Treat Or Else
I want to discuss a growing trend amongst our youth and not-so-young. It seems that for some people, for some entire families, Halloween has become nothing more than “Hold-Out-Our-Bag” night.
On Halloween, I was at a friend’s house helping him give out candy. I noticed that about half of the kids did not even say “Thank you,” much less “Trick-or-Treat.” I am writing to you about the worst. This family of four walks up, the oldest child first. Their ages seems to range from fourteen to seven. None of them had costumes, (unless you count strapping your school backpack to your chest a costume) none of them said thank you, and even the little one did not say “Trick or Treat.” To top it all off, the mother was with them, watching from the sidewalk. No dignity. No class.
Part of the deal, part of the ritual of the night, the reason you get to go out and ask strangers for candy is that you took the time to entertain them with some sort of costume beyond the daily dress of rude child. You get to participate with the subtle form of extortion because it is part of the holiday, but that comes with a few basic rules.
On the radio today, I heard people say they give in fear of what would happen to their houses. When your costume is “ungrateful child,” I say that is where you draw the line. This is especially when so-called parents are teaching their children an overblown sense of entitlement. (You think that attitude and lesson does not carry over into their everyday life?) I am not suggesting that you get into any kind of debate or altercation with a bad parent, or the poor children caught in the middle by her bad teachings. I say you send a subtler message.
Next Halloween, you keep two bowls by the door. You keep one bowl full of candy for people PARTICIPATING in Halloween, and one full of broccoli. As a child that had to carry broccoli, and as a parent that encouraged the action that led to Punishment Broccoli ™, (and what broccoli ISN’T punishment), the message has to be clear.
And if it’s not, you didn’t deserve candy in the first place. Better off dodging coal at Christmas.
On Halloween, I was at a friend’s house helping him give out candy. I noticed that about half of the kids did not even say “Thank you,” much less “Trick-or-Treat.” I am writing to you about the worst. This family of four walks up, the oldest child first. Their ages seems to range from fourteen to seven. None of them had costumes, (unless you count strapping your school backpack to your chest a costume) none of them said thank you, and even the little one did not say “Trick or Treat.” To top it all off, the mother was with them, watching from the sidewalk. No dignity. No class.
Part of the deal, part of the ritual of the night, the reason you get to go out and ask strangers for candy is that you took the time to entertain them with some sort of costume beyond the daily dress of rude child. You get to participate with the subtle form of extortion because it is part of the holiday, but that comes with a few basic rules.
On the radio today, I heard people say they give in fear of what would happen to their houses. When your costume is “ungrateful child,” I say that is where you draw the line. This is especially when so-called parents are teaching their children an overblown sense of entitlement. (You think that attitude and lesson does not carry over into their everyday life?) I am not suggesting that you get into any kind of debate or altercation with a bad parent, or the poor children caught in the middle by her bad teachings. I say you send a subtler message.
Next Halloween, you keep two bowls by the door. You keep one bowl full of candy for people PARTICIPATING in Halloween, and one full of broccoli. As a child that had to carry broccoli, and as a parent that encouraged the action that led to Punishment Broccoli ™, (and what broccoli ISN’T punishment), the message has to be clear.
And if it’s not, you didn’t deserve candy in the first place. Better off dodging coal at Christmas.
posted by Very Anonymous Mike at 5:59 PM
3 Comments:
I think trick or treating great!
Me am glad-glad of you.
Ok, but the Dum-Dums gotta be broccoli flavored.
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