I'm thinking of leaving the tree up all year

[Ratfinkstinkypink]

I won't of course but it did cross my mind tonight as I watched my blind, child (4 years old) who is profoundly disabled roll himself across the floor to the tree. He then reached out to try to grab a red bauble (one of the colours we know he can see), the look of concentration on his face was amazing. I was only saying to his teacher the other day that I rarely, if ever, see him try to use his hands, he usually holds them fisted, close to his body. He rarely uses his hands and he even more rarely tries to hold something yet he is driven to explore the tree and all that it holds (it's all red and silver, red for him, silver for me). He loves the lights on it, I don't put the room lights on so he can make the most of his sight and I do sigh inwardly as he wrecks it again but mostly I just love his enjoyment of it.

Absolutely!!.keep it up! A Christmas tree, a spring/Easter tree, a summer tree an autumn tree and then Christmas again!

This is beautiful. What a little treasure. Thank you for sharing this OP x

I've honestly thought about doing this and changing it for different times of the year:
Jan - new year tree, decorate it it with your goals for the year and things that make you happy.
Feb - Love themed tree
March/ Apr - Easter theme
May, Jun, Jul, Aug - Summer and holiday themed
Sept - autumn and back to school theme
Oct - Halloween theme
Nov/ Dec - back to christmas

Other - Birthday months, St George's day, St Patrick's day , mother's day, fathers day - the list goes on!

The lights of course would always be on 😊

Why not. Or add the fairly lights and shiny things to something else if you feel a Christmas tree is a bit much. As student we kept our tree up all year because no one could be bothered to take it down. It got decorated for every occasion birthdays, Halloween, Easter, anything we could think of

What a wonderful scene to treasure. I love Christmas trees.
I hope yours continues to bring you both joy.

This is so lovely, absolutely keep the tree up! There are so many things I’ve done for my disabled child that I never thought I would. Sometimes plans/standards/ideas change for the good of your child. And that includes an all-year round Christmas tree! 🎄

He sounds like a wonderful boy op ❤️

To quote Marie Kondo it ‘brings you joy’. On that basis, I’d be keeping it as long as you want. If not a Christmas tree perhaps something else you can decorate with lights and baubles. Apart from high summer, where it’s too lights to bother, I have fairy lights year round because I love them.

My friend has this gorgeous white branch that has all sorts of beautiful beautiful, bright and tactile hanging things on. Maybe a branch isn’t safe as it’s sharp, but I’m sure there’s other things that can be used.

A lady in my bereavement support group does this. Her late partner put the tree up and he died before Christmas last year, and she couldn’t bring herself to take it down. She just removes the Xmas baubles and replaces them with seasonal stuff. She’s put Easter eggs, summer flowers, autumn leaves on it. Not my thing but quite sweet really and a nice way to remember her boyfriend at home.

What a moving thread...have a wonderful Christmas and yes leave the tree up! We have seasonal shelves in our dining area... change what's on them according to the time of year / whatever we are celebrating... if your son loves your tree then why not xx

Ah how lovely to read this

We have a Halloween tree as well as a Christmas tree, no reason you can’t redecorate it through the year!

No advice - but you sound like the loveliest mum ever!!!

Thanks, this is such a lovely post 😌 xx

Love to you both 💕

Aww 🥰 Make him something similar that’s special for him and can be up all year without looking too Christmassy.

This was beautiful to read ❤️

One of the most beautiful and moving posts I have read on Mumsnet. I am so glad your son loves the tree OP.

Of course you should :)
It's not just a Christmas tree... it's a sensory exploration educational tool (if anyone asks
The options are endless... lights, textures, dangly sensory items of all types! Items that encourage independent exploration/play and purposeful movement... what's not to like?!
I work with children who have severe disabilties and make use of lights and items in just that way. All the shiny things :)

And how wonderful that he's doing it himself... that is fab!!!!

Do it! If you don't want a 'Christmas tree' year round, what about another potted indoor tree that isn't season specific but that you can decorate with lights/ornaments relating to things throughout the year? That means you can keep changing it and that will be more stimulation for your DC too!

If you don’t want to keep the tree up all year, what about getting something like this or some other kind of light toy for your lovely boy?

www.onbuy.com/gb/p/remote-controlled-rgb-wall-panels-ledlights-touch-light-panels-for~p56095020/?exta=gshp&extac=gshpfa

Thank you all. I am going to look at either those light panels or some form of tree/branch that I can hang things from for him.

This!

You've won the internet today, OP 😁