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AIBU?

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Boo boxes

129 replies

CrispieCake · 09/10/2025 16:41

I know someone will be along in a minute to say you do you, no need to participate if you don't want to, yada, yada, yada, but I've just seen these in a shop window and
...wtf?!!!

What fresh parental hell is this?

OP posts:
Glitchymn1 · 09/10/2025 20:43

Consumerism…..

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 09/10/2025 20:42

CrispieCake · 09/10/2025 20:38

Given the levels of micro plastics in everything due to decomposing plastic tat, scientists might disagree 😆.

Exactly. Hate the over commercialism of every possible event or occasion ever which usually involves buying a shit load of single use plastic which goes to landfill within a week. But sure, its worth it for the perfect Instagram photo 🙄

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 09/10/2025 20:40

Dear lord. No no no to the fucking no.
Am I fuck doing a boo box. I dont even do Christmas Eve boxes or Elf on the shelf!!!!! Granted my oldest has only Just started reception, let's see if change my tune in time but I doubt it. I hate all this crap. My kids get spoilt rotten year round it gets far too much and im just not that type of person for this, I find it very contrived. I prefer spontaneous treats of events or buying things as rewards for good behaviour.

CrispieCake · 09/10/2025 20:38

beaniebabby · 09/10/2025 19:39

North pole breakfasts, just more excuses to buy some more plastic

Tbf the breakfasts don't involve eating plastic

Given the levels of micro plastics in everything due to decomposing plastic tat, scientists might disagree 😆.

OP posts:
beaniebabby · 09/10/2025 20:36

@ThatRealLemonCat do you do trick or treat then?

ThatRealLemonCat · 09/10/2025 20:33

I have no idea, but Halloween is often at the end of half-term, so that sounds like a good idea to make the day a bit special

Surely the whole point of Halloween is that other people give them the loot?
I am not massively wild about my kids getting cheap sweets from complete strangers, so somehow making them forget about their loot by giving them something better works for me

BeMintFatball · 09/10/2025 20:23

Ncforthis2244 · 09/10/2025 16:46

Boo bag. Don't say that in a Scottish accent 😂

😂 😂 😂 I have Scottish friends. I know exactly what you mean

Skybluepinky · 09/10/2025 20:12

Oh no not more tat to clutter peoples houses!

Netcurtainnelly · 09/10/2025 20:04

Honestly like kids need all this extra crap and sweets.

KimTheresPeopleThatAreDying · 09/10/2025 20:02

didntlikeanyofthesuggestions · 09/10/2025 16:44

It's just a bit of fun. A brief window of happiness in this bleak world.

Because of course the only way to find happiness is to buy more stuff.

CrispieCake · 09/10/2025 19:59

Youllnevergetabetterbitofbutteronyourknife · 09/10/2025 18:01

All I think of when I hear Boo Box is Hook! 🤣

https://youtube.com/shorts/qOnCbjySRE4?si=Ga96qcp4LxeIHuMd

Edited

Now this is much more in the spirit of Halloween than a cutesey ghost cup and some chocolate pumpkins imo 😂.

OP posts:
beaniebabby · 09/10/2025 19:39

North pole breakfasts, just more excuses to buy some more plastic

Tbf the breakfasts don't involve eating plastic

TheChosenTwo · 09/10/2025 19:38

Endless commercialism is exactly how I think of all of this. Easter baskets, Christmas Eve boxes North pole breakfasts, just more excuses to buy some more plastic. I don’t do them but there are clearly enough people who do for it to be something the shops push every year.
Some kids will grow up associating every calendar day with presents and baskets and boxes of stuff!

Sandsnake · 09/10/2025 19:37

Youllnevergetabetterbitofbutteronyourknife · 09/10/2025 18:01

All I think of when I hear Boo Box is Hook! 🤣

https://youtube.com/shorts/qOnCbjySRE4?si=Ga96qcp4LxeIHuMd

Edited

Me too! Bloody hated that bit when I was a kid, always had to find an excuse to leave the room…

HGSurvivor1 · 09/10/2025 19:26

It's just endless commercialism, isn't it? Trying to convince parents that the way to create magic for their children is to spend relentlessly on poor quality items and briefly fill their houses with future landfill. People can do what they like but it makes me despair a bit. We're losing the art of actually connecting with our kids in favour of feeling like every magic moment is something to be bought.

youalright · 09/10/2025 19:16

ThreePears · 09/10/2025 19:13

When I was a kid long ago the only thing I remember about Halloween was being bought a toffee apple in Sainsburys every year, and my dad valiantly attempting to make a jack o'lantern by carving out a swede with a Stanley knife. I think he tried it once, and then grew some pumpkins the following year which turned out not to be big ones, but knobbly little ornamental gourds with stripes & spots. They were no good for carving either. My mum arranged them in a bowl and after about a month one of them exploded in the middle of the night. 😁

I remember i use to get told off because id eat the toffee and then say I was full so couldn't eat the apple 🤣

ThreePears · 09/10/2025 19:13

When I was a kid long ago the only thing I remember about Halloween was being bought a toffee apple in Sainsburys every year, and my dad valiantly attempting to make a jack o'lantern by carving out a swede with a Stanley knife. I think he tried it once, and then grew some pumpkins the following year which turned out not to be big ones, but knobbly little ornamental gourds with stripes & spots. They were no good for carving either. My mum arranged them in a bowl and after about a month one of them exploded in the middle of the night. 😁

CrispieCake · 09/10/2025 19:01

BlueberryLatte · 09/10/2025 18:41

I don't do these, but also can't stand the outrage people express about them. Same with Christmas eve boxes.

It's the cumulative effect. I do elf-on-the-shelf and my kids do get a Christmas box. Before today, I would have shared that sentiment.

But "Back-to-School" gifts, Christmas Eve boxes, Christmas stockings, New Year's gifts, Valentine's day gifts, Easter gifts, summer holiday gifts.. And now "Boo Boxes" as well.

There must be some children in the country who never go a couple of months without being handed a new pile of stuff 😂. Where do people put it? They must have bigger houses than me!

OP posts:
CrispieCake · 09/10/2025 18:55

beaniebabby · 09/10/2025 18:39

We have done Halloween things during half term before eg ghost walk, scare maze etc.

As do we... we do trick-or-treating, maybe have a little Halloween party, go pumpkin picking.

But more tat and presents 😫.

OP posts:
ThreePears · 09/10/2025 18:48

didntlikeanyofthesuggestions · 09/10/2025 16:44

It's just a bit of fun. A brief window of happiness in this bleak world.

Trick-or-treating, dressing-up costumes, pumpkin carving, fairy cakes with orange & green icing and dangly skeletons cut out of copier paper and stuck on the windows not enough for you?😂👻

mumoftwo99x · 09/10/2025 18:43

I do them, I think it’s cute and a bit of fun. Typically give them at the start of the October half term and it’s full to new things to do - Halloween sticker books, painting, some of his favourite snacks, Halloween cup cake mixtures. It’s things I’d get him anyway but just nice to make it fun 🤷🏼‍♀️ I do the same at Easter (although a lot more chocolate!) and Christmas - just different themed activities.

BlueberryLatte · 09/10/2025 18:41

I don't do these, but also can't stand the outrage people express about them. Same with Christmas eve boxes.

DappledThings · 09/10/2025 18:41

Halloween wasn't even on my radar as any kind of event as a child. My kids now know about it and want to go trick or treating which makes me cringe myself inside out but I do it for them. The idea that it's now yet another event where people are expected to buy presents is bonkers.

beaniebabby · 09/10/2025 18:39

We have done Halloween things during half term before eg ghost walk, scare maze etc.

beaniebabby · 09/10/2025 18:38

Halloween is big in my area, my dc do not need extra sweets/chocolate