Christmas Trees, Part 2
While I took a break to earn a little bit of money, I thought about all this some more. I want to especially note that a holiday tree does not have to be perfect. I do have friends who aspire to perfection - I also call it Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - but they're the exception. Christmas decorations do not have to be perfect.
Potential perfection is upset by two sets of inhabitants of a home - children and pets. Children should be part of the tree trimming experience as soon as they can. Don't worry that especially young children hang ornaments low and are prone to fall off. After they've gone to bed, those ornaments can be "helped." Try to keep it in the same area of the tree though. The kids will remember.
Pets can be trained, but... The stereotype of a cat up the tree is quite true for anyone who has owned a cat. Dogs tend to want to chase the round ornaments. Or eat them. One family I know has mostly trained their pet to only play with "his" ornaments. Good luck with that. If there is a pet (besides fish) in the house, I plan on some breakage.
I do want to mention tinsel. It's getting harder and harder to find, but it is still part of some family's tree traditions. The old stuff was metal and somewhat dangerous. The more modern stuff is plastic based and sneaky. You may think you've properly put tinsel on an area, only to find a few days later that you missed a whole section. Tinsel also tends to wander all over the house. Clean up can take a while. I have found tinsel months later.
One more note of tree decorating - be careful if you have toddlers or babies who have figured out how to be mobile. You cannot watch them every second and accidents can happen. Your tree is shiny and very tempting. One year we put our small tree inside our child's playpen (he was a year old and walking). We had a green belt on the tree where he could possibly reach, but the rest was decorated and safe. Remember to keep an eye on things when you have company. Christmas tired parents do not always keep a vigilant enough eye on Junior. Visiting pets too.
I've talked about making tree trimming a family event, but what if you're not a family? Lots of ways to spread the work around. A tree trimming party is one way. My step dad was classic. He loved to cook, but he didn't want the work of putting a tree up. Mom wanted a tree. They compromised and had a party. Their rule was that guests couldn't eat any of Bob's mouth-watering ribs (and other things) unless you had hung up at least two ornaments. Mom always went back later and rearranged things on the tree. But everyone had fun and the job got done.
After Christmas is over, there remains the question of what to do with the darn thing? Live trees can be replanted. Fake trees can be taken apart and stored for another year. But what about the once beautiful, formerly live tree? It's now a drying wood and dropping needles. Fortunately a lot of cities provide for that. Check your town's disposal website for days that they will pick up used trees. Sometimes, if you get it, the disposal company bill will have that information. If you live in an apartment, ask the manager. If all else fails, ask your neighbors. Never, Never try to burn the dead tree in your fireplace!
When taking down your tree, be logical. Ornaments off first. Then garlands, and tinsel. Lights last. Sort stuff. Carefully toss out broken ornaments. Set aside ornaments that need repair. Make a note of what you might need for the next year. The after Christmas sales might have what you need. Or in November of the next year.
After you thing you have everything off the tree (get help when possible), get everyone to help look for strays you missed. Take the tree out in the daylight and look again. Somehow there is always an ornament that wants to stay with the tree.
One suggestion is to schedule the tree take down for a Saturday or Sunday when there's a football (or hockey or basketball or whatever) on tv. Make it a fun time with family and/or friends. Have a pot of chili ready. It can be a good time to review the past holiday season.
A Christmas tree is a place for a child to dream. And they can carry a lot of memories for us. Keep the safety issues in mind and have a blessed Christmas!
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