Anonymous wrote:Age? And adjust expectations of your favorite holiday.

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Age? And adjust expectations of your favorite holiday.

Anonymous wrote:What insane school schedules a field trip on Halloween? I’m melting down just thinking of it.

You deserve a quiet night in a deserted haunted house, OP. I like your sense of humor and hope this can be a funny memory 30 years from now.

My kid’s school has one today, the day after Halloween. Even more insane!

I was braced for meltdowns, but both my autistic kid and my kid with anxiety had a great night. Last year however, was an absolute disaster. Just to say maybe you have a smooth Halloween in your future.

We had that happen a few times when my son was younger - I promise you’re not the only parent who had to manage a meltdown last night! Not only that, but plenty of NT kids meltdown on Halloween too (my kid has ASD, and I know the meltdowns are way worse when exacerbated by special needs, but I promise other parents don’t see the special needs they just see the meltdown and their kids have them too).

Anonymous wrote:Thanks. It's OP. This feels better to hear from you all. I am most concerned because his friends and their parent saw the meltdown in action. We had to close up shop and stop passing out candy because he was so dysregulated.

We heard different screams, cries and meltdowns throughout the neighborhood as DH and I were passing out candy. From kids and adults! It’s part of the day. Don’t worry one second about what anyone thinks.

My own teen had his share of them growing up. He would plan his costume and then refuse to participate in Halloween some years, having variations of meltdowns being overstimulated. We never knew what to expect. He’s too old to ToT now but had his own meltdown last night over video games and kept us up way too late yelling. It’s been a while since we’ve had those issues so I’m telling myself it’s just the old Halloween tantrum coming back.

We had an hour meltdown pre trick or treat after getting into costumes. Entirely missed the neighborhood party but made it just in time for trick or treating. I can't tell you how many things we have missed due to meltdowns as we're trying to leave the house

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks. It's OP. This feels better to hear from you all. I am most concerned because his friends and their parent saw the meltdown in action. We had to close up shop and stop passing out candy because he was so dysregulated.

ugh that’s the worst!! boys tend to be very forgiving. the parents who are good people won’t judge. the parents who do judge can go f themselves.

the anthem we must all adapt for our own sanity

Anonymous wrote:Thanks. It's OP. This feels better to hear from you all. I am most concerned because his friends and their parent saw the meltdown in action. We had to close up shop and stop passing out candy because he was so dysregulated.

ugh that’s the worst!! boys tend to be very forgiving. the parents who are good people won’t judge. the parents who do judge can go f themselves.

The public part of it probably felt like the worst. Sorry that happened. I bet friends understood.

Thanks. It's OP. This feels better to hear from you all. I am most concerned because his friends and their parent saw the meltdown in action. We had to close up shop and stop passing out candy because he was so dysregulated.

My older son with ADHD and anxiety had a couple great Halloweens and a couple bad ones growing up, he froze on the driveway and had a panic attack once. He has stopped dressing up and going out at all now that’s he’s a little older, but otherwise he’s fine now and sometimes helps give out candy. It can be a lot of pressure.

What insane school schedules a field trip on Halloween? I’m melting down just thinking of it.

You deserve a quiet night in a deserted haunted house, OP. I like your sense of humor and hope this can be a funny memory 30 years from now.

Consider, OP, that 99% of this 24 hours was fine. He enjoyed himself? You enjoyed yourself?

And then there was this problematic 1% where everyone's stress went through the roof, and now you're both exhausted.

If you continue to focus on that 1%, you will ruin your memories of the 99% that DID go well. I hope your kid is focusing on the 99% as well.

Hugs OP!! It does sound like he had fun at least?

My child had a horrible Halloween. Complete meltdown at the end of the night--including trying to run out of the house b/c he was not ready to come back. IT was a high demand day and I know we could have put in more thought to make it less overwhelming---he has ADHD and severe anxiety. We tried to enjoy our favorite holiday, but it ended horribly, and I just want to crawl into a coffin or wrap myself up like a zombie.

Oh, and they had a field trip today too. Ugh.