Who is BU about Christmas Tree decorations?

[GooseOrTurkey]

DH and I do not see eye to eye on this topical topic.

We have a small tree in the family room for the DC with non-breakable baubles in bright colours and tinsel etc, and a more tasteful red and gold tree in the front “adults only” (in theory!) room.

Over the last couple of years, DH has been sneaking additional baubles onto the tasteful tree. And I hate them. I really don’t think I am being precious; it’s not that they’re not quite the same size or colour. It’s that they are great big random shapes, and that they are hideous.

This year he has added a roast turkey on a platter, a car with a Christmas tree on the roof, a neon blue glass crab, a glittery green lizard, and a rainbow ice lolly. The last four aren’t even remotely related to Christmas FFS.

I keep hiding them around the back of the tree (“so people can see them as they come up to the front door, darling”), and he keeps moving them to front centre.

I say they are ugly and they just plain don’t go. He says I am being snobby (I’m not, they were more money than the red and gold ones!), and that his DM bought them for us (yes but only because he wanted them, and she spoils us; left to herself, she buys pretty ones).

We can’t put them on the DC tree because they’re fragile and the DC are too young. Plus, I don’t want to be explaining a Christmas lobster to a 5 year old and a 3 year old and a 1 year old .

So, who IBU? Should he be allowed to have whatever makes him happy, or should he leave my lovely tree alone and stop spoiling it with ugly things?

(Disclaimer: Light hearted but he might end up with a Christmas lizard up the arse if he keeps it up!)

@GooseOrTurkey
I'd love to know your postcode so I can locate the "tasteful trees neighborhood"

YABU
Let your family be. Your husband sounds fun . Don't be too precious

(By the way I really don't need to know where you live in case the stalking MN 👮 decide to try have me arrested)

YABU! Our tree has been full of very fragile glass ornaments since the DC were born! Most of them are vintage from the 1950s and a few even older.

My DC have been taught how to handle them. When they were babies, they couldn't reach them...we hung them higher and had a number of non breakable ones lower down.

Over the years a couple have broken but that's how they learn! You can't just ban them from being near nice things!

I'm lucky my DP leaves me alone when it comes to decorating the tree. But the decorations made my my kids (all are oddly shaped, large and clashes with the colour scheme) are front and centre on the family tree. Life's too short, let your husband get some weird and wonderful decorations.

Mine too ysmaem but I get the feeling that the OP's DH treasures these ornaments because they were a gift from his Mother. He should put them on the tree with the kid's things...and all the colours...just hang them higher and explain to the DC that they're not to be touched...

Kids tree and then my tree. Would kill OH for trying to add tack onto the nice one (and knows better). You definitely need a third tree.

I have a tatmass tree in the kitchen It's . full of robots and dinosaurs in santa hats. Every year DH is dragged to TK Maxx to add to the tat. It's glorious and I love it.
I have a nice, sensible tree in the lounge but my tatmass tree is my favourite. Your DH is ace.

YABU

I got this beauty in asda at the weekend

Yep. Mum, dad and kids all in separate rooms decorating their own trees. Christmas in a nutshell.

Maddie lovely trees but IRON THAT TREE SKIRT for God's sake! If you're going to have a "show tree" you can't have it creased like that!

YABU! Christmas is the season for tat.

Why on earth would we be decorating them in separate rooms? What a way to look for a cloudy lining around a lump of shiny silver .

DC play with theirs all day, whilst we are in the family room together, DH and I have a glass of wine (or two) with the naice tree later in the evening, and his “yet to be purchased but sounds like a good idea” fun tree can go in the kitchen and lobster itself up however it likes.

Nice trees, Maddie.

Janiah, that gave me heart palpitations in case DH saw it over my shoulder and needed it!

Laughing out loud at the thought of

"having a glass of wine with the nice tree" 😂

Does it prefer white or red?

I suppose the tacky tree prefers a can of Stella.

I think the tacky tree has earned whatever it feels like after it’s had 3 DC molesting it all day. Fever Tree, maybe?!

So sorry. I sort of wanted to agree with you but find stages trees to be a bit cold and not in the full Christmas (read gaudy) spirit. December is a time to let your hair down and embrace the lizard.

I think you clearly need a third kitch tree just for your husband. Perhaps suggest a small white or silver tinsel tree on the kitchen windowsill to make a feature of those 'special' baubles?

Am I missing something - why would you not want to explain a lobster to little kids? Is lobster a euphemism for something?

Christmas lobsters don't need explanations. Many of the vintage glass baubles are of odd subjects.

And fish are something which were often depicted.

I find “tasteful” perfect trees soulless.

Christmas lobster can be like our hideous bright coloured fish shaped plate that we have “gifted”, hidden or smuggled and placed on display in each other’s (mum & 2 sisters) houses for 10 years now.

It’s the ugliest plate that has brought huge amounts of fun and laughter.

I was in an amazing Christmas shop recently. It was massive, on three floors, and well over 20 ‘rooms’. There were literally hundreds of trees. Some were themed, some tasteful, some eclectic and others looked like a grotto had exploded over them. They were all fabulous!

The only solution to this is to get a third Christmas tree I’m afraid.

There is no such thing as a 'tasteful' Christmas tree. If you think a tree covered in red and gold decorations is 'tasteful' then you have a funny interpretation of the meaning of that word.

Oh, like you didn’t know that “tasteful” was meant in the specific context of Christmas trees.

And YOU must have a funny definition of the words “light hearted”. Christmas games must be a barrel of laughs at your (OBV highly tasteful) house 😂😂