Weird neighbor and Halloween

[Anonymous]

OP, maybe they were already boo'd -- maybe by someone in the neighborhood, maybe by a friend, whomever.

Maybe they were pre-empting the bag sitting there unanswered, just as an advertisement for a B&E. You say they should have told you, and you wouldn't boo them. But what about everyone else? Were you going to tell everyone for them then keep reminding them in case someone forgot? or were you going to check every day to make sure no bags accumulated, then boo back for them, or what?

Jesus. The woman just wanted to go on vacation, and yes, a sign was simplest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a neighbor a few doors down who seems nice, usually. A little stand-offish sometimes. Her girls and my boys play together nicely when they see each other.

She was packing up her car on Friday, and I asked if she needed me to look out for packages or anything. She said no thank you, just a short trip, got it covered, etc.

I was walking our dog later and noticed that they had put up a "We've Been Boo-ed" sign that was definitely not there when they were packing up. My boys and I usually do the first "Boos" of the season, and always get their house, because their girls are so nice and cute.

I get that they don't want to participate, but she could have said something or posted a sign that was like "please don't Boo us"; they definitely were not Booed, because no other house on our street that has kids has the sign up! I'm just bummed. It's not like I would have left it on their porch all weekend, knowing they were gone.

I have no idea what being Boo-ed is nor do I want to.

STOP CREATING MORE HOLIDAY TRADITION CRAP.

I have grown to hate Halloween - used to be you went to the school carnival (maybe) and trick or treated. Now there's 12 million things. Just stop, for the love of God.

I found out about BOO-ing at work. It's the pinterest crowd.

There's something Reaally Bad about not participating in this new holiday tradition crap. For some reason, people hold onto this one tight, as if you were insulting their ancestors by not getting into it. And THINK OF THE CHILLLDREEENZ, OMG. Just hope it doesn't take hold of people where you are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank God this isn't my life. Get a job OP and stop obsessing over inane Pinterest nonsense.

eh, you can't assume that Op is a SAHM. In fact, this sounds like classic over compensation to me.

Op, do you work?

I don't know why this matters so much, but I am a SAHM.

OK, apparently people don't like this tradition. OK, message received. I thought it was something fun for kids. My kids love it, and I don't know a single kid who wouldn't like a fun little surprise and some treats.

I was wrong to use the word "weird" about my neighbor. I should have found a better way to describe her. I did say stand-offish, I guess that's what I meant. We have kids who like playing together, she's nice, but she's hard to get to know and doesn't seem to get in the spirit of things sometimes. She's the mom at the block party who doesn't talk much. That's what I meant. I shouldn't have said "weird." That was the wrong word.

I didn't know people could be annoyed by something so small and harmless, but I guess I'll stop. I do appreciate some of the feedback, but some of you are downright nasty.

You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means.

Also, please find another way to cultivate your self worth other than being "first" and doesn't involve expectations about other people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank God this isn't my life. Get a job OP and stop obsessing over inane Pinterest nonsense.

eh, you can't assume that Op is a SAHM. In fact, this sounds like classic over compensation to me.

Op, do you work?

I don't know why this matters so much, but I am a SAHM.

OK, apparently people don't like this tradition. OK, message received. I thought it was something fun for kids. My kids love it, and I don't know a single kid who wouldn't like a fun little surprise and some treats.

I was wrong to use the word "weird" about my neighbor. I should have found a better way to describe her. I did say stand-offish, I guess that's what I meant. We have kids who like playing together, she's nice, but she's hard to get to know and doesn't seem to get in the spirit of things sometimes. She's the mom at the block party who doesn't talk much. That's what I meant. I shouldn't have said "weird." That was the wrong word.

I didn't know people could be annoyed by something so small and harmless, but I guess I'll stop. I do appreciate some of the feedback, but some of you are downright nasty.

The problem is that you were starting a tradition for a neighbor that you admittedly do not know well. While your intentions were good, your neighbor is apparently a reserved person who prefers not to participate in this "booing". She simply might not have the time nor the mental energy to add yet one more duty to her already full plate. She could have been loading up her car to make an overnight trip to visit a sick parent for all you know.

At any rate, she has made it clear that she is not participating this year. That should be good enough. If you have neighbors who are interested in doing this - boo them.

[Anonymous]

One person's fun tradition is another person's obligation.

[Anonymous]

Booing is obnoxious. Who likes a chain letter? So neighbor put an end to it by making her own sign. OP geez get a grip.

[Anonymous]

You need a hobby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OK, apparently people don't like this tradition. OK, message received. I thought it was something fun for kids. My kids love it, and I don't know a single kid who wouldn't like a fun little surprise and some treats.

A. Do the kids buy the treats themselves, or are you creating work for the adults in the household? Not everyone has your kind of free time.

B. Tradition. Sure. I bet you do Elf on the Shelf, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank God this isn't my life. Get a job OP and stop obsessing over inane Pinterest nonsense.

eh, you can't assume that Op is a SAHM. In fact, this sounds like classic over compensation to me.

Op, do you work?

We were "booed" only once, a few years ago, although I don't think we kept it going. That was the first time I'd heard of this. And yes, I think we later realized this was a nearby SAHM (our neighborhood has very few SAHPs).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP as usual you had to know the snark would be over the top. I'll make you feel better. You seem sensitive, sweet and your kids are young. "We've been boo'd" is actually a very diplomatic way of saying she doesn't want bags of candy on her porch. PPs are right. She doesn't want to announce her house is empty. It's not personal, so shake it off.

To make you smile...here's a timeline of how this goes. In my neighborhood, boo'ing was a rite of passage since kids were trekking down long, dark (scary) driveways. By middle school, kids did it with gross bag contents and funny, scary notes. At this point, we blew them away with air horns. Sadly, it attracted more tweens. By HS, 9th graders hopped the gate to boo and my very well placed husband in IT clown costume did the trick. Snap chat maps location made it easy to know when they were close.Think one kid sprained his ankle trying to get away over gate. We don't like him anyway, was great fun! Happy Halloween!

Were you trying to make the OP feel better by demonstrating that she isn't the weirdest person on this thread? If so, mission accomplished.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank God this isn't my life. Get a job OP and stop obsessing over inane Pinterest nonsense.

eh, you can't assume that Op is a SAHM. In fact, this sounds like classic over compensation to me.

Op, do you work?

We were "booed" only once, a few years ago, although I don't think we kept it going. That was the first time I'd heard of this. And yes, I think we later realized this was a nearby SAHM (our neighborhood has very few SAHPs).

I'm a SAHM and I can say that I have never made assumptions about another parent's time like that. Even if I thought that participating in something like this might be fun for the kids, I would always run it by the other parent, first.

[Anonymous]

I'm a WOHM and don't participate in Boo-ing anymore, but not because of the "oh I have no time and am oh-so-busy factor"; it's not actually that taxing to buy some candy/crap and put it in a bag with a note, etc.

What I hate about it (and why I stopped passing it on) is the environmental factor. We just don't need or use more Cheap Plastic Crap. It's enough, already. Kids get enough junk between the school parties/neighborhood parade/actual H'ween night. No mas!

[Anonymous]

WTF IS BOOING?!?! OP I have no idea what the he** you are talking about, it made zero sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a WOHM and don't participate in Boo-ing anymore, but not because of the "oh I have no time and am oh-so-busy factor"; it's not actually that taxing to buy some candy/crap and put it in a bag with a note, etc.

What I hate about it (and why I stopped passing it on) is the environmental factor. We just don't need or use more Cheap Plastic Crap. It's enough, already. Kids get enough junk between the school parties/neighborhood parade/actual H'ween night. No mas!

Yeah, I don't get the impression that these "Boo" treats consist of a pack of candy corn thrown on someone's doorstep. These parents (let's admit it - MOMs!) put together elaborate treat bags and expect their neighbors to do the same for their kid.

[Anonymous]

Don't parents still take their kids to the pumpkin patch or on haunted hay rides? What about the ghost train at Burke Lake or a haunted house?

That's the stuff that kids LOVE!