After my last post regarding starting holiday traditions with my son, I took him to Walmart with the intention for him to pick out a few ornaments that he liked so we could put them on the tree. The tree we don’t have yet, no I’m not being sarcastic just mad that I can’t lift the tree out of the car, hold it with one hand while screwing it into the stand all by myself with the other, I digress. My tree for the past few years has been decorated with red and silver ornaments, pretty red hand tied bows and white twinkling lights. I have refused the adding of any “icicles” you know the silver stringy things that are a pain to clean up or any ornament that doesn’t go with the color scheme.
When I made the offer to him to pick out a few ornaments, I never thought for a minute he would be smitten with Handy Manny, Playhouse Disney, Diego, and other character based ornaments. I managed to hold him off while I thought of my strategy to tell him that those things don’t match the decor of the tree and therefore would not be purchased. Yes, I sound uber ridiculous..Christmas IS for the babies right?
But what about my treeeeee, the one I don’t have?! I should just give it up right, and become obsessed with the mantle and the wreath and let the kids have at the tree. You know colorful blinking lights, singing ornaments, bubble lights (I happened to love those as a child, unfortunately they don’t come in red and silver..I checked), icicles galore, different colored candy canes, no rhyme or reason or do I purchase them their own little tree for their decorating pleasure. I know the answer, but I would really like to hear your thoughts.
Have you dealt with this? What would you do?!
The Christmas Tree Grinch,
Mimi
16 Comments
BESOS LYNN
December 2, 2010 at 1:31 pmListen, get them a small table top or 4 inch tree and let them go WILD. If the children have a play room or even room in there own bedroom put in there. Make that the tradition! You can declare it, your the mommy. Its not selfish, is it? Noooooo, labor pains give you permission to have your own beautifully decorated tree without a Diego ornament. I have multiple trees with multiple themes. I think it could work, and you could lift the smaller version (fake) out of your trunk with ease. Let me know if they go for it? Good Luck
besos,lynn
AO xoxxo
December 2, 2010 at 1:45 pmOk. You know I don't have babies, yet. So I don't know if you want my advice or not!
When I was growing up we had a children's tree. I adored it! I had favorite ornaments and I loved decorating it! After several years my mom got the bright idea that she wanted a pink and white and gold tree! Buh-bye to the kiddie tree! It scarred me. For life! Just kidding! It was ok. I now love her tree and think it is beautiful! She has great taste and now that I am older I can see why she wanted to ditch the kiddie tree.
She did put up 2 trees one year. Her "grown-up" tree and our "kiddie" tree! Maybe you could buy a small tree for the kids and have you red and silver tree?
Just an idea! That way mama and the kids are happy!
Sha Boogie
December 2, 2010 at 2:20 pmlol! nope, I haven't had the pleasure – yet. This year my son will be 15 months during Christmas, so I'm sure he'll be happy to just watch the lights blink on the tree- yipee!
michi
December 2, 2010 at 5:41 pmI am with you I also want my perfect "Martha Stewart" co-ordinated tree! Every year a certain Mother In Law (lol) gifts me with random ornaments and I never know what to do with them! While cute, they don't match my white and gold tree!
There has to be an alternative for all of those ornaments… hang them on the window maybe?
Nicole weaver
December 2, 2010 at 5:52 pmHi Mimi,
Your boys are so cute! I am now following you, please follow back at: http://marieandherfriendtheseatutle.blogspot.com
Thanks!
DaLa Chanelle
December 2, 2010 at 8:28 pmI think you should get two trees, one for the family room and have a small one for your son's room, there are small cheap ones at Walgreens on sale right now. I am now following your blog
Follow back 😉
Christine
December 3, 2010 at 7:40 amHi! Following you back…but I have to also weigh in here. I like the look of a monochromatic or dichromatic tree. Super pretty…but I have four kids. They have added their "flare" to our tree but there are still elements on the tree that keep it tied together. I use gold ribbon and scarlet ribbon around the tree and we have lots of god red and white ornaments and the tree is pre lit with white lights…They adore putting up "their" ornaments and you really don't notice the Dora and my little pony ornaments that much…Best of both worlds I guess!
Sassy Wife
December 3, 2010 at 8:02 amOh my, I love my tree and the effort that I put to figure out my color theme for that year and then strategically placing those ornaments on the tree to my liking. I could not imagine having to turn my tree into “kids delight”. My grandmother allowed us to decorate the tree, but she picked out the ornaments and she also micro managed while we placed the ornaments on the tree. I still enjoyed it and loved the tree and now have an obsession with Christmas Tree’s, color themes and making my house stand out! Thanks Grandma…lol. Maybe still use your color theme but have him pick out one or two of his favorite character ornaments and place them on the tree. He will feel proud that those are his and it will make your tree so original.
YUMMama
December 3, 2010 at 12:04 pmMy mom solved this issue by allowing us each to make one special ornament when we were kids and got to hang them on the tree year after. And she got to decorate the rest of the tree with her adult ornaments. Moo could care less how we decorate tree since she's only two. All she cares about is trying to unwrap the presents underneath and the fact that she can see her reflection in the glass balls.
L. Eleana Johnson
December 3, 2010 at 4:36 pmAs far as I'm concerned, the tree is for the girls, but it's gotta look good for me and my husband. When we're cuddling up near the fireplace, we don't want to look over and see a mismatched tree, lol! I've got red and white decorations, but there are a few off colors here and there from "baby's first Christmas" and "school ornaments." But no Cartoon characters will be allowed… at least not for now. Get your tree, and let us know how it works out for you. I'm sure you will come up with the perfect balance.
Rose's Daughter
December 4, 2010 at 3:34 amI don't know. FOr my family, it was a tradition for all of us to get together and deocrate the trees(ours and my grandother). So EVERYONE big little and small had input. Yes, the tree was decorated with lots of "different" ornaments and colors, but it was a family tradition for Christmas and we all loved it. I am continuing that tradition now.
Help! Mama Remote...
December 4, 2010 at 10:26 pmYOu sound so much like me. I was putting up decorations last wee & asked hubby to give e his advice. Then I said, "that doesn't mean I'm going to use it.
You can do a couple things. Allow him to creat his own wreath for is bedroom door with the ornaments he wanted. It'll flow with the house because it's on his bedroom door. He can also add something every year. This would show how he's matured over the years.
New York State of Mom
December 5, 2010 at 11:08 pmWe are sounding more and more alike in your blogs lol. I want MY perfect tree so I'm so happy that Chunks is still to young to care but whenever someone tries to give me an ornament or ideas I always stiffen up lol…I think we'll get them him his own "special" ornament and then distract him with something else lol #bad i know
Carla
December 6, 2010 at 3:27 pmI've purchased my son and my daughter their own Christmas tree to decorate. My daughter did the same thing: picked out all sorts of ornaments that didn't really go with "my" vision. They were satisfied, nonetheless.
Karen
December 6, 2010 at 3:57 pmI say give each person in the family their own section of the tree to decorate! That would be so fun.
Found you from bloggy moms. Hope you stop by and follow me back 🙂
http://www.notjustbabytalk.blogspot.com
Jill
December 6, 2010 at 9:21 pmHaha! That's hilarious! To be honest, we were debating whether to even get one this year. My son is 15 months and attacking everything. I'm afraid he'll pull it down, break all the bulbs etc. How do people with infants decorate?