I'm the Halloween Grinch....

[Meeko]

In the past, we decorated bags and the kids all brought treats to pass out and everyone took home a bag full of goodies.

The kids wore costumes.

But the last few years it's been anything but fun.

Little boys in super hero costumes seem to think it's OK to beat the crap out of each other while "in character"

A mom got super mad at me because her daughter's floor length dress got torn when another child stood on it. She thought I should pay for it. (nope!)

At the last candy exchange, we had 11 families enrolled. Four families brought treats. The others "forgot" but still made sure to ask that their child got a goody bag to go home.

Another child didn't have her costume and spent the day in tears because of it.

No more!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I sent home a letter today. No costumes. No candy exchange.

Instead, we are going to have cake and ice-cream, paint faces, have a dance contest, games outside in the ton of leaves. Apple art and a movie and more treats. Everyone will be included. They can dress up at home.

Am I horrible?

[Leanna]

Nope. Can I come over?

[AcornMama]

Sounds lovely to me!

[Lianne]

I'm feeling grinchy too and guilty for it. I find holidays so over the top these days that I hate adding to the chaos, sugar crashes and miserable hangover the next day. I'm planning to paint pumpkins tomorrow and I have cupcakes defrosting to decorate but that's the extent of it, I think. We carved a pumpkin yesterday and played in the goo and seeds. We've been reading Hallowe'en stories all month and today we stuck stickers and coloured with markers on large paper bat and spiders

We aren't having mummy wrapped hot dogs, oranges with jack o'lantern faces, no cute costumes parades through old folks homes, no Hallowe'en movies, no cute hand or foot print crafts, nothing super messy, no goodie bags to send home.

The kids get enough candy from trick or treating, they don't need my goodie bag filled with the same crap the neighbours give them.

I don't have the energy or time to clean up anything messy on top of my regular daily chores.

Hand and foot print crafts are cute but *I* do those crafts, not the kids and I prefer the kids do the crafting themselves but at 18mos-2yrs that doesn't give many cute options.

By the time I were to dress all four kids (I ONLY have 4!) in their costumes and then undress them after whatever activity we partake in, I'll lose a good hour or more then add in the fighting over the pirate hat one child took from another and the face plant the youngest will do when he trips on his oversized, stuffed and too warm full piece costume and I break out in hives at the thought of saying yes to costumes. Plus, no old folk home wants 2yr olds with runny noses when they forget to catch their coughs until after they splutter all over.

My kids have no clue what a mummy is, hot dogs are gross and *I* peel their oranges so they'd never see the clever jack o'lantern faces I drew.

It sounds horrible but all these awesome ideas I read about just aren't worth my time and energy although I've considered doing several of them. So, move over on the Hallowe'en grinch couch because my rear end is huge and I need a spot

[SilverSabre25]

nah, not horrible. I dont' like doing things that require parental involvement. my parents don't really behave like I matter. I'm just the babysitter. And mostly I'm okay with that because it's less pressure in a lot of ways. But I think your plan sounds lovely.

I'm feeding everyone dinner tomorrow but only for my own convenience. ToT starts at 6 and my day ends anywhere between 5 and 6, DH gets off work at 5:30, and we don't ToT at home. We go to my sister's neighborhood (she's only 5 mintues away but still). I *hate* feeding my kids while the dck are here, and this will be a nice bonus for DCM. I might even make it a tradition.

[JoseyJo]

Sounds lovely to me!

Me too!

I'm actually feeling a little grinchy myself. I want to make tomorrow about the kids want and not about what the parents want!

[Mister Sir Husband]

In the past, we decorated bags and the kids all brought treats to pass out and everyone took home a bag full of goodies.

The kids wore costumes.

But the last few years it's been anything but fun.

Little boys in super hero costumes seem to think it's OK to beat the crap out of each other while "in character"

A mom got super mad at me because her daughter's floor length dress got torn when another child stood on it. She thought I should pay for it. (nope!)

At the last candy exchange, we had 11 families enrolled. Four families brought treats. The others "forgot" but still made sure to ask that their child got a goody bag toI'm go home.

Another child didn't have her costume and spent the day in tears because of it.

No more!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I sent home a letter today. No costumes. No candy exchange.

Instead, we are going to have cake and ice-cream, paint faces, have a dance contest, games outside in the ton of leaves. Apple art and a movie and more treats. Everyone will be included. They can dress up at home.

Am I horrible?

Not at all. My family doesn't celebrate Halloween at all. I did growing up as a kid, but since then my wife and don't do it for religious reasons. I'm still a couple weeks from opening so I didn't have to deal with explaining it to parents this year, but next year I will. I will prolly plan an "autum" themed week or something, but nothing that resembles today's traditional Halloween will be included.

[Cradle2crayons]

I think what you are doing is just fine!!

My kids school sent a parent note saying no costumes at school this year. My kids were sad though.

[Lucy]

Meeko, if all that fun stuff is considered being a Grinch, then I must be the devil himself! Seriously, you listed some great activities!!

I have really started doing less and less as the years go by. Not only for Halloween, but for all the holidays. I used to give them a goody bag for Easter, Valentine's and Halloween, used to buy individualized gifts for the kids AND parents for Christmas, had them do crafts and cookie decorating for various holidays, etc., etc. It never seemed appreciated by the parents, and the kids even seemed like they were just taking it for granted. The crafts were probably boring to them, and as Lianne said, I did the majority of the work.

So this year for Halloween -- not a thing. But I do have all older kids now (K thru 5th), so I really don't think they'll care. They probably won't even give it a thought.

[Play Care]

Not at all Grinchy! In years past I've had the kids dress in costume - I've even told parents not to use the costume they were wearing for ToT'ing just in case, but no one ever listens...Last year one of our guys lost his glove that went with his costume. Since he's also a neighbor I got to hear several times while out with my own kids "did you find my glove yet?!" His mom shushed him and told him to stop, but still...

Anyway I've been thinking that this will be the last year for costumes.

[Kaddidle Care]

I think what you are doing is wonderful! Let the Parents enjoy dressing up their children and Trick or Treating with them. (And all that comes with it.)

It sounds like fun without being over the top! I always worried about the kids ruining their costumes at the Party because of the brightly colored cupcake frostings that stain everything.

Not grinchy at all dear. It's very well thought out and you have a busy day planned.

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

I guess I am really the grinch because I haven't planned anything. Actually I have kind of a quiet day today, only 4 kids. Tomorrow is my son's 17th birthday and I am making cupcakes for the littles (I rarely give them sweets) I wanted them to be able to have his "party" with him. They all love him. So I wasn't going to do anything today and then do that tomorrow.

[Familycare71]

I agree- I will have cupcakes today- we are going to color simple paper masks and maybe a pumpkin face project...
I also got them glow sticks instead of candy treats.

[coolconfidentme]

Grinch here too. We do around the clock care & would have to have 4 or 5 parties to be able to included everyone. When the parents asked I told them the library was having a party from 4-6. (gulp)

[LK5kids]

I was on the verge of "grinch-Dom" but caved at the last minute! Ended up doing costumes....your activities sound awesome. Have fun!