Question:
This year for the first time (2 boys 7 and 5) we went to a Halloween party at a local church. It cost $2 to get in but there were lots of carnival games and safe candy for all who played (win or lose) and a rule – no scary costumes. I saw a few gross costumed teens turned away. My boys didnt miss trick or treating at all. The best part was that all the people there were decent families who only had the kids fun in mind. No gang bangers. We had so much fun, I told all my friends about it. Next year I plan to donate candy and help out. Tracy in Modesto, CA
Response:
> We had teenagers come to our door…no costumes…and my husband said "forget > it" and closed the door. I heard them yell "we know where you live" as they > left. Sure enough an hour or so later a firecracker went off which sounded > like it was very close to the house. My husband went out to investigate and > the firecracker had been wedged in behind the bumper on our car (in the > carport).
<snipped> Well, things went better for us last night. It wasn’t as bad as the year before, well, atleast nobody was throwing firecrackers at little kids. The only ‘bad’ thing that happened was that because there was so much of it going on that by the time my husband got back with the kids from going around to the neighbours (about 7 pm) the streets looked like there was a thick fog on them except it wasn’t fog. It was about 12 feet high and it was smoke from all the fireworks and firecrackers. Anyway, my five year old whose had problems with croup many times in the past woke me up at 4 am with a nasty croup sounding cough. I believe his airway was irritated by all the smoke. I talked to my sister-in-law who lives a block away and she said that she had an asthma attack last night from the smoke and ended up getting out her puffer (something she rarely has to do). I live in Richmond (not too far from you) and I don’t understand why firecrackers are legal. Why don’t they just ban them? There are plenty of community things going on that put on a fireworks display. BTW, we had teens come to the door last night too and I gave them some candy, they came later after the little kids and when we ran out I just turned out the lights. At least it is over for another year. 
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > We had teenagers come to our door…no costumes…and my husband said "forget > it" and closed the door. I heard them yell "we know where you live" as they > left. Sure enough an hour or so later a firecracker went off which sounded > like it was very close to the house. My husband went out to investigate and > the firecracker had been wedged in behind the bumper on our car (in the > carport). My husband called the police but told them not to bother coming out > because he’s sure they’re being inundated with calls. > Logically, I don’t think teenagers who are too old to be trick or treating AND > not wearing costumes deserve to get "treats". Realistically, I would have > given it to them. Because you don’t know who you’re dealing with, I just > wouldn’t put it past them to do something in retaliation. We’re only talking > about treats which are a few cents each versus repair costs for possible > damage. Plus, they do know where you live. > These days kids (and I’m not talking about all kids) belong to gangs, > have no respect for other people’s property, wouldn’t have a second thought > about killing someone, etc. We live in a rancher and our 19 month old son’s > bedroom is at the front of the house. I was worried all night that a rock or > something would come flying through his bedroom window. > The thing is I had warned my husband about this on our way home last night and > told him if we do get teenagers (costumes or not), just give them the candy. > But oh no, he had to do it his way. I’m just so ticked!
We too had some teenagers with no costumes on come to our door and I just gave them there treat to get them out of here. My neighbor had the same complaint.
Response:
Why not have a halloween party at your house for the neighborhood kids. That way everybody is safe, and can ahve fun too. Also, I don’t think you should let this one negative experience scare you from all Halloween enjoyment. Perhaps you could talk to the police and ask what ideas they have for safe Halloween celebrations–I agree with you that your husband probably can’t do much as the Lone Ranger guarding the neighborhood, nor is that his proper role. Best of luck with it, ‘Lisa
Response:
We had teenagers come to our door…no costumes…and my husband said "forget it" and closed the door. I heard them yell "we know where you live" as they left. Sure enough an hour or so later a firecracker went off which sounded like it was very close to the house. My husband went out to investigate and the firecracker had been wedged in behind the bumper on our car (in the carport). My husband called the police but told them not to bother coming out because he’s sure they’re being inundated with calls. Logically, I don’t think teenagers who are too old to be trick or treating AND not wearing costumes deserve to get "treats". Realistically, I would have given it to them. Because you don’t know who you’re dealing with, I just wouldn’t put it past them to do something in retaliation. We’re only talking about treats which are a few cents each versus repair costs for possible damage. Plus, they do know where you live. These days kids (and I’m not talking about all kids) belong to gangs, have no respect for other people’s property, wouldn’t have a second thought about killing someone, etc. We live in a rancher and our 19 month old son’s bedroom is at the front of the house. I was worried all night that a rock or something would come flying through his bedroom window. The thing is I had warned my husband about this on our way home last night and told him if we do get teenagers (costumes or not), just give them the candy. But oh no, he had to do it his way. I’m just so ticked!
Response:
-=> Quoting D2s2Re: Halloween Rantound.net to All <=- > We had teenagers come to our door…no costumes…and my husband said D2> "forget > it" and closed the door. I heard them yell "we know where you live" as they > left. Sure enough an hour or so later a firecracker went off which sounded > like it was very close to the house… > These days kids (and I’m not talking about all kids) belong to gangs, > have no respect for other people’s property, wouldn’t have a second thought > about killing someone… These teenagers were once someone’s little baby. … Decriminalize self-medicine ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12
Response:
Fireworks are illegal where we live (Seattle, WA), although you will hear some around the fourth of july–it never occurred to me people would throw them around on Halloween! What about trying to get your city council or other group to ban fireworks–it has been done throughout the country. Of course, the teens might do something else if that happened. I hate to see trick or treat abandoned–our kids love it and it is safe (if you are with them in the neighborhood). I would certainly report such incidents to the police–maybe just seeing a police car would scare them off. Of course clothes make the person–a naked man gets little or no respect. Mark Twain.
Response:
Well, here in Raleigh where we live, the Apt. Complex is so overloaded with gangs, drugs and management that just doesn’t care I won’t even go out the door after dark let alone let my kids trick or treat in this neighborhood. The sad thing is if management took 1/2 an ounce of responsibility to clean it up it wouldn’t be bad. Unfortunately, my husband did Apt. maintenece when we moved here. He now does something new and we are counting the days, hours, minutes, til the money comes in so we can get out of here. If anybody in the area (Raleigh) is looking for an Apt. complex to move to e-mail me privately and I will tell you where you definately do NOT want to raise your children! Because they do NOT tell you the truth at the office, this I know for a fact. Thanks for the vent, Ann – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Newgroups: alt.parenting.solutions > Fireworks are illegal where we live (Seattle, WA), although you will hear > some around the fourth of july–it never occurred to me people would throw > them around on Halloween! What about trying to get your city council or > other group to ban fireworks–it has been done throughout the country. Of > course, the teens might do something else if that happened. I hate to see > trick or treat abandoned–our kids love it and it is safe (if you are with > them in the neighborhood). I would certainly report such incidents to the > police–maybe just seeing a police car would scare them off. > Of course clothes make the person–a naked man gets little or no respect. Mark Twain.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > We had teenagers come to our door…no costumes…and my husband said "forget > it" and closed the door. I heard them yell "we know where you live" as they > left. Sure enough an hour or so later a firecracker went off which sounded > like it was very close to the house. My husband went out to investigate and > the firecracker had been wedged in behind the bumper on our car (in the > carport). My husband called the police but told them not to bother coming out > because he’s sure they’re being inundated with calls. > Logically, I don’t think teenagers who are too old to be trick or treating AND > not wearing costumes deserve to get "treats". Realistically, I would have > given it to them. Because you don’t know who you’re dealing with, I just > wouldn’t put it past them to do something in retaliation. We’re only talking > about treats which are a few cents each versus repair costs for possible > damage. Plus, they do know where you live. > These days kids (and I’m not talking about all kids) belong to gangs, > have no respect for other people’s property, wouldn’t have a second thought > about killing someone, etc. We live in a rancher and our 19 month old son’s > bedroom is at the front of the house. I was worried all night that a rock or > something would come flying through his bedroom window. > The thing is I had warned my husband about this on our way home last night and > told him if we do get teenagers (costumes or not), just give them the candy. > But oh no, he had to do it his way. I’m just so ticked!
Im laughing really hard!! I dont blame you! Those guys…..sometimes I Patty
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Halloween night is almost upon us. As a child I have fond memories of > Halloween night, dressing up and going to my neighbours shouting ‘trick > or treat’. I don’t know what’s happened but I’m very nervous about > taking my kids out on Halloween night. > We live in the suburbs and at every other time of the year it’s a fairly > quiet place. Last year, I took our kids trick or treating (they were 2 > and a half and 4 years old). We started out at 6:30 pm and only went to > the houses of our neighbours that we knew, besides, the kids were small > and couldn’t walk that far. Sounds simple? Oh, no!! The street had > several large groups of teens wandering around armed with firecrackers > and fireworks. The fact that they wanted to light firecrackers wasn’t > that big of a deal to me at the time, at least not at first. One group > of teens approached my kids and myself (about 15 kids) and they started > lighting the firecrackers and then throwing them right at my kids!! I > picked up my children under my arms and yelled at the teens to use some > common sense. I pointed out there was a large park at the end of the > street and if they wanted to set them off they could go there and do it > without having to harm toddlers. What bothered me the most about this > was that it wasn’t an ‘accident’, they saw us and deliberately aimed > them at my very young children, one even bounced of my 4 year old’s > coat. With my children under my arms I ran back to our house, I had to, > there were a few cars driving around with people (I’m assuming teens) > that had their windows rolled down and they were ‘firing’ Roman candles > out the windows at people walking down the street. I felt like I was in > a war zone and was terrified for the safety of my children. > Fortunately, I was only a few houses away from my own. Got the kids > home and it was only 6:45 pm. Of course, I called the police only to be > told that it was a very busy night for them and they wouldn’t have a > free car to come around to investigate for at least two hours!!! > This year, the kids have been invited to a ‘party’ in a neihbours home, > the problem is that I don’t even want to take them out of the house. > We’d still have to get to the neighbours home and I just don’t feel > ’safe’ leaving my home with my kids. > My husband has ‘volunteered’ to ‘patrol’ the neighbourhood. I’m not > convinced that is such a good idea. What does he think he can do when > encountering 5 to 6 groups of teens numbering in the 15 to 20 range in > each group?? What about the other kids out there trick or treating? > Sure, I could rent a couple of videos and keep my kids ’safe’ in my home > but I don’t feel very good about not trying to do anything to protect > the other children walking up and down our street. We had about 40 kids > come to our door last year, some were with parents, some weren’t. I > don’t like tthe idea of leaving it up to the parents of these other > children to keep them safe, just let someone else ‘deal’ with it. > What should we do?? Any suggestions?? Like getting a group of > concerned parents or neighbours together to ‘patrol’ the street?? Has > anyone done this? Does it work? How did they organize it?
All I can think of that would help put an end all this would be to have an age limit or something!!! Obviously a curfew would have been of no help to you! (6:45!!!!) For the teens, they could have a dance or something but not be allowed to roam the streets in these groups. Large groups of people do bad things a lot quicker that two or three. Halloween should be for the little children so we should all speak up and have something enforced so they can enjoy what should be a fun night for them.
Response:
Halloween night is almost upon us. As a child I have fond memories of Halloween night, dressing up and going to my neighbours shouting ‘trick or treat’. I don’t know what’s happened but I’m very nervous about taking my kids out on Halloween night. We live in the suburbs and at every other time of the year it’s a fairly quiet place. Last year, I took our kids trick or treating (they were 2 and a half and 4 years old). We started out at 6:30 pm and only went to the houses of our neighbours that we knew, besides, the kids were small and couldn’t walk that far. Sounds simple? Oh, no!! The street had several large groups of teens wandering around armed with firecrackers and fireworks. The fact that they wanted to light firecrackers wasn’t that big of a deal to me at the time, at least not at first. One group of teens approached my kids and myself (about 15 kids) and they started lighting the firecrackers and then throwing them right at my kids!! I picked up my children under my arms and yelled at the teens to use some common sense. I pointed out there was a large park at the end of the street and if they wanted to set them off they could go there and do it without having to harm toddlers. What bothered me the most about this was that it wasn’t an ‘accident’, they saw us and deliberately aimed them at my very young children, one even bounced of my 4 year old’s coat. With my children under my arms I ran back to our house, I had to, there were a few cars driving around with people (I’m assuming teens) that had their windows rolled down and they were ‘firing’ Roman candles out the windows at people walking down the street. I felt like I was in a war zone and was terrified for the safety of my children. Fortunately, I was only a few houses away from my own. Got the kids home and it was only 6:45 pm. Of course, I called the police only to be told that it was a very busy night for them and they wouldn’t have a free car to come around to investigate for at least two hours!!! This year, the kids have been invited to a ‘party’ in a neihbours home, the problem is that I don’t even want to take them out of the house. We’d still have to get to the neighbours home and I just don’t feel ’safe’ leaving my home with my kids. My husband has ‘volunteered’ to ‘patrol’ the neighbourhood. I’m not convinced that is such a good idea. What does he think he can do when encountering 5 to 6 groups of teens numbering in the 15 to 20 range in each group?? What about the other kids out there trick or treating? Sure, I could rent a couple of videos and keep my kids ’safe’ in my home but I don’t feel very good about not trying to do anything to protect the other children walking up and down our street. We had about 40 kids come to our door last year, some were with parents, some weren’t. I don’t like tthe idea of leaving it up to the parents of these other children to keep them safe, just let someone else ‘deal’ with it. What should we do?? Any suggestions?? Like getting a group of concerned parents or neighbours together to ‘patrol’ the street?? Has anyone done this? Does it work? How did they organize it?
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