[kurtkyre]

I was thinking about the number of young people who came to my house last night without any kind of costume, mask or makeup.

As I mentioned in another thread, I was flamed a few years ago for sending them away when they had no costume.

This, I have decided that throughout the next year, I will buy some inexpensive masks and costume items and place them in a chest on my porch.

So, when someone doesn't have a mask, they can take one and thus fulfil the long held traditions of the holiday.

 

[RoxyBlue]

I think that’s a very positive way to encourage the traditions of the holiday. We always compliment kids on their costumes as another form of positive feedback. It’s also important to remember that some kids may not have costumes because the priority of family spending may be on the essentials first.

One of my favorite memories of Halloween was when a young teen came to the door dressed in jeans and a hoodie. I smiled and said “Where’s your costume?” and he said “Oh, I’m a rapper”. I said, “Okay, can you rap a song about Halloween?” He looked startled for a moment, and then improvised a song for me. I laughed and him an extra piece of candy after that

 

[xredge]

Always could be a homicidal maniac, as Wednesday (Addams Family) said, look like just you and me.

 

[Dr. Maniaco]

Always could be a homicidal maniac, as Wednesday (Addams Family) said, look like just you and me.

Are you a homicidal maniac too?! It's so hard to find a kindred spirit these days!

 

[The Gill-Man]

I really like this idea! It gives kids who may just not have a lot of money, or who have bad situations at home, a way to participate.

In the past, when anyone would show up without a costume, I'd still give them candy, but they wouldn't get the good candy. Instead, I'd give them that cheap bubble gum that you have to have to chew on for five minutes before it isn't like gnawing on a rock, and then it would lose its flavor 60 seconds later. I think your solution is more diplomatic and kind-hearted than mine.

 

[Batbuddy]

... I'd give them that cheap bubble gum that you have to have to chew on for five minutes before it isn't like gnawing on a rock, and then it would lose its flavor 60 seconds later. I think your solution is more diplomatic and kind-hearted than mine.

Laughing at that comment. I guess I am lucky. I never had any TOT's without a costume.

 

[corey872]

In the past, when anyone would show up without a costume, I'd still give them candy, but they wouldn't get the good candy. Instead, I'd give them that cheap bubble gum that you have to have to chew on for five minutes before it isn't like gnawing on a rock, and then it would lose its flavor 60 seconds later. I think your solution is more diplomatic and kind-hearted than mine.

I like this approach! Go out now and get some cheap Bazooka bubblegum and throw it on a window sill so it bakes in the sun and dries out 'till next year. With about a month to go, stuff it in a box with some cedar shavings, moth balls, and(!) / or those horrible wint-o-green mints, so it picks up a smell and aftertaste of that!

No costume = one single piece of dried up, smelly Bazooka. "You want good candy, wear a good costume!"

Generally lucky here too... no real old teens and no one without a costume. About the two biggest 'incidents' I've had:

A couple years ago, I was letting kids select the full size candy bar they wanted from my bowl. One little girl thought she'd be sneaky and try to palm two at once. She made her move - which was really strange because she grabbed the candy bars between her palm and thumb - leaving her four fingers sticking out, so clearly apparent something was 'weird'. She stuffed them in her bag then looked up and I was immediately looking her right back in the eye. You could see her soul melt as she thought she was going to get called out, but I just shook my head once and carried on.

Then this year - same thing - letting kids pick their candy. This girl takes a candy bar, starts to walk away and I notice something going on as she gets back to her mom. In a few seconds mom grabs the candy bar, comes up, tosses it back in my bowl. I asked if something was wrong and mom sort of snaps at me, "She's ALLERGIC to nuts!" - like I forced the candy on her and should have known better! Just sort of shaking my head in disbelief - I said, "Well, would you like a Hershey's bar, that wouldn't have nuts?" So she snaps up one of those and walks away. Wow - I let her kid choose and somehow I was the bad guy!

Then there are always the few who 'want to take an extra candy bar for some friend/sibling/cousin, etc who just couldn't make it tonight.' Yeah, OK. Hummmm...maybe I need to go get some bazooka for next year! lol!

 

[stick]

corey872 sounds like we all need to have some old Bazooka on hand for next year. I had a girl try to two candy bars this year and i told her she already got one and she goes "oh that's right". Other than that, everyone was good.