How involved are your LO's grandparents with Halloween? Do they do anything to celebrate or go ToT'ing or anything?
Just curious because my mom gives my kids $5 which DH thinks is really weird and my in-laws give a huge bag of candy and age inappropriate toys which drives me crazy!
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
MIL usually sends a card. That's it!
We don't live near any of our families so we don't see them for Halloween, but even my sister and brother that do live nearby don't do anything with them.
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
I know they sent the out of town granddaughters a goodie bag and some money. But they didn't do anything last year for mine so I'm not sure if they will this year. Last year we offered for them to come over and see them in their costumes but they declined. This year they asked to come over and go trick or treating with us or they can stay at our home and hand out candy for us. *shrugs*
grapefruit / 4400 posts
My MIL has come over after work each year and gave the kids a little treat, and take pictures of their costumes. Last year she brought my son a balloon and my daughter a jack-o-lantern Dunkin Donut. LOL.
They don't want to impose on our family time, so none of them come trick-or-treating with us.
pomegranate / 3350 posts
@Foodnerd81: we get cards from the grandparents too. I didn't realize Halloween was a card giving holiday!
@regberadaisy: that makes me sad you were ignored last year but nice they want to be involved now.
@HabesBabe: I wish my MIL would do something like that! So sweet that she wants to see them dressed up!
GOLD / watermelon / 14076 posts
My ILs live out of state but sent LO a Pete the Cat Halloween book. My mom's going ToTing with us.
pomelo / 5607 posts
We only got LO a costume for pictures and because we're going to a party this weekend. We hadn't planned to do anything on Halloween itself, because honestly we don't care. My mom was SO upset that we didn't plan to bring LO over to her house in her costume. I was completely bewildered, but we're going to accommodate her. The in-laws haven't mentioned wanting to be involved.
coconut / 8079 posts
The ILs do things for/with the grandkids that are local, but didn't do anything for our LO last year so I don't expect they will do anything this year. My parents are local and would most likely attend something if we invited them, but we might not do much besides pass out candy. LO will dress up for his music class this week and probably go to a ToT event at the mall next Friday.
nectarine / 2667 posts
MIL sent a little craft in the mail (she sends cards/stickers/etc for EVERY holiday). My parents just talk to him about dressing up over Skype. All the grandparents live out of our state, so I bet it'd be different if they were close.
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts
We always go back to DH's hometown because they have a local Halloween costume contest after TorT (his dad is the MC.) This year we will swing by my parent's first since it's a Saturday so they can see the costumes.
eggplant / 11287 posts
They do nothing other than making an effort to see LOs in their costumes.
grapefruit / 4400 posts
@skipra: $5, a bag of candy, and toys sounds like a good deal to me! Do they ask for pics?
grapefruit / 4903 posts
My inlaws mail them each a basket of Halloween themed toys and treats - it's like a fall-themed Easter basket. I think it's generous but over the top. My parents give them candy and a glow wand when we stop by their house for ToT, but nothing out of he ordinary other than the stop over there for them to see the costumes.
pea / 20 posts
Both sets of grandparents and our siblings come over. My MIL makes chili and we go trick or treating while the parents stay at home handing out candy. This year will be different my parents will come over earlier in the day and do the trick or treating in our village at the shops then leave and my inlaws will do dinner and hang out.
Both sets of parents make baskets for her with toys and books and she gets cards from everybody.
pomegranate / 3350 posts
@HabesBabe: ha I think the $5 is great that my mom sends in lieu of treats! But the inlaws send a pound of m&m's and toys for ages 8+ with tons of tiny pieces to my 1 and 3 year olds. Then I get to deal with the subsequent melt down for not letting them have it. They never even asked what the costumes are much less for a picture! Sorry for the venting. I know I should be grateful for the thought!
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
@skipra: I would just go through everything before giving it to your kids! I do that with their Easter baskets. 
pomegranate / 3791 posts
My ILs buy cards for everything. They also have a Halloween party. I hate it. All of the kids get a thing of treats that is always specifically designated around what the oldest/favorite grandchild likes (Ex: T was super into planes one year, so they all had planes themed baskets. Didn't matter whether or not my kids shared this interest.) This is also done for every. single. holiday. Except for Halloween they amp up the scary stuff, which is not fun for me because I scare easily and so does my toddler. And they are the type to think that's hilarious and laugh at you. And if DH and I don't do matching costumes with the kids we get snarky comments. I don't really like my ILs, in case you can't tell.
My parents will say that they'd love to come by and see the boys in their costume if we have the time. If not, no big deal, they'll save them a piece of candy.
pomegranate / 3791 posts
@skipra: Oh yeah, it's totally inappropriate candy here too. Last year my infant got smarties and bubble gum. And they all get the same toys as their older cousin so he isn't jealous. Which is problematic since like you said, small pieces and I have toddlers.
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
@skipra: well my mil sends cards for lots of things. And it's cute because C really likes the pictures and stuff so it's not like we read it and throw it out, she will pull it out and point to her pumpkin or whatever.
cherry / 157 posts
My in-laws hate Halloween and make dinner reservations so they aren't even in the neighborhood when it happens. they just want costume pictures. My mom would want to walk house to house with us if she lived nearby. I've never heard of gifts fit Halloween, but I think it's really sweet whenever grandparents stick to their traditions.
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
Meh, it's Halloween. Eat the candy yourself and call it a day. We go trick o treating with my MIL. With beer. 
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
@blackbird: I was surprised to learn how many parents make Halloween into a drunken porch party....
pomelo / 5258 posts
My mom usually sends a card but they decided to visit this year. I think it's a really neat time of year to visit the LOs. A lot less stress than Christmas. Must remember for the future.
pomegranate / 3393 posts
My in laws send a card for every holiday. Every. Little. Holiday. Yesterday LO got a Halloween card from them with $5 inside. Ok then!
pomegranate / 3393 posts
@skipra: this is related to the Halloween candy thread, but if you send my small child candy, you're sending ME candy, lol! My 2 year old doesn't need a pound of m&ms. I always open gifts from the in laws away from the kids to head off any meltdown if I have to take something away.
apricot / 287 posts
My mom sent a card last year, so I'm assuming she'll do the same this year and might start adding treats as DS gets older (she'd mail me a halloween care package in college). The in-laws don't celebrate halloween, so I'm not even expecting to be asked for a picture from them.
clementine / 920 posts
My step mom sent a care package with 2 Halloween/fall themed books and a jacks lantern bib. My dad will actually be in town so he is coming trick or treating with us. I'm sure my mom will at least send a card, she sends them for most holidays. My in laws have never been that into Halloween so we'll see if they do anything.
pomegranate / 3779 posts
My mom gave LO a pumpkin shaped cup. Because Halloween is on a Saturday, we are all going to my sister's house for dinner and ToTing, but normally they wouldn't do anything other than a small toy or something when we go visit in October.
My ILs aren't American, so they don't do Halloween.
apricot / 428 posts
@skipra: mil and her mother send my lo cards! toting with my sil and her little family this year.
hostess / wonderful watermelon / 39513 posts
My mil makes an effort to see them in costumes!
apricot / 358 posts
Wow, I'm surprised to hear about all the Halloween gifts! Sometimes my mom sends a card, but otherwise we just make sure to send the grandparents pictures.
bananas / 9357 posts
This year my mom and stepdad are coming over to go ToTing with us. Maybe I'll plan some kind of easy dinner for all of us.
| Today | Monthly Record | |
|---|---|---|
| Topics | 1 | 1 |
| Posts | 0 | 1 |
Ask for Help
Make a Suggestion
Frequently Asked Questions
Bee Levels
Acronyms
Most Viewed Posts
Hellobee Gold
Hellobee Recipes
Hellobee Features
Hellobee Contests
Baby-led Weaning
Bento Boxes
Breastfeeding
Newborn Essentials
Parties
Postpartum Care Essentials
Sensory Play Activities
Sleep Training
Starting Solids Gear
Transitioning to Toddler Bed
All Series
Who We Are
About the Bloggers
About the Hostesses
Contributing Bloggers
Apply to Blog
Apply to Hostess
Submit a Guest Blog
Hellobee Buttons
How We Make Money
Community Policies
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
33 comments