I never took my daughter trick or treating. I took her to Halloween parties instead. She had just as much fun, not near as much candy and I didn’t have to worry about her being outside at night (or being outside at night with her … brrrr) or her having candy for days on end. When she got older, she loved handing out candy to the trick or treaters but never complained about not trick or treating, herself.
I live in South Africa where Halloween is usually only celebrated with a party. I have never liked the concept of children from middle or high income families going from door to door expecting candy. Perhaps that is why it is not popular here; there is so much poverty in South Africa. When it is Easter I usually buy some Easter Eggs for my maid’s grandchildren and donate a box of Easter Eggs to our local library. They take the Easter Eggs to a school in a disadvantaged area.
Someone suggested the idea of a Halloween witch who would exchange the hoard of candy for a small gift. The children would each choose 10 pieces of candy for themselves and leave the rest out overnight for the witch. When they woke up on Nov 1, there was a gift and the parents didn’t have to worry about the kids gorging on candy. What the parents ended up doing with all that candy, I don’t know.
I use to pass out 2 different kinds of candy. For little kids and the neighborhood kids, I gave nice big candy bars or other chocolate treats. For the kids that were OBVIOUSLY to old to be out ‘Trick or Treating’, I had saved the dum-dum suckers and other things my kids didn’t like from the year before. Trick or Treat can work both ways. ;-P
My comment from last night disappeared again. Two days in a row. The person flagging me to get my comments removed must be having a good time. Here is my comment again, but I cannot reproduce all the comments of the people who replied to me:
The best part of the strip is Farley getting his share at the table.
Elly is distressed the kids are eating candy on the day after Halloween. That’s a running joke in the comic strip that either Elly is disturbed by the candy or the Pattersons are eating most of their kids candy. All things considered, Elly’s reaction is pretty mild this time.
My kids, from their very earliest age of doing trick-or-treating, always hoarded their candy as if they were survivalists. After a certain point, we would have to track down where they were hiding it and say, “This candy is too old to eat anymore.”
alondra almost 7 years ago
Be thankful their dad’s a dentist Elly and they can get free dental care.
Rosette almost 7 years ago
Popcorn balls don’t last forever, Elly!
jpayne4040 almost 7 years ago
Elly, you need to be a lot more specific!
Carole Athena Costa almost 7 years ago
I never took my daughter trick or treating. I took her to Halloween parties instead. She had just as much fun, not near as much candy and I didn’t have to worry about her being outside at night (or being outside at night with her … brrrr) or her having candy for days on end. When she got older, she loved handing out candy to the trick or treaters but never complained about not trick or treating, herself.
JoanHelen almost 7 years ago
I live in South Africa where Halloween is usually only celebrated with a party. I have never liked the concept of children from middle or high income families going from door to door expecting candy. Perhaps that is why it is not popular here; there is so much poverty in South Africa. When it is Easter I usually buy some Easter Eggs for my maid’s grandchildren and donate a box of Easter Eggs to our local library. They take the Easter Eggs to a school in a disadvantaged area.
ladykat almost 7 years ago
We didn’t get any trick or treaters and now have a box of 100 chocolate bars to consume. Yumm!
JanLC almost 7 years ago
Someone suggested the idea of a Halloween witch who would exchange the hoard of candy for a small gift. The children would each choose 10 pieces of candy for themselves and leave the rest out overnight for the witch. When they woke up on Nov 1, there was a gift and the parents didn’t have to worry about the kids gorging on candy. What the parents ended up doing with all that candy, I don’t know.
rebelstrike0 almost 7 years ago
If those kids wolf down all that candy, their blood pressure will be as a high as Elly’s.
Alphaomega almost 7 years ago
Michael won’t be such a smart-ass when his face is covered with pimples and Martha looks for a new boyfriend!
Travel-Monkey almost 7 years ago
I use to pass out 2 different kinds of candy. For little kids and the neighborhood kids, I gave nice big candy bars or other chocolate treats. For the kids that were OBVIOUSLY to old to be out ‘Trick or Treating’, I had saved the dum-dum suckers and other things my kids didn’t like from the year before. Trick or Treat can work both ways. ;-P
Train 1911 almost 7 years ago
Ellie look depressed
howtheduck almost 7 years ago
My comment from last night disappeared again. Two days in a row. The person flagging me to get my comments removed must be having a good time. Here is my comment again, but I cannot reproduce all the comments of the people who replied to me:
The best part of the strip is Farley getting his share at the table.
Elly is distressed the kids are eating candy on the day after Halloween. That’s a running joke in the comic strip that either Elly is disturbed by the candy or the Pattersons are eating most of their kids candy. All things considered, Elly’s reaction is pretty mild this time.
My kids, from their very earliest age of doing trick-or-treating, always hoarded their candy as if they were survivalists. After a certain point, we would have to track down where they were hiding it and say, “This candy is too old to eat anymore.”