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The original was posted on /r/AmItheAsshole by /u/Adventurous-Log-3274 on 2023-09-13 21:38:12.

Okay, so we moved to this neighborhood back in April and have been making so many plans for Halloween decorations. I have always wanted the giant skeleton. If you aren’t familiar, just search “12 foot skeleton” and you’ll find it. I finally ordered one!

We put it up on September 1st because I was just too excited to wait. People on my street all laughed about it and the teens down the street came to take pictures with it. My next door neighbor is going to make stuff to go with it.

Unfortunately there’s younger kids who are a few streets away who see it on their walk home from school and one of them cries and gets scared of it. So the mom approached me and asked if I could possibly take it down because it’s a little too scary.

IMO it’s not scary, it’s silly. I don’t like scary Halloween, I like silly Halloween. I don’t even listen to True Crime podcasts like every other basic girl these days (I wrote this drinking a PSL). I asked the mom if putting on a silly hat, a boa, silly shirt or something would work. She said no and asked again for me to take it down.

I told her that I have wanted one of these forever and that I am not going to take it down. I suggested she find a different route to/from the bus stop. She made a face and said “Really?”

I said I spent $300 on this bad boy and I want to enjoy it. Not to sound too dramatic, but in this world on fire, something as stupid as a 12 foot skeleton brings me joy.

Then she looked behind me and smirked and said that $300 shouldn’t break the bank, but that judging by the house we bought, she should have realized money was an issue for us. Then she said “But it costs nothing to be kind to a little boy who is scared.”

I’m not particularly clever or quick, so I said “Okay, well, thanks for the suggestion” and went back to weeding. She stood there and then took a picture, presumably to “blast me on social media” or her mommy groups or whatever. Whenever she walks by she scowls (doorbell cam) and takes another picture.

My husband agrees we don’t need to take it down. There is no HOA or anything. Her going down a different street would not even add more to her walk to get the kids. I think she is being unreasonable and playing up that whole corny “mama bear” thing. But AITA?