Unfortunately for us, there really isn't a good place in our living room for a tree, so we shift some furniture around and stuff it in a corner by the chair and a half. Even with this cluttered, much less than elegant appearance, it's still worth it to me. A slumpy sofa. A cup a cocoa that I don't get to drink until it's cold. A fire to make me nervous and a tree. It's how I most enjoy the season. And no one would really describe my home's style as elegant anyway, we go for more of a romper-room feeling around here.
This year, however, has been one ongoing battle to keep Ben and Clara out of the tree. Clara, in particular, can't keep her hands off the thing. With an amazing amount of dedication she will systematically strip the tree of everything in her reach. We find bows and ornaments strewn everywhere in our home. And I have become weary of reassembling it twenty times a day. What typically brings me joy has now become the biggest of my Christmas chores. So I made the decision that for this year, and maybe next our tree would look like this.
It's really quite charming don't you think. The top half is so weighed down with all my kids ornaments that they are often prompted to throw themselves to the floor in a suicidal quest for elbow room. Either that or the tree throws them down, disgusted with it's naked bum.
Overall though, it has brought me a twinkly toddler friendly version of peace. And that's really all I ask for these days. Toddler-friendly peace.
10 comments:
when MQ was a toddler we got a tiny tree that we set up on the island in the kitchen (could see from the living room) - a different solution to the same problem ;)
ROFL the tree disgusted with it's naked bum. Tell it I'm disgusted with mine, too! Toddlers certainly make it hard to have anything even semi-elegant. I do love the tree not being a battle in our house. Some lights over the mantle and the Yankee sparkling pine candle smell works for me! I do visit the tree in the other room from time to time so it doesn't get lonely. I draw the line at actually talking to it, though because it's fake anyways. Peace, ah yes, that usually comes around 8:30pm at our house. Somedays it can't get here soon enough! Have fun tonight!
We did more-or-less the same thing. A Christmas where I don't have to pick broken ornament out of the baby's mouth is better than one with an elegant tree.
This is the first year since having children that the ornaments go all the way down to the bottom. Even so, I keep the ones I really want to keep up high.
Toddler-friendly peace be unto you, my friend.
When I was growing up (the second of four children), there were many Christmases when the tree was strategically placed in a playpen. I kid you not! We would even shove the presents in the playpen around the tree. It cracks me up to think of it now, but I know why my mother did it!
Been there, done that. Actually, doing it again this year! The joys of toddlerhood! :) I think it looks very happy! :)
Our tree is on the table for the second year in a row. When BubTar was little we used a superyard to cage it off. LOL. The joys of toddlers and trees!
I'LL HAVE TO SEND U A PIC OF MY TREE. THE ONLY THING I DID WAS KEEP THE LIGHTS ON IT AND PUT THE BALLS ON IT. I KNEW I DID NOT EVEN WANT TO TRY AND PUT THE GOOD ORNAMENTS ON IT THIS YR. GOOD THING TOO CAUSE NOW MY TREE LOOKS LIKE URS. THERE ARE NO MORE BALLS ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE TREE, JUST THE TOP HALF. GOOD THING WE ARE OUT OF TOWN FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YR. LOVE YALL, AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS DESPITE ALL THE CHAOS.
Our trees look very similar...but mine is loaded with candy canes all just out of toddler reach...It's like toddler torture...Merry Christmas!!
Our trees look very similar...but mine is loaded with candy canes all just out of toddler reach...It's like toddler torture...Merry Christmas!!
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