We had too many trick-or-treaters Monday night, meaning that there isn’t much candy left in the bowl for me. Our kids are grown, so I don’t get the sugary stash that I used to.
I always made our kids share their candy. Namely, with me. There’d always be items they didn’t like, so that would go into my pile. I’d sneak a couple of the good candies out, too. Their teeth are better off for it. It’s sort of like paying the vig in gambling. The house has to have its cut. It’s never to early to teach kids this valuable life lesson.
My kids were always willing to share. If they had friends who had less candy, they’d share from their collection. When they were at school and their candy was unguarded, they’d share with me.
When passing out treats, I try to be generous. I always give the kids four or five pieces of candy out of the bowl. It amazes me, though, when the little beggars aren’t happy with that. One kid tonight saw a lollipop in the bowl after I had already given him a handful of candy. “Can I have that?” he said as he grabbed the candy out of the dish.
“You little ingrate,” I thought. His mother was standing right there. It was a perfect opportunity for her to scold him and teach him some manners. But that didn’t happen.
I had a couple of parents who toted sacks along with the kids, presumably for other children at home who couldn’t go trick-or-treating for one reason or another. I kind of suspected that there were no other kids at home. One mother didn’t even have a sack; she just stuck out her hand and said she had another grandchild who was at a church convention.
Really? Then why not let her four other munchkins share their load with the extra child? Maybe I lack compassion, but I don’t see it as my job to make sure a kid who doesn’t come to the door gets a share.
Another set of parents sent two kids to the door while a third stayed back on the sidewalk. The mother shouted out that the third kid was tuckered out. But the toddler, who was maybe not quite 2, was at least there in person, so I asked if she needed some candy for that child. “Oh, no,” she said. “He has enough.” See. That’s a good parent.