Neighbours and Halloween

Putting up Halloween decorations in September is crazy

Just use the decorations, have the party and enjoy yourselves. Happy Halloween 🕷️

DS’s has seen this and the ones we chose and he has decided I need to return everything now as neighbours will think we copied them.

Oh he's decided now, has he? 😂

It's just one of those things OP and you're giving it far too much headspace.

I wouldn't worry. Most people round here have the same ones (spider's web coming out of top window to the garden) They are still fun despite how many people have them. Pay no attention and carry on with your plans. Hope your son have an amazing party!

He’s 9!! Tell him you’ll put the decorations up as planned or no decorations up at all.

Ps maybe role play with your son some ways to deal with snide remarks if they do come up.

Sorry for your loss. I think that makes everything a bit more sensitive.

I think every house round here has identical pumpkins, spider webs ( unltl they were deemed unsafe) and relied more on dressing up. Theming via plastic tat is always a bit rubbish.
Loads of time to sell them on. You could easily re theme quite cheaply with some imagination. What theme were you after ?

I think YABU to suspect that the family have put up Halloween decorations early to spite your son. If anyone (such as the neighbour's daughter) says anything about copying (such a stupid accusation when it comes to mass-marketed seasonal decorations, anyway), I'd roll my eyes and say something in a sarcastic tone of voice. (Why bother being polite to someone who's so rude?) 'Yes, Girl-from-Next-Door, we waited until we saw how you decorated, then ran out to copy you. Just like thousands of other people across the country. Because your Halloween decorations are sooo unique.'

I suppose it depends on what the decorations are, but maybe you can slightly alter them, put them up differently (indoors? different arrangement?), and add a few more unique touches. Handmade paper decorations can be fun and definitely one-of-a-kind. Non-Halloween-specific decorations (colourful balloons, streamers, etc) can also be thrown into the mix to make it look different.

Buy some extra ones for the front, and use the original ones for the back. If he's worried about bullying I'd let him have this indulgence for his birthday. Plus you've had enough to deal with too.

Ignore next door and keep focusing on your DS. Tell him 'it's great because it'll make our garden extra atmospheric when your party comes, it's great we've got neighbours who are in the Halloween spirit. We need to plan the food and music for your party too, have you got some paper to start a list...'

I'm sorry you've had a hard time recently, I'm sorry for your loss, and I hope the party goes well

It’s nearly October though; the first is on Thursday. If they have a child that loves Halloween and wanted them up for the whole month I’m not surprised that they’ve put them up the weekend before.

I’d just put yours up regardless. If you only want them up for 72 hours anyway it really won’t be a big deal to have the same ones. And Halloween is on a Saturday anyway.

Happy Halloween 🎃

It doesn’t matter that they are the same. Just go for it

And enjoy ! 💀👻🎃🧙‍♀️

Your child needs to learn that most of these decorations are cheap shite from Temu, Poundland and B&M.

And because of that, most people will have the same decorations.

So I'd give him two choices

1. These decs go up
2. No decs go up

You are being over dramatic. Sorry.

Tell him you spoke to the neighbours and they suggested getting the same so the houses would look festive together.

He might be autistic, but you can't let him make the rules all his life. He needs to learn the world won't bend around him before he's an adult. It won't do him any favours and it will make your life more difficult.

Honestly , we will have a month of October weathers , wind , rain, and theirs will look shitre by Hallowe'en.

You can use some of yours indoors or the back garden.

I am planning what mine will be still . I like to make most of mine .

You're being under-empathetic. Sorry.

The OP has had a recent loss, the child has had bullying issues.

Small stuff actually means more at some points.

One up them and put your Christmas decorations up instead 🎅 🎄

It’s a bit daft to suggest next door neighbours kid has done this on purpose to spite your son’s party. Put your decorations up, buy a few extras to drown theirs out, or just sell yours on Facebook marketplace place and get all new ones.

Still overdramatic.

Just put the decorations up as you were intending to. He needs to understand it's not practical or financially sensible for you to return these and they are what you're using. He's got a month to get used to it.

Whilst her choice of words may lack empathy, the essence of what she's saying is correct. Caving to a 9 year old's wishes in circumstances like these is a slippery slope. It sets the child and the parent up for a very difficult time if he isn't taught that this is an overreaction and that he cannot have his own way on everything.