Mum not coming on Halloween - irked?

[CleverAzureDreamer]

My mum has just let me know she’s having her hair done on Thursday evening next week so she won’t be coming over to ours to go trick or treating and watch a spooky movie with the kids (8, 10, 12). I’m slightly irritated by this as I thought it would have been nice to have a family night dressed up and go round taking the kids trick or treating.
I’ve allowed older DS to bring a friend over to come with us so it won’t be so empty but I just found it a bit selfish for a Nan to not want to spend Halloween with the grandkids! AIBU?

Ihopeithinkiknow

You jest
but what do you think Chucky was based on?
All these toddlers roaming the streets on Halloween, did you think it was without consequence?

EVEN Christmas???

Maybe nan was hoping her days of needing to help with trick or treating were finally over now your kids are older op?! My mum used to help my sister and me too and we would all trick and treat in my estate and have a spooky film at mine when our kids were small. My kids are 9 and 12 now and although my mum is more than welcome, I’m pretty sure she’d rather a nice relaxing evening than bloody trick or treating 🙈

Erm, OP herself mentioned the sexual assaults in her area and said that was the reason why she didn't want her almost teenage son out by himself?? So yes, it's hypocritical to then say she's fine for her mother to be out and about in the same area isn't it. I'd not want any member of my family, children or otherwise, to be taking that sort of risk, personally. But you do.

*You do you, that should read.

"You must have an incredibly narrow life."

Well, thank you for having a go at me. I wonder why you felt it necessary to attack me personally?

Not that I need to defend myself here. I am 59 and have lived in quite a few different cities in the UK with quite a wide range of different friends. Neither when I was younger or when my DC were of that age did "trick or treating" ever exist.

I have also worked as an expat in both Hong Kong and Moscow at different times for a number of years. I even had to put up with working in New York for six months, but that was in the Spring/Summer so I missed the "delights" of a US Halloween.

The nearest I ever got was back in the early 1980s when I was in the sixth form and some US airmen invited us to a Halloween party at the local US Air Force base - RAF Alconbury. Although that was more of a typical US Halloween party than any sort of trick or treating.

It was absolutely fascinating at the time - you were literally in the USA when you were there. Everything you paid for in US Dollars.

Anyway this thread has inspired to me watch the episode of Motherland where they all go trick or treating- such a good one! 😀

I take my kids trick or treating but it's purely for them. Walking round in the cold often wet dark streets and standing about while they knock on doors isn't fun and I wouldn't expect anyone else to suffer with me. I'm assuming your love for Halloween is because your mum made it special for you when you was a kid now it's your turn to do this for your kids. Your mums done her time

it's sad for her, as she'll be missing out on it. but it's her decision. just have a great time and feel sorry for her for missing out. it's what you make of it. take them trick or treating, have fun getting dressed up, have party food and a spooky film, and have a great time.

I only became aware of it as a thing in the last couple of years once my children started school. It was never a thing anyone did when I was a child and I wasn't aware of friends doing it till pretty recently.

I don't think that means a narrow life. And certainly the idea of some family movie event then going out afterwards in a family group is very specific and definitely not something I know of anyone doing.

I love Motherland. past few years, actually, my costume has been Anna Maxwell Martins version of Beelzebub, in Good Omens.
admittedly a considerably chubbier version :P

😂

I'm in my 40s, and it was always a big thing for us. we went trick or treating, decorated the house, carved pumpkins, had a party etc. and we weren't unusual in doing so. it's really not that new.
there's just better costumes and decorations now.

I'd have been mortified if I wanted to go trick or treating at 12 with my mate and my Mum sent my Gran to trail around after me. Surely by 12 he should be taking care of his gran, not the other way around! 😂

I can't imagine that following a couple of pre-teens around in the cold all night before coming back to watch a "spooky movie" would be high up on any elderly lady's bucket list either!

@CrowleyKitten

Have you seen the Halloween trick or treating episode? It's brilliant. Anne's giant pea pod outfit in particular is... intriguing 😂

Why have I never seen motherland is it on netflix?

I think you are unreasonable to feel irked by your mum’s decision. She’s been every year maybe she wants to give it a miss this time.

also inspired to rewatch Motherland - just genius.

I don't think I know anyone who makes Halloween a family event. They might take the kids round the local estate, or they might have a party at school. Other than that, nothing. Halloween is pointless.

@Differentstarts oh the joy of never having watched Motherland you have it all ahead of you! I think it’s on Netflix but also BBC iPlayer. It’s utterly brilliant.

Im sure it's not new for plenty of people. Doesn't stop it being new for me. It's why I'm so massively uncomfortable with it as it just isn't anything I ever did or knew anyone do so it feels borrowed and false.

I had no idea this was a thing

@dreamer but her mum wouldn't be going out on her own would she? There would be a group of them and that is safer than 2 12 year olds on their own. The op was explaining that she didn't want the 12 year olds out on their own because of what has been going on around there and that's a sensible decision. Someone piped up saying that they wouldn't send their mother out when there has been sexual assaults and again that is another sensible decision. They were the ones insinuating that the op wanted to do just that lol the point was that they all went together which is gonna be safer all round isn't it.

Thanks il have a look

@Differentstarts

Yes, but apparently it's only on until 9th November, which has saddened me! It's my go to pick me up, I've seen all the episodes so many times and it never fails to cheer me up.😃

Season 2, Episode 4 is the Halloween one 🎃

Working?

How selfish 😡