Opinions. Oh, do I have them. And I will now unleash my opinions on the evils of trunk or treat. (I recant my bad opinions of Walmart kids' clothing though. We've gotten some good inexpensive things from Walmart)
This year we took Camille to the ward carnival and trunk or treat. It's the first trunk or treat I've really participated in. Since Camille was getting candy, we of course felt obliged to pass out candy. Camille is one. I took her to about ten cars before she was more interested in running away and adoring her stash of candy than getting more. All the adults were of course nice and put a piece of candy in her little basket even though I can't get her to say trick or treat, candy, thank you, or any other appropriate word. So, this has nothing really to do with Camille.
At the beginning of the month I bought two huge bags of candy. It was over 200 pieces and cost I think $20. We ate a bunch, but less than half. Even so, I got another big bag of candy ($10) to replace what had been eaten. All that candy, over $20 worth and over 200 pieces was gone in 10 minutes at trunk or treat. It was like a race to see how much candy the kids could get in as little time as possible. Kids went through multiple times, older kids realized they could just find something to collect candy in and joined in, costume or not. Since it is "safer" to do trunk or treat, parents didn't supervise, so a few kids were rude about what candy they got. Argh.
I was planning on using that candy for both trunk or treat and normal trick or treat. We get quite a lot of trick or treaters on Halloween. The options are now turn off our light and not give out candy tonight, which is a snub to all non LDS kids, or buy a bunch more candy. I spend $40 a week on groceries, and I do not want to spend that much on Halloween candy.
I say, get rid of trunk or treat. What is the point of it anyway? It's not that much safer. No neighbor is going to put razor blades in your kids' candy. If you are worried about traffic, go with your kids and make sure they are safe. I know our ward trunk or treat is for the whole neighborhood, but realistically, only members attend. Wouldn't it be better to trick or treat in the neighborhood and actually get to know your neighbors? Let's have a fall social or a harvest festival or a chili cook-off. It can even involve candy! Just please, no more trunk or treat. We will not be participating.
