Thread: My 5th annual halloween party was Saturday...

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Well, after 3 months of prep - the big night finally arrived. I have worked countless hours on this party, as you all know! I took off work Friday and I mean I literally did not sit down all day Friday or Saturday - I worked every minute trying to get everything done.

To review - the kids party was from 7-9. I have 2 boys, ages 14 and 11. This year, I decided to have dinner before hand, at 5, for close friends and family.

THE OUTCOME:

Good: The dinner was GREAT. Bad: I never got a bite of it.

Good: I had everyone bring something (food) to help me out. Bad: I still spent $225 on food myself.

Good: The professional photopgrapher/photo op area was so fun! Bad: Them damn teens (who have 783 pictures of themselves on facebook!) would NOT come in and get their pictures made!!

Good: The costumes were amazing!! My friends were at least....Bad: Not ONE child dressed up!! They are the ones that ask if it'll be a costume party all the other years!! I do it this year, and no one dressed up!

Good: The haunted hayride went off without a hitch. Bad: The older ones woundn't stay sit down, kept jumping off the trailer, etc...sooo, will be the last year I do that crap.

Good: The bonfire was popular as it was sooo cold here that night. Bad: some 14 yr old idiot had to get a stick and set it on fire and go around poking kids with it! WTH will they start to act like decent freackin' people??!?!?!

Good: All the adult friends/family that showed for dinner part had a great time and enjoyed the costume part. Bad: it was the smallest turn out - kid wise - ever in all 5 years. Only about 25-27 kids there.

FINAL CONCLUSION:
With the kids getting older, getting dating age, etc...and in light of the fact that they can't act right for 2 freaking hours, I have told the family, this was the last year I will do this. I didn't want to let on to my hubby and boys, but I am very upset about the whole thing. Mainly, I put SO much work into this, this year. AFter being on this forum so much, I really worked my ass off. Some adults raved about my props and work, etc... but you know, overall, it just wasn't worth it. I am exhausted. I didn't enjoy the party, cuz I was so tired. And you do all that work, go to all that trouble and expense and those heathens act like that?? Hell no, not any more. They picked up rocks along the hayride route, and would throw them at my actors as they tried to scare them!! I mean, really?? You can't act any better than that??!?! And I am good friends with many of the parents - and when they ask me how it went, etc - I just want to tell them, NOT SO GOOD! In fact, I won't do it again - but then they'll say, oh no I hope my son didn't act up! And I really want to say, as a matter of fact I had to yell at your son twice to stop jumping off the trailer. *deep breath* but I know that won't get me anywhere.

If I do anything, it'll be like the dinner deal, for my friends and family. Which really sucks, after all, Halloween is a child's holiday, and to cut them out, just doesn't seem right. I may just not do anything at all. At this point, I am so upset about it all, I am ready to throw away all my props and never mess with it again. Very, very upset and disgruntled.

ETA: oh yeah, no pics either. I was running so fast, so furious a camera was the last thing from my mind. Sorry

Sorry it didn't turn out the way you hoped BevAnn. I don't really know what else to say except what a bummer! Damn teenagers. Sometimes people just don't appreciate the hard work and thoughtfulness that others put into doing something special and fun, and that sucks. Hope you feel better soon!

Thanks heavymetalmama. I know not everyone gets all the work that goes into this - I wish all ya'll lived by me - you would have KNOWN! You all would have appreciated!!

*sigh* and I know, kids will be kids. But I swear, if I EVER heard my sons went to a party and acted like some of these kids acted, I'd tan their backside!!

Oh yeah, the showing of Trick r Treat after the party, was mixed - with the majority saying it was stupid. It jumped around way too much for them to follow it. Although, one 10 yr old girl had nightmares that night, her daddy told me the next day. *evil giggle* that made me feel a little better. LOL Hell, I'm just happy to get ANY reaction out of 'em at this point!

I'm really sorry to hear that it didn't turn out that great for you. It's hard to put not only so much of your own money into something, but the time, love and heartfelt enthusiasm that goes into doing something on this level, only to have it ripped out by a bunch of heathens is heartbreaking.

You are experiencing after the big event letdown. You work and work and envision things as going to be so great, then there is the let down period. I used to go through this with big family gatherings that we used to have. We had some that were very difficult to deal with, I even bought ipacec syrup once with visions of doping the iced tea of anyone being obnoxious. (I never did and it was adults not kids lol).

As far as kids jumping off and back onto the trailer and poking others with hot sticks, or even putting sticks into the fire at all, as the host you are legally liable if someone gets hurt and you have every right to sit out anyone who is behaving in an unsafe manner. ALWAYS.

BevAnn- I am so sorry for your disappointment. I know you put a tremendous amount of planning and work into this. I have read all your funny and inspiring posts. You are a great lady. Some kids only want to show off and impress the other kids. They probably don't even see the big picture of what they are ruining. Ya know, probably when they grow up, they will remember your haunt and think back fondly. How could they not? I know it still hurts that they did not respect the haunt after all your hard work and $$ you put in just for everyone else's enjoyment. Take a nice rest (you deserve it) and be proud and happy with your effort.

Boy, how dissapointing. But even if some of them acted like buttheads, I'll bet the majority of them had a great time and thought the whole thing was really cool (although they'd NEVER tell you that).

That totally sucks!

I can only hope that after a time, the memory of this will fade and all that will remain is the yearning to do it again.. For yourself and for those of us who really do appreciate it. Whether we are there in person or digitally thanks to the internet and this forum.
I can't promise that a small number of people will never be rude, obnoxious or unpleasant, but I can promise that most will scream, laugh and have many good memories thanks to you.
The burn does fade eventually, I can't say in how long (it took me 3 years after a similar realization).. but when it did I could not stand it anymore. I had to scare something. I had to keep Halloween alive where I live cause it is literally dying out. Good Luck, hang in there and thank you..

May your jacks burn bright!

Awwww BevAnn *big hug*
That must have been a terrible feeling doing all that work and not having it appreciated.
Like the other poster said, hopefully the bad memories will fade and the spirit will hit you again.
It probably is a good idea to evaluate and change a few things for next year.
I gave a party with the youth I work with this past saturday as well. I was afraid it would turn out kind of like yours did but they were model party go-ers. Didnt mess with my props that I brought from home and even did all the cleanup themselves!
Since the kids are getting older, perhaps you need to involve them more in the process. If they helped set up, plan and cook, they would be less likely to to mess it up.

MsM