For me, I think that ALL holidays have become more amazing -times ten- since I have had children. Back in the day, when I was a kid, I looked forward to dressing up, haunted houses, scary movies, going house to house with my friends, and eating BUTT LOADS of candy!
My dad was usually the one who took my siblings and I (and usually all our little friends) around the neighborhood. My mom stayed home and passed out the candy- full sized candy bars that were the talk of the neighborhood at Halloween time.
My dad always dressed up those nights. Usually as a "nerd"- where he would button his shirt wrong, wear floods, white socks and loafers and tie his tie too long, then zip it into his fly. It was embarrassing, but, admittedly, hilarious.
Now a days, though, when I picture Halloween, it's as much the cutely carved pumpkins, adorable home made costumes, weekends spent at the Gardener Historic Village for "Witches Night Out" here in Utah, and taking my kids to Martha Stewart-esq parties. All in all, as a mom, when I picture Halloween, I picture this:
Generally speaking, we always think of KIDS.
But what about Teens?
I think the last year I actually went Trick or Treating was when I was 14. I was a bat for my costume, and I only went up the street and back again because I was recovering from Chickenpox and didn't have the strength to actually stalk the neighborhood the way I had in previous years. When I was 15, though, I attended my first real Halloween party, with music, dancing, and boys.
I personally know several people, though, who will NEVER, under any circumstances, give candy to teenagers who are out trick or treating. They feel that the holiday is for children, and that it's selfish and petty for teenagers to be out begging for candy. 
Me, though, I am on the opposite side. I mean, to a degree, anyway. Anyone who comes to my door wearing a costume on Halloween night gets a piece of candy. I don't care if they're 2 or 20. I don't care if they're a dad taking their kids trick or treating or a group of high school girls hoping for a chocolate stash to sacrifice once a month to their fairly new friend "aunt flow".I will NOT give any candy to teens who show up wearing normal clothes, though. If you're going to go trick or treating, dress up. I admire that. I admire big kids taking their younger siblings out even more, and I think they deserve a treat for that effort.
I also remember being that trick or treating teen. I didn't mean anyone any harm. I was just a kid looking for some fun and some candy. It doesn't hurt anyone to give a fun sized snickers to a kid old enough to babysit, and shutting a door in their face doesn't really teach them a lesson in manners or propriety, it just makes you look like a jerk, and they go on to the next house to get their candy there.
Besides, I'd rather hand out a few pieces of cheap candy to a bunch of kids with bottomless bellies and forget about it than wake up to a house covered in eggs and toilet paper.
How about you? What do YOU think about Teens trick or treating? Do you mind at all? Do you give them candy or tell them no? How old is "too old?"*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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