You’ve been boo-ed!

So how do you feel about being “boo-ed” or “ghosted”?? For those of you unsure, the way it works is like this: You find on your doorstep a fun Halloween surprise left by a mystery neighbor or friend. Your “surprise” could be any number of Halloween or Fall things; trinkets from the Dollar Store, homemade goodies, candy,  etc.  In with your surprise will be a note/poem declaring you’ve been boo-ed and a paper ghost. Hang your ghost on your front door or somewhere visible letting the world that you’ve been boo-ed.  Copy the being boo-ed  explanation/ poem & ghost and add a Halloween “surprise”. It’s now your turn to boo someone!

YAY! This can be a super fun activity for the kids especially. Whether it circulates through a neighborhood or is done among family and friends, many find it exciting to come home to an unexpected Halloween surprise.  My oldest won’t remember the year we were boo-ed, but he enjoyed it at the time. I can’t remember what was left for us, but I think we left a few $1 store items including a large Halloween serving bowl, some Halloween straws and puzzles. Not much, but the kids thought it was great!

NAY! Complaint #1. I personally think it’s a fun game (if you leave the candy out of it 🙂 ). However, there are some parents who aren’t too fond of the game and I can see their point. As if parents don’t have enough on their plates all the time, but especially near holidays, being boo-ed just adds to an already crazy time. Having to find a copier to print the explanation/poem, run to the store to pick up some goodies, put it together and leave it all for someone else is time consuming. In my opinion though, the time is worth it for the kids and neighbors. A couple small trinkets and a plastic pumpkin to throw them in can be picked up on a regular shopping trip at minimal cost and the availability of poems and ghosts online to print off is endless (one could even draw it or write it out if needed).

Complaint #2. Another complaint with boo-ing is some viewing it as a “who’s the craftiest of them all” competition. With the countless ideas on Pinterest and the popularity of scrapbooking, I can again see the point. However, I feel this is only in the eye of the “competitor”. I love being crafty and doing fun projects, but back to the original complaint – who has time for that on short notice?? As much as I appreciate the time others may be able to put into it, my simple, thrown together quickly concoction will have to suffice.

So, what if someone is boo-ed without wanting to be? Ending the game at their doorstep is an option, but taking the items left and leaving them on someone else’s doorstep would pass the fun along.

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If you need a poem and ghost to print out, checkout www.BeenBooed.com. For those not wanting to play, go ahead a print a ghost off anyway. Hanging him on your front door will keep the “boo-ers” away.