I completely trashed my first and second ideas for a column this week when I saw this headline while scrolling through Facebook: “Survey: 78 percent of parents admit they steal their kids’ Halloween candy.”
A friend posted the story’s link from Detroit Channel 7-WXYZ. One, kudos to the parents who can admit they steal their kids’ candy.
It got me thinking – now I remember coming home after canvasing the neighborhood with my pillow case. The candy would be dumped out.
Now, I remember my parents taking candy – using the parent phrases “it’s for your own safety” or “you don’t like this candy.” Some treats stick out – my dad would take Smarties and I thought my mom took chocolate. Alas, when I asked her what candy she and my dad would take from my loot, she said dad would take licorice and she would take suckers and gum.
Really, no Snickers? No Almond Joys? No Reese’s Cups?
“Those weren’t big then,” she said. “It was Hershey bars and M&Ms. People gave out coins and the gross popcorn balls were huge.”
Hmmmmm, now as for parents stealing, well, the Halloween loot was centrally located in the kitchen on top of the refrigerator. Was it really stealing or did it became community property? Or were they simply taking out a candy tax? It’s things I need to know as a parent.
I need to know these things having two sons. Though, they are three-years-old and 11-months-old so they don’t eat a lot of candy. Actually, I can’t even eat candy right now (why are we taking them trick-or-treating? Because they look cute in costumes and this year they are Shaggy and Scooby-Doo).
In the WXYZ story, the survey did ask how much of their child’s candy they kept for themselves. Fifty-eight percent said they kept 10 percent. Not bad, if there are 100 pieces, it’s 10 pieces. Now is it fair? Maybe more fair than the 12 percent of parents who said they kept half of the earnings. But also, doesn’t this also teach about taxes? They listed the top sweets to swipe as well: Reese’s, Kit Kats, Milky Way, Three Musketeers and candy corn. Yes, I would swipe chocolate. I am also hoping the boys don’t like coconut in the future.