses, hand out 200+ pieces of candy to kids driven around the neighborhood by their parents, who leave half-eaten candy wrappers strewn across my hard, who dress like 12-year-old Britney Spears, who return to my house once, twice, yes, three times in a single night... because, goshdarnit I believe in TRADITION!!!
I was actually pleasantly surprised by how many parents and kids were trick or treating in my town. Its a really small town. Most of its country setting with a few neighborhoods.
But I know what you mean!
We really didn't get too many kids stopping by, so I will take your word for it. But I've seen others posting on similar frustrations, so I think it's a definite trend! Unfortunately, my oldest had croup, so there was no Halloween for us (I believe my post on that fun situation is being posted tomorrow).
Glad I could help spark the idea to pitch a blogging story at work! I actually used to major in Mass Communications and wanted to work in journalism/broadcasting, so I will live vicariously through you if the story gets approved! ;-)
Tamara
http://theunexperiencedmom.blogspot.com
Your kids look so cute!!!!!!
I am right there with you on this... I was shocked how few adults were out and about while paraded my girls around last night.
We had quite a few pre-teen kids who didn't even bother to really dress up. Sweats and a half-hearted attempt at a mask. Oh well, like you I believe in tradition, so I hand them the candy anyway.
I'm new here and laughed my butt off at this post! Oh my.. I so agree!
With kids in tow and my "army" of friends with their kids, we trick-or-treated in a larger neighborhood that one of them lives in... and were seriously AFRAID because of the insane number of cars, trucks, and suvs around! There were a lot of other people walking with their little kids.. but many more driving!! (same as your situation.. the houses are right beside each other! sheesh!)
I was much more bothered by the kids running around with NO supervision.. insane. What's up with folks?
I like to DIED looking at the outfits on some of the little girls last night! We saw mostly walkers, not so much in the vehicles (although that did pick up some after it got dark) but I saw a great deal more of the backsides of some very young ladies than I cared to. Yeesh!
So, there's a little something for you to swing by and pick up here!
Oh yeah, you gotta walk with the kids. No sitting in the car, even when there is rain.
**Love it**
As always your post is right on.
B/c we are up north it is cold, so we went to the mall (of course when I was growing up, it was a right of passage to brave the 30-40 degree weather, but Z is too young). We only stayed the 15min before the trick-or-treating began and then we left. Too crazy. What will we do when the kids get older????
I was astounded to see a Mini-van and a gaggle of kids following behind it/ in it. I wanted to justify it for the little ones... they should have fun too, but... what about the older kids I saw riding in it (at 5pm)... really???
I am really glad I live in Rural America!!
I have lived in town and seen the same...It is absolutely horrible.
My husband doesn't like Halloween and since moving to the sticks we have forgone the Halloween Trick or Treating all together.
My kids don't even miss it..They get candy and we watch movies. A great trade!
Loved the costumes...They were adorable.
Great blog! It's Heather from 3 Under 3, thanks for stopping y my blog. Let me just say I agree wholeheartedly with this post. We actually had two trick-or-treaters knock on our door without a costume on. Just in jeans and a shirt. What?
Anyway, your daughter is adorable! And you are right, it is a fun age.
Your little princess is adorable :)
Thanks for visiting my blog today.
I actually made a comment at two particularly "slutacular" girls of about 14, dressed as a slutty superhero and a slutty devil, who graced my doorstep shivering in the cold night. I made my face clear to them as I stated, "Aren't you two cold dressed like that?" They enthusiastically replied, "YES!" I said, "then why are you dressed like that?" They said, nothing...just shrugged their shoulders, thanked me for their candy and left...with their gaggle of 14 yr old boys dressed like zombies. And I thought, "yep, that's why." You hit the nail on the head Elizabeth. Luckily my sweet little lion was asleep by the time they came...he doesn't need to be getting any ideas this young!
I couldn't believe the number of parents I saw driving kids from door to door. It was actually a gorgeous fall evening too! I moved to this small town a couple of years ago and can't believe they actually have a tradition of celebrating Halloween for 2 nights. Seriously?! I don't actually really like Halloween, so it especially irks me. My kids trekked their way from house to house, but so many of them were dark this year, it wasn't really much fun...for me anyway. My two year-old loves candy more than life itself, so she's thrilled with even the meager loot she collected.