Yesterday was beggar's night in my neighborhood (and many other neighborhoods). This is my 12th beggar's night since I moved in to my house, and every year I give out full sized candy bars. I know it would be easier (and cheaper) to give out the small fun sized candy bars, however, I live in a pretty small neighborhood and there are not that many trick or treaters. Also, I remember when I was a kid there was one lady who would give a full size candy bar to the kids that she knew. That was always a special feeling to know that I was one of the "special ones" to get a full size candy bar.
The weather in this area last night was not good. It was cold and rainy, which kept a lot people home last night. But I had to smile at the reactions I got from kids who did brave the weather. As they walked up to my door they would look inside and see the large bowl of candy bars I had setting by the door. The faces would light up and they would start telling their brothers/sisters/friends, "He's got REAL CANDY BARS". In the past I've even had some of the older kids come back around a 2nd or 3rd time. I know they thought I didn't notice that they'd been there before, but like I said, there's not a ton of kids that come around, so repeat beggars are pretty easy to remember.
I do think there ought to be a rule though. If you're old enough to grow facial hair, you're too old to go trick or treating. If you're old enough to grow facial hair, get a job and buy your own candy. I wasn't short on candy by means, so I did give the older kids candy also. However, I did decide that, starting next year, I am going to start buying a bag of the small candy. Better yet, I may bring in my jar of pennies. If a kid shows up at my door who is just too old to be out trick or treating, they get the pennies. The candy bars are meant for the kids to remember having a good time trick or treating.
The weather in this area last night was not good. It was cold and rainy, which kept a lot people home last night. But I had to smile at the reactions I got from kids who did brave the weather. As they walked up to my door they would look inside and see the large bowl of candy bars I had setting by the door. The faces would light up and they would start telling their brothers/sisters/friends, "He's got REAL CANDY BARS". In the past I've even had some of the older kids come back around a 2nd or 3rd time. I know they thought I didn't notice that they'd been there before, but like I said, there's not a ton of kids that come around, so repeat beggars are pretty easy to remember.
I do think there ought to be a rule though. If you're old enough to grow facial hair, you're too old to go trick or treating. If you're old enough to grow facial hair, get a job and buy your own candy. I wasn't short on candy by means, so I did give the older kids candy also. However, I did decide that, starting next year, I am going to start buying a bag of the small candy. Better yet, I may bring in my jar of pennies. If a kid shows up at my door who is just too old to be out trick or treating, they get the pennies. The candy bars are meant for the kids to remember having a good time trick or treating.
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