Speaking of things that ought to be banned
Published 1 year ago in My life.Here’s one for ya Viv - Halloween.
I’ve got no problem with kids eating copious amounts of sweets and I’ve long since grown out of my youthful opposition to all things “Sepo'’ (septic tank, rhyming slang) but I cannot countenance young kids knocking on strangers’ doors and asking for lollies.
I had several young girls - I reckon they were 8 or 9 - hammer on my door after dark looking for treats. I gave them a lollipop each and sent them on their way. I’m a good guy - really I am - but they had no way of knowing that. For all they knew they were putting themselves at the mercy of a creep, in his own home, behind a large fence, out of view of neighbours and passers by.
I wish the world - even my little part of it - was safe for kids to approach strange men and beg sweets from them - but it isn’t.
If parents allow their children participate in “trick or treat'’ they MUST go with them or at least ensure they are accompanied by a responsible adult. Preferably the whole saga is limited to a few houses, a court or a street and prearranged with everyone involved.
I don’t really want to ban Halloween. I’m just not a fan of parents who let their little witches make unsolicited house calls.
19 Responses to “Speaking of things that ought to be banned”
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My doorbell rang at 6:50 in the evening and anyone with small kids will know what a bad time this is to call/visit. The kids were in the bath, dinner on the stove (or the other way around given the chaos that generally reigns at this time of day) and 3 small goblins trick or treated at me. I then raced around trying to find something for them without any success as we don’t ever have lollies in the house. (or even sugar now that I am on a diet -groan!!!). After eyeing a packet of organic dried apricots I decided to tell the kids I had nothing for them and take the consequences.
To their credit they were very polite and went off quietly but like you Fossil I couldn’t help but feel the impropriety of young children knocking on strangers doors at dusk with no adult supervision. Nor do I feel the necessity of superimposing one more American tradition on our culture for no other reason than kids getting a few free sweets. I might add that two of the goblins were a little overweight.
Aww, never use the B-word! (ban)! There are always better options. Especially for something as awesome as Halloween.
1. Kids trick-or-treat with parents
2. Kids trick-or-treat with older siblings or older friends
3. Simple rules like “come back before it’s dark” and “don’t go into anyone’s house”
4. Kids borrow a mobile phone and know how to call home if something goes wrong.
5. Kids stay close to home - their own street or not far away.
The chance of something bad happening to kids from knocking on strangers’ doors is actually incredibly low - most paedophiles or child abusers “groom” their victims first by getting them to know and trust them, rather than just taking opportunities like Halloween to grab the kids.
Also, if parents aren’t convinced by the above ideas for trick-or-treating, they can always throw a Halloween party or make a “haunted house” and get their kids to invite friends over - all the dressing up and eating junk food, and none of the stranger danger.
We must do our best to ensure Halloween continues making valuable inroads into our culture, even if that means adapting it a little.
just quickly (on my way out) today is “all souls day” so don’t forget to light a candle in the window tonight to help guide your departed (ancestors etc) on their way, and if you look in my nook I wrote re Halloween but it wasn’t posted (????) anyway will get back to you re Trick or Treating (nice to see you back Foss)
Naturally, I have an inbuilt hatred of anything American. CIA, FBI and, yes, Halloween. How the eve of All Saints Day was hijacked by these barbarians is of no matter now but the implied blackmail of “trick or treat” is abhorrent. I know of people who have tried to dissuade the practice by implanting razor blades in apples or chemically revising the constituents of the lolly bag but I think its time we ignored these infant terrorists altogether. By all means let them enjoy a private party with witches and spooks but keep out of my yard – or face the gory consequences!
Lady - I said I didn’t really want to ban Halloween (though Fell’s tirade has reignited my distaste for American rituals) but I maintain it is not safe. What better way to begin “grooming'’ an intended victim than with a bag of sweets? As for your rules - 1 will do. Stick with the folks or stay home.
The scary reality is that it isn’t safe, nor is sending children door to door selling raffle tickets or chocolates or whatever for fundraisers.
But there will always be stupid people, ergo there will always be stupid parents, so there will always be children put at risk by their stupidity and/or laziness.
Yes they should be supervised or it should be pre arranged with the people in your street that you know.
Yeah, why should children be out in the streets celebrating a mass for the devil! The event is an irish tradition, do your research.
Do you all really think that it is less safe for children to be out trick or treating today than it was 15 or 20 years ago? Did less paedophiles exist back then? I doubt it. It just seems that there are more dangers today because child abuse cases are given more publicity. I’m sure in the 1980s people thought the times were less safe than they were back in the 1960s. But remember the Beaumont children? Whether your kids trick or treat or not, even a simple walk to the milk bar could end in disaster. But because of the minimal risk, are you going to stop your kids from experiencing life? Imagine the stories they will tell their grandchildren:
- “I wasn’t allowed to go trick or treating when i was a kid'’.
- “I wasn’t allowed to ride my bike until i was 18′’.
- “I wasn’t allowed to eat lollies'’ (i mean, give me a break).
My kids don’t eat lollies batigol10 but I think we have had this conversation before.
Two years ago I was in Mexico City for Halloween and it was a fantastic family festival celebrating the Souls of their Departed along with children “seeking” their goodies. There was no comparison between the two customs of Mexico and Australia.
In fairness though I did see two families who sent their children to doors the other night while driving, but the parents were standing on the footpath so the children weren’t really alone!….I suppose another concern would be the opportunity to be “remembered” for “generosity” at a particular doorway and it be reminded to the child at the time of giving for a later “benefit”….
Society’s problem is we all believe we “know” our neighbors, when the reality is, we “know” nothing that really matters.
In answer to batigol10 yes, it is less safe now for children to be out trick or treating.
Did less paedophiles exist 20 years ago? Probably only slightly. Go back 50 years and there is a perceived overlap between paedophiles and homosexuals. Probably because most male paedophiles targeted or found it easier to target young boys. Both types were considerably more repressed than they are today. Now we are enlightened. Homosexuality is considered normal and those disgusted and repulsed by the unnatural all male aspects are labelled homophobes. Today’s paedophile can claim to cover him or herself in the ‘respectable’ cloak of homosexuality and say it does not make them a bad person.
Well, I for one, don’t buy it. I can almost hear the protests now but if I have to wear the label of paedophilophobe I’ll wear it.
The risk is small batigol10 but the consequences are enormous. I would much rather hear a kid complain they were not able to go trick or treating than hear:
“Yes, I was sexually assaulted on Halloween. I was scarred mentally and physically. I can’t form a relationship or hold down a job which is why I’ve turned to a life of crime and drugs.”
paedophiles,sickos Yes they are a danger. Ok let me start here. I was born in California & raised in Tucosn Arizona. I left when I was 13 to come to Australia, I have seen many years of trick or treating. I must say I missed it when we moved here. BUT when I was 20 years old I went back to the states with one child a son and gave birth over there with a second son. I also took in my cousins two boys age 7 & 10. My oldest was 2 years old and my cousins wanted to go trick or treating. I was a manger of 30 apartments, the whole of the apartments & I said our children would only go to these places and that way they would be safe!
YAEH RIGHT! no way were they safe. No padophiles got them but and this is a huge but.
In their bags we found tablets of LSD, 5 of the kids had double sided razor blades instreted into apples, one kid ate some chocolate that was infact laxattes. One little boy had to have his mouth sticthed up due to a razor blade. So there are too many dangers out there for me to let my kids or grandkids go out.
Aspen
PS Proves you really don’t know people
we have a lovely mum that organises our trick-or-treating in the cul-de-sac my parents live in. she grew up there, as did I (no trick or treating then batigol10 - just walking 10 miles to school barefoot in the snow, etc, etc) Every year she organises a flyer for the 20ish houses in the street, corrals the children at a pre-ordained time. photographs them, and leads them (along with a band of bemused parents) around the houses in an orderly fashion as possible for a rabble of 2-12 year olds. It is lovely for the kids to actually talk to the neighbours - and while most expected us and had all manner of treats prepared a few had forgotten but were still happy to see the kids. One of the best was a man who was a dad to older kids when I was growing up, now quite ill, sitting inside his window looking on as his partner dished out goodies.
I say take joy where you can find it in life - and work out a way to participate in all the fun that can keep you safe as well as happy.
Golden I hope you let your kids partake of that marvellous hot chocolate that’s become a fixture in our home!
Well you know Gadfly it’s a funny thing but when I say my kids don’t eat lollies there is a perception that somehow they are missing out or not being allowed to “experience life”.
Here is what my kids ate yesterday
Breakfast - stewed organic pears with full-cream, bio-dynamic yoghurt (no sugar added- incredibly sweet)
mid-morning - a piece of walnut and date slice (all organic, whole-meal and sugar-free, scrumptious)
Lunch - guacamole made with organic avocados and organic yoghurt, garlic and sweet paprika served with organic blue corn chips.
afternoon tea - chocolate brownie made with 85%Lindt chocolate and organic hazelnuts (brownies to die for) and a cup of milky organic tea (they also love organic peppermint tea)
dinner - 2 individual quiches, each made with caramelized onion, smoked salmon and homemade semi-dried tomatoes with salad (all organic of course)
before bed - a cup of warm unhomogenised, biodynamic, creamy, yummy, jersey milk.
It is not a case of not being “allowed” to eat lollies it’s just that they don’t factor in our
lives. I am pretty certain that looking back on their childhoods they won’t feel like they missed out on anything. As for not “experiencing life” how many children of 2 and 3 can boast of such a varied and nutritionally whole diet, or would happily eat such an incredible palette of flavours? As you may have noticed this is an achievement of which Alain and I are very proud. I’d say they have a pretty full life experience for their age group.
The Halloween thing, well my issue is that although I am pretty sure that my kids would not encounter a pedophile or someone wishing to harm them in our nieghbourhood, I am extremely sensitive to disturbing folk in their homes at what is, for most people, a very busy time of day. Most people do not celebrate this custom in Australia so a lot of these visits are as unexpected as they could be irritating. The Halloween you described Gadfly sounds absolutely perfect and I would whole-heartedly join in with this sort of arrangement.
PS
If you love Al’s hot chocolate - wait ’til I get around to posting his chocolate brownie recipe
Gadfly - me again
sorry I have just re read what I wrote above and realised it sounds like I am attacking you. That is not the case - it’s just that the lolly issue has come up a couple of time lately, with one woman actually saying “oh your poor kids”.
So once again please don’t read my last comment in a tone of aggressive hostility ‘cos it was not really aimed at you.
and if I could figure out how to put a smiley face in this comment this is where I would put it.
Can’t wait for the chocolate brownie recipe! I have been meaning to visit Alain’s shop too - my dad owned a pharmacy in glenferrie rd for many years and I still find myself down there on occasion although it is not really my “neck of the woods” any more.
I think you guys should be incredibly proud at providing such a fantastic food experience for your kids - and having introduced such varied taste sensations! I am inspired. Although our Halloween was fun it did leave us with far too many sugary things. My three year old, who has been known to shake her head at lollies and say she feels like broccoli was seduced enough to be found hiding in her room munching on some stolen chocolate her much less discerning brother had pronounced inedible!
Have you tried (maybe you guys stock) the range of Qi teas and chocolates. I am not sure if they are organic but they are part of a range of fair trade products one of the mums from a local school is involved with. The chocolate was very nice!!
Now I am going to try my guacomole with sweet praprika and caramelise some onions for my next quiche (have to start small!) I think your kids will definitely look back on an idyllic childhood - they’ll look at everyone who is just discovering organic food when they are a bit older and wonder where they have all been.
gosh gold, can they kids and I come and eat at your house, very impressive.
hey golden - had posted my reply before i read your addition - no apologies needed I certainly didn’t read it that way. You would have to REALLY attack me for me to read it that way - I’m such a Pollyanna
