I get that people don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but it is downright bleak to go to any big box store right now and see the Halloween stuff already marked down and Christmas in full swing. Pumpkin spice is but a distant memory. Thanksgiving doesn't even exist. Where does everything go? The mind reels.

I agree to an extent but think your biggest problem is that you are being influenced into thinking that every parent is doing these things by social media. They aren’t. Get off Instagram or Facebook or whatever your platform addiction is.

The internet killed society. Social media was a big part of it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you saying that “oh we’re just trying to be a light in the dark times and want to find some joy in this terrible world” aren’t getting that over-consumption is what is driving the darkness and pain and environmental strain.

The orange one is the source of darkness and despair. Let people find outlets to their pain and fears. And MYOB.

For the half of us who voted for him, no he is not a source of darkness and despair. Are you at all able to think about other people’s perspectives?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not remotely consumerist -- more anti than anything. When I buy anything, I try to buy vintage, pre-owned, open-box, all the stuff minimizes impact.

But I've grown to have real empathy for many of the kinds of people OP describes. I've observed that they often seem to be trying to give to children (theirs, but also often others, sometimes including mine) something that they themselves didn't get as a child. As soon as I realized this — that this is just another way of trying to do the right thing, and to heal what ails -- I softened quite a bit.

You sound like a very kind person, pp!

I was raised in a really abusive home and I have older kids but in my day I loved hanging the flag with the school bus in September and the Winnie the Pooh Halloween flag, the one for summer etc. It was indeed profoundly healing for me. I was never celebrated as a child and I loved every minute of celebrating my kids in this way. And yes I adored Boo Baskets or whatever it is they are called.

I have a friend who goes insane for crazy hair day and all those dress up days at school. She had one child after nine years of infertility, they nearly got divorced over it and for her, crazy hair day is something that really makes her happy. You literally never know what people are carrying.

I get wanting to do nice things for kids and I definitely relate to wanting to create fun things that just make people smile and happy. Life is hard enough. A couple years ago I started doing way more around the holidays for this reason. I actually decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving because I want to come home from my in-law's house to a home that feels festive and cheerful already.

But I think you can still be thoughtful and discerning. Why does everything have to be so over the top? I think that's what OP is complaining about. You can do something festive and nice for the kids without going way overboard and spending 10x more and producing a bunch of plastic trash.

It's just the culture of more, more, more. Put up some decor but you don't have to cover every square inch of your house in plastic crap. Throw a party for kids but you don't have to rent a bounce house and do a foam party -- you can just let the kids in sprinklers or go to the local park.

One negative outcome of always going the extra mile is that kids start to normalize it and then they think that's what's normal. In the long run, going way overboard with everything ultimately backfires because it becomes harder for your kids to be happy with simple things.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Live and Let Live.
Not everything is for everyone.

But this juvenile basic BS affects everyone. I do not consent to the trashing of my planet for your week of whimsy.

No one needs your consent.

Anonymous wrote:LIVE SIMPLY! SO THAT OTHERS CAN SIMPLY LIVE.

Anonymous wrote:Some of you saying that “oh we’re just trying to be a light in the dark times and want to find some joy in this terrible world” aren’t getting that over-consumption is what is driving the darkness and pain and environmental strain.

The orange one is the source of darkness and despair. Let people find outlets to their pain and fears. And MYOB.

LIVE SIMPLY! SO THAT OTHERS CAN SIMPLY LIVE.

Anonymous wrote:I think you are missing the point. It isn’t about greed or being self centered. These aren’t collectors or hoarders. They are building experiences and “curating” what they believe will be magical experiences. The whole point s to share it, with neighbors aka the decorations or co workers at the office party, kid parties, social media etc etc. People are really visual now. They are chasing what looks fun. It’s driven by fear of being left out, loneliness etc.

Companies are more than willing to sell tons of stuff to make this dream a reality. People fall for it.

I'm mindful of overconsumption and agree that OP's examples aren't the best. We recently had a tree fall down and several neighbors said they were bummed because we always hang decorations in it for Halloween and Christmas. We hang the same things we've had for 10+ years. My kids are older, but I remember how enchanted they were by the decorations and now we all walk in the evenings in December to enjoy the lights. The "kid just graduated" sigs are technically wasteful, but I love seeing them and will say congratulations if I see someone coming out the house.

Anonymous wrote:
Live and Let Live.
Not everything is for everyone.

But this juvenile basic BS affects everyone. I do not consent to the trashing of my planet for your week of whimsy.

Live and Let Live.
Not everything is for everyone.

You really should not look at this uber-materialistic thread then:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1296503.page

In my entire life I’ve never decorated for Halloween. As an adult I’ve never handed out candy. My fantasy is to live somewhere I can put some pumpkins out and kids will ring the doorbell. That would feel so indulgent to me!