You know you’re a mom when you choose your Halloween candy based on the VHNVF-Variable Halloween Night Visitation Factor. The VHNVF basically means that, in any given year, the number of children who ring your bell could soar and clean you out of candy altogether, causing you to hand out stale saltines and a can of tuna. Conversely, the number of juvenile visitors could plummet, leaving you with a surplus of candy to consume. This creates the classic candy purchasing dilemma. If left with a surplus it would be preferable to have candy you’ll enjoy, like those mini Snickers or Kit Kats or even those little Dove chocolates which are just too yummy for words, not those yucky peanut butter taffy things that come in the black and orange waxed paper wrappers.
What to do, what to do?
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Buy the good stuff. Aways buy the good stuff!!!
I do buy the black and orange waxed paper wrapped chewy things that rip your teeth out. They are reserved for the teenagers who trick-or-treat in regular street clothes and, when asked “what’s your costume?” respond, “Huh-huh, I’m a highschool kid, huh-huh-huh,” then hold out a bag for a treat and ask if they can have extra for their little brother who is sick at home with the flu.
Yeah, sure, kid. Have a handful of chewy teeth-ripping orange wrapped goo.
I’m holding back the Reese’s and the Snickers for the kids who actually put some effort into the process! (and a few for me, too.)
I am well acquainted with VHNVF. Two years ago we got wiped out. For the last 45 minutes of trick-or-treat time I was scrambling through the house for stickers, left over Easter candy. We even resorted to giving out the little boxes of General Mills cereal from our pantry (Lucky Charms, Froot Loops).
So last year I bought more and we had more than half of it left over. I just threw away the last of the gummy body parts, Jack-o-Lantern shaped Peeps and other stuff last month.
This year my plan is simple. I’ve got enough individually wrapped Halloween Tastycake cupcakes for 36 kids – which is our average trick-or-treat count. I also got a big bag of Halloween tattoos. We can easily take care of any left-over cupcakes ourselves and I’ll simply unload the bulk of the left over tattoos on my little cousins when I see them the next weekend. Or save some to give away in the boy treat bags for Princess’s birthday party.
My son’s preschool collects leftover candy for our local AIDS outreach shelter. They give it out to the patients for a little ‘happy’ in their day. I think last year the school collected 75 lbs. of candy! Of course, I do have to keep a little chocolate ‘happy’ for me, too!
T with Honey cracked me up! When we ran out, we looted from the candy that our kids just received. (We gave away the stuff they don’t like and a lot of the surplus.) Then when that was gone, we just turned off our light. Problem solved.
I buy whatever I can afford. Some years are better than others. Then I take the leftovers to work. The temptation is just too great for me!
Buy some of both. Give out the non-adult candy first… so if there is any left it’s the good stufffor you. You know, to reward you for having to deal with all those loud, scary faced kids all night.