Obligations for Trick-or-Treating?

Asked AnsweredMy mother is considering not participating in trick or treating this year. I think that this is rude and we are arguing over the issue. What do you think?

Well, there is no mandate that says that everyone must hand out candy on Halloween. Does your mother live in a neighborhood that is heavily hit by trick or treaters and do her neighbors participate? If there is a good reason that your mother doesn’t want to answer the door on Halloween then that is her decision. Some people find that, as they get older, they feel uncomfortable answering the door to strangers and I would certainly suggest that she set a limit on how late she will come to the door. For some it is a financial concern, especially if it requires several bags of candy. If she is not going to participate, she should not turn on the porch light or have any decorations, including a pumpkin, on the porch. Many people who are not handing out candy will go out to dinner on that evening to avoid confusion. Perhaps you could suggest that you would help her hand out candy, making it a shared holiday.

Source: K. Depew, News Director