Thread: Somebody kick me ... I gave up.

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I'm not looking for sympathy nor am I being dramatic ... I just got tired. I was so into things this year and then my mother had a massive heart-attack 5 weeks ago and I had to go to FL and stay a couple of weeks. I came home and just lacked enthusiasm and didn't do anything for Halloween for about a week and then, after reading this forum again (damn you all!), got rejuvenated.

Two weeks ago my youngest son had to have an EKG and we were told that he had a serious heart condition and needed a specialist. There isn't one where we live so we had to drive to FL (again!) and have a bunch of tests and stuff. Turns out that he's fine ... perfectly healthy. The tech that did the EKG where we live wasn't skilled to do pediatric EKG's and messed up, hence the MISdiagnosis.

We got home late last night and I ran out of time for doing things today and lo and behold, my parents called and are coming tomorrow for a week. Did I mention they have 5 dogs that they travel with??? lol!

I tried on 4 different costumes that I bought last year and none of them fit right. (Shame on me for not trying them on sooner, I know.)

Anyhow, I had a MAJOR meltdown. I took everything down. The yard is bare, the house is bare. You would never know that a Halloween nut lives here. Hubby is soooo mad ... youngest son cried for over an hour ... oldest son says he doesn't understand.

I've been into Halloween for years and never felt like giving up. Frustrated, yes. Stressed, definitely. But now that people know me as "that Halloween lady w/ the cool house" ... well now I feel ... obligated.

Has anyone else ever quit right before the big day???? Can you change your mind? And if you do ... what does crow taste like?

Um....O.K. (Thump)...You have been kicked.
Just do your best to have a good Halloween....don't worry about beating what you did last year...and it is never too late to go back!

You have plenty of time to set back up...just restart slowly and you will get back into it...Before you know it, by Wednesday afternoon you will have everything back out and be good to go with your costume! You can do it...and more importantly you and your family will be glad you did!

I'm sorry you had a Halloween meltdown. The deal with your son's EKG didn't help matters I'm sure. And I'm guessing your parents aren't into Halloween much? Or is that the reason they want to come now?
Only you know what you are going through now, and we can only guess. I think we all get in a funk sometimes for different reasons. I think I'm actually trying to do too much this Halloween and what I was always afraid of happening - that Halloween would not be FUN anymore--was about to become a reality. So I just mentally scaled back and tried not to be such a perfectionist on every prop. (Hard for me.) Plus I've got my in-laws and my own Dad and sister coming just for Halloween this year.
It's too bad we all can't physically come down and try to lift your spirits. We're all here for each other in cyberspace, though.
Maybe if you just started putting out a few props or your favorite one that would help brighten your Halloween mood. I'm thinking you will probably regret it for the rest of the year if don't do anything for Halloween. I hope you feel better soon.

I am not going to have my walk through in the backyard. I am having what is already made moved up to the front yard and hubby and son are going to arrange it to look like something decent. On Wednesday. I can't do anything but watch and direct traffic and hope it comes out okay, may not even have the tombstones out.
Why? You may ask?
Because I just had emergency surgery on Thursday and am home, weak as a kitten and in too much discomfort to care.

I don't want to let down the kids and hubby and our youngest are being great and actually giving ideas and support.

If it isn't in you this year, just let it go. You have had a rough month, relax, take your family TOTing and enjoy other people's yards. It will help you get your fire back for next year!
Good Luck!

SB it is normal that you have this meltdown , dealing with what you just went trough AND i totally understand where you are coming from ....last year i was ill , in and out of dr office and hospital test and feeling sick as hell , not knowing or finding out what was wrong with me.....it was stressfull , i wanted to do stuff but just felt like crap.... but my husband saw i was sad not being able to do much so he did all the stuff i ususally do for me , my friend came and helped for my daugther first halloween party ......so i felt better to see people around me cared enough to help me out .

so i too am kicking your behind and go put your stuff back out for halloween , this should be your thing to make you feel better and enjoy and get out of your everyday life and problems..... i am sure the family around you understand that or can understand it....just dont let halloween skellies lying around so the dogs can play with hehehehehe
now please go enjoy yourself IT IS ALLOWED !!!!!

Hey Belle, you don't need a huge setup to celebrate. Carve some pumpkins with your family and set them out. Put on a simple costume and give out candy.

It's all good!

My prayers go out to you and your family...hope all will turn out well for you.

It's alright to take a break...give yourself time to recoup...maybe throw a couple o' pumpkins out and start fresh next year. It will give you more time to prepare and ease your mind.

Take care of that family...it's more important. If your not having fun, it's not gonna be enjoyable. Maybe let your hubby and kids surprise you and let them and put it together for ya...kinda like a surprise.

Don't let it get to ya...theres always next year.

Dear SouthernBelle, I understand where you're coming from. You've been through a lot of "bad" stuff recently, but don't give up the things you enjoy. I also had a small meltdown. My collie died a couple weeks ago and I'm just not getting through the grief all that well. I started preparing in August for my Halloween display. I do a series of static vignettes along a theme. So I wrote out a script of what they would be and had a good start on a fireplace prop and thought i would be ahead of schedule. Then a series of events came along that redirected my efforts, and crummy weather on days I could work on the display, and my dog dying, and being unable to translate the vision in my head into my display. I just wanted to quit, but I can't now because a lot of stuff is already up but not coming together for me. I kind of "lost" it for awhile today. I keep telling myself to just get it lit up and finish up what I can and it will be fine. So I got part of it lit up now and have to remind myself that I still have a couple days to do whatever I feel like I can get done.

I think you should give it another go...just put back out what you are comfortable with. The TOTs will appreciate your effort...and the candy! And you will retain your title as "The Halloween Lady with the Cool House!"

Hey Belle.
Let me start by saying we know how you feel. It does get hard trying to keep up with our own standards on something we all love to do, while life keeps throwing things at us over and over. The stress we put on ourselves to out do ourselves season after season is harsh. I think we forget why we started in the first place. Here the weather has been nuts. Nothing but rain and wind that never seems to end. Every day i have had to rebuild the haunt and I keep asking myself why i do it. I took a long walk with my son tonight around the neighborhood to see who has done what. Seems like no one has done anything and it kind of depresses me. Why do we put so much time into it? Now my little story by no means compares to the health issuies you have with your family and i do wish all the best for all.

Now with all the things going on. Trying to keep the haunt from falling apart, trying to keep electric parts dry and working, Trying to remember and set up everything for Wed night and the list goes on. A little boy brought back my faith for what we do by just asking me one simple ? tonight. Dad can we carve a pumpkin? I looked at his face and said sure punkin (Called him that for years) We sat at the counter with a great big one and had at it. No fancy faces,no cut out designs just a simple jack o lantern of his choice. And as we sat and carved it hit me just to why i do do all this. It's not about all the props and stuff we love to build. It is (to me) about the heart and souls of the little ones and what we get to pass along to them. Case and point.

All my best wishes for you belle. Having a meltdown in no why stops what lives inside of you and even if you do take this season off, so be it. It will still always be with you........