That Time I Tried to Cancel Christmas!

 I didn't really try to cancel Christmas.  My kids just think I did!

You see the last couple of years, decorating the tree has become more of an ordeal than a joy.  Last year was the worst!  Nobody wanted to help, one pouted because they toted more stuff in than the others, one pouted that they were decorating more than the others, one pouted about having to do any of it.  .

So my solution was to suggest that we not put up the big tree this year.  We could just do a small tree in the corner, easy peasy, done.  Here's how that went:

Everyone wanted the big tree with all the decorations.  They insisted they would all be more helpful this year...I just wasn't buying it.  I kept thinking about it and wondering what was causing this problem.  We've always enjoyed having a Hagerty tree trimming party.  What was happening?  Then it dawned on me one morning on my way to work.  I was listening to a radio show where people were calling in and discussing how early is too early to decorate for Christmas.  One caller said something that spoke to me.  The caller said she had already decorated because she didn't want to be rushed.  She wanted to have time to enjoy the decorating.  

Well duh.  There was my answer.  We are busy.  November and December are full of sports banquets, concerts, parades, games, parties, and more.  Squeezing in the tree trimming was too much.  So I decided to give the calendar a look and see where we could do it without having a ton of other things to do.  I could hardly believe my eyes!  The Saturday after Halloween was pretty much our best shot of having everyone at home (and we were still missing Dad and our college girl).  We've never done the tree before Thanksgiving before but I knew if I didn't want a repeat of last year we'd have to try something new.  Don't worry, we're not skipping over Thanksgiving! 

 We're thankful!

PYOP by me!

I'm happy to report that our tree trimming went great!  Everyone pitched in from beginning to end, I made everyone's choice of Christmas goodie and Honey came over to join the fun!  We had a nice relaxing morning together. 

So the  moral of this story- Do what works best for your family!  Who cares what the tradition is?  Who cares if others judge you or mom shame you?  I'd rather decorate early with a happy clan than when it's socially acceptable with any angry clan.