Every year I think "I'm not going to bother putting up a Christmas tree, it's too much work." Same with Christmas cards. Every year, the same reluctance. Every year I cave in and do the work.
If we didn't have grandchildren who came over on Christmas day for brunch and presents, I think I'd be able to withstand the pressure to decorate. The grandson has been asking if we put our tree up. He seems a little anxious, like he can read my mind and he can see my reluctance.
It isn't that I don't love the holiday or a decorated tree. I do love every bit of it, except for the hard work of staging the holiday.
When my sister felt this way (back before she was married), my kids and I would go over to decorate with her. Nice way to spend more time together and still get the job done! Maybe you could get family helpers to put up your tree with you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the good idea!
DeleteI think kids are a good incentive. Dave and I never have that, so our decorating is VERY minimal! (And I'm glad!)
ReplyDeleteI understand.
DeleteTen years ago I bought a skinny tree that already has lights on it. A good investment because it takes up so little room and I don't have to put the lights on, just the ornaments which I enjoy doing anyway.
ReplyDeleteI like what Ellen D. suggested.
Good solution.
DeleteWe recently stopped it all. We no longer live near family and if we get together I go to them as a good kid should do. We have no children. It got to one year after all the lugging out of the attic and spending a couple of days decorating inside and out we looked at one another and said, "why do we keep doing this?" Now I'll have a poinsettia because I love them and a holiday table cloth and sometimes nothing else. It is wonderful. We had such guilt the first year. But I know if company were coming or if we had grandchildren I would have to decorate and have a tree!
ReplyDeleteNow that I have the darn tree up I just love it; however, now I dread taking it down. Ha.
DeleteThe more Christmas adverts and articles I'm deluged with, the more I'd love to be done with the whole overblown occasion and quietly retire to my favourite armchair with a good book.
ReplyDeleteI understand. It's all become so over the top.
DeleteI LOVE the Holidays and everything about it, but as I'm Aging, I find I want to Simplify the Decorating too, which I didn't expect... as Gung Ho and over-the-top as I always was about Seasonal Decorating! My Parents did the same thing, I suppose it's not so uncommon. When we had many Guests and houseful of Kiddos we did more. I've now Raised Two Generations of Children and the last Grandchild I'm Raising is 16 now and she's not that into the Decorations at Home, she prefers going out with me to see all the Hard Work other people do in Extreme Decorating... so that's good enough for us now. The House looks and smells Festive Enough, and a lot less Work means more time to do other things together during the Season that we thoroughly enjoy as Traditions and Rituals we want to hang onto. I'm glad you put the Tree up for the Grandson tho', Bless him, it must mean a lot to him when he comes over and those Memories of Christmas at Gramma's House will be with him forever to Cherish.
ReplyDeleteI think most people become more reluctant to decorate to the fullest as they age. It must have something to do with energy reserves! I do love all the lights, though.
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