Infertility During Halloween: It's No Treat

_{Image source: wintersixfour at Morguefile}

I've been dealing with infertility for several years now, and oddly enough I find the build-up to Halloween far worse to deal with than the day of Halloween itself. I think because it's become so inescapable for not just weeks but almost months before October 31 - especially now that I work as a content writer on-line, so in my writing communities and forums I have to read about people planning their Halloween-related articles and pages beginning at the start of summer, and not letting up until the end of October. Supermarkets begin filling up aisles with Halloween candy at the beginning of October, and decoration/Hallmark stores are loaded with Halloween items almost as soon as school starts in the fall.

I live in a very small development in a rural community, so we actually don't get many trick-or-treaters beyond the dozen or so children on our street. While I've contemplated in the past turning the lights out and just leaving a bowl of candy out on my doorstep, I've found that I'm actually happy to see my neighbors and their kids on Halloween, catch up a little on what's going on with them, and then say goodnight. If I lived in a larger suburban neighborhood or city, it might be different to be overwhelmed with all of the kids outside running about, laughing and enjoying fun with their parents like I may never have the chance to myself. In those situations I probably would be tempted to spend the night out in a movie theater watching an adult horror film or comedy, or at a romantic restaurant with my partner where there'd likely be no children or parents at neighboring tables.

We all need to find our own ways to cope and get through it. And there's no right or wrong way to do it, nothing improper about feeling depressed or finding that your moods can shift from feeling angry and isolated to actually being able to enjoy Halloween after all.

* Lock the doors, turn off the lights, pour an adult beverage and take a hot bath!

* Go out for dinner at a fancy, NON-family friendly restaurant with childless/childfree friends or your partner.

* Put up Halloween decorations so scary all the neighborhood kids would be terrified to ring your bell.

* Go on an overnight getaway trip to somewhere peaceful and remote.

* Plan a longer vacation trip out of the country during Halloween week.

_{Image source: Velquinn at Morguefile}

• Halloween Without Children - Life Without Baby

  Commenters at the Life Without Baby website chime in with how they got through or get through Halloween every year.

• How to Handle Halloween, Infertility Style

  A way to try to look at trick or treaters from a different point of view.

• The Infertility Voice | Halloween Has Arrived

  Blog post at "The Infertility Post" about what it's like to be infertile in Salem, Massachusetts - a town that goes crazy for Halloween every year.

• Infertility Warrior: Halloween

  A personal story which brings up the point that Halloween is the beginning of the entire Fall/Winter "Holiday Season", which is difficult in many ways for the infertile.

• I am my own candy: Halloween tips for the TTC. - National Infertility & Miscarriage | Examiner.c

  Halloween marks the beginning of the holiday season. For many, this is a wondrous time of year, filled with family, fun, crisp autumn weather, and lots of candy

• Infertility and Halloween: Cheers? Jeers? Tears? | Psychology Today

  Blog article from Psychology Today. An insightful look at the emotional minefield of Halloween from the infertile perspective, by the author of "When You're Not Expecting: An Infertility Survival Guide".