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By Bev Boyle

We all grew up amidst dire warnings like 'don't run with scissors', 'don't talk to strangers', and 'never, ever take candy from strangers.'

Then, every October 31st, our parents would dress us up and take us around the neighbourhood to knock on doors asking for candy. Of course, 50 years ago, we knew all those neighbours.

These days, parents are still dressing up their kids on Halloween, but instead of going to houses where they know the people, parents are taking their children to populate neighbourhoods and letting them approach dozens of houses of strangers. But parents now check all the candy carefully (or I hope they do).

Now, we have to wonder, will our children raise the issue of not taking candy from strangers to their children? And how will they justify trick or treating at homes where the people are strangers?

Will kids nowadays not trust our warnings? Remember what our parents said and what we told our children when they were young? Do you remember saying:

Don’t cross your eyes like that or they’ll stick; don’t pee in the pool, I’ve put a special chemical in it that turns red from the pee and everyone will know it was you; don’t play with that frog, you’ll get warts; if you don’t eat your vegetables, no only will you not grow, you’ll start to shrink; don’t make that face or it will stay that way; the car won’t start until everyone has on a seat belt; No, I did not put onions in the dinner, it’s your imagination (or mushrooms, peppers, etc.) Besides, you can’t even taste it; and my favourite, I have eyes in the back of my head.And it's funny, even when kids grow up and realize that their parents were full of it; they still turn around and use the same expressions on their kids.

In all sincerity though, have a wonderful and safe Halloween, and do consider trick or treating alternatives like house parties and Halloweentown at the Rec Centre.