Halloween has gotten so big and I'm exhausted. When I was a kid it was trick or treating and a class party. That's it. Now we're decorating yards, having multiple celebrations the weekend before, booing people ( both kids asked to do this and we received boos for both). Add in the whole pumpkin spice business and there's just so much--it's getting close to rivaling Christmas.

It’s October 31st

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Halloween is ok now that I'm in a dark cul de sac nobody bothers to come down. I have a bit of doorbell anxiety!

I hate New Year's and I absolutely detest Thanksgiving.

Butt why

Very cheeky response

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Christmas Day is the worst followed by Halloween for me

I love Christmas Day. Even if you waited to the last minute to buy gifts or plan meals, but Christmas Day it's over and you can just relax. Kids are happy because they just got gifts. It's one of the few days of the year where I can not look at my work email with zero consequences. We'll make a big brunch meal around 11 and then eat leftover from Christmas Eve dinner for dinner. It's one of the lowest stress days of the year for me.

Christmas Day is nice. Xmas eve can be too. Dec 1-23 are terrible. All the pressure to get and wrap gifts, decorate the house, bake cookies, send cards, go to holiday parties, work door/cubicle decorating contests, the never-ending Christmas music, all during the time of year when I'm fighting SAD because it gets DARK AT 4:30. All I want to do is wear sweats and go to bed early!

Christmas music, cookies, wrapping, that’s my favorite!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Christmas Day is the worst followed by Halloween for me

I love Christmas Day. Even if you waited to the last minute to buy gifts or plan meals, but Christmas Day it's over and you can just relax. Kids are happy because they just got gifts. It's one of the few days of the year where I can not look at my work email with zero consequences. We'll make a big brunch meal around 11 and then eat leftover from Christmas Eve dinner for dinner. It's one of the lowest stress days of the year for me.

Completely agree

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Christmas Day is the worst followed by Halloween for me

I love Christmas Day. Even if you waited to the last minute to buy gifts or plan meals, but Christmas Day it's over and you can just relax. Kids are happy because they just got gifts. It's one of the few days of the year where I can not look at my work email with zero consequences. We'll make a big brunch meal around 11 and then eat leftover from Christmas Eve dinner for dinner. It's one of the lowest stress days of the year for me.

Christmas Day is nice. Xmas eve can be too. Dec 1-23 are terrible. All the pressure to get and wrap gifts, decorate the house, bake cookies, send cards, go to holiday parties, work door/cubicle decorating contests, the never-ending Christmas music, all during the time of year when I'm fighting SAD because it gets DARK AT 4:30. All I want to do is wear sweats and go to bed early!

Anonymous wrote:Christmas Day is the worst followed by Halloween for me

I love Christmas Day. Even if you waited to the last minute to buy gifts or plan meals, but Christmas Day it's over and you can just relax. Kids are happy because they just got gifts. It's one of the few days of the year where I can not look at my work email with zero consequences. We'll make a big brunch meal around 11 and then eat leftover from Christmas Eve dinner for dinner. It's one of the lowest stress days of the year for me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Love Halloween, hate Valentine’s Day!

So stop giving Valentines Day any thought or energy.

This. Valentines Day is easy to ignore -- if you're single, pretend it's not happening. If you're coupled... also pretend it's not happening. All Valentines Day expectations are self imposed.

If you have kids, Halloween is "required" which is what sucks about it. And there is very little in it for you as a parent. You will need to arrange costumes, buy candy, contribute to the school party, make sure to get photos, leave work early for ToTing, decorate if your kids are into it, etc. But there's no time off work, not tasty meal, no excuse to lie around in your pajamas all day. It's all work, no payoff.

I know some parents like to have a cocktail in their to-go cup and socialize with other parents during ToTing, but I don't drink and I'm an introvert, so those things don't really appeal to me. Halloween is a holiday I have to suck it up and get through.

Christmas Day is the worst followed by Halloween for me

It was a five day event for us with neighborhood parade, friend parties, parties at school and then, finally, tot finale ! But hey we got our moneys worth out of the costumes! Three kids under 7 is wild but we don’t have too many more years of this, I try to live in the moment and not stress too much or do the mommy juice thing. It has become a big holiday compared to when I was young.

I love Halloween! My kid gets super creative and plans the best costumes, friends over for pizza and TOT, neighborliness and community spirit, and no presents.

Anonymous wrote:Love Halloween, hate Valentine’s Day!

So stop giving Valentines Day any thought or energy.

Anonymous wrote:Halloween is ok now that I'm in a dark cul de sac nobody bothers to come down. I have a bit of doorbell anxiety!

I hate New Year's and I absolutely detest Thanksgiving.

Butt why

I didn't mind it this year. Just us as strep blew threw our house over the past week and the last victim was only a couple doses into antibiotics. Carved pumpkins last minute after we finished up work. Kept the outside decorations minimal (see: kids with strep). Probably the last year our oldest will agree to go around with the family instead of a friend group, so I really tried to savor it.

Usually we coordinate with multiple kids' friend groups, stop by neighbors, or do a driveway party. This year we were done by 7:45, no cleanup, kids weren't too wound up and were asleep by 8:30. Love.

I have never. liked. halloween -not as a child and not as a grandparent.

but I did enjoy an adult beverage with the neighbors around the Solo fire pit, and greeting the trick or treaters young and old.

The weather was crap (spitting sleet where i live) but we all had a good time and wow-

I would go for THAT any day!