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Original poster

What to do about Christmas bauble tradition…

142 replies

Xm4smad · 02/09/2024 15:17

Before I had children I decided that every year I would buy a bauble and put it away for them to have when they move out. I started by picking baubles that were relevant to the year (first year I got my son a sheep bauble as we sang ‘baa baa sheep’ about a million times to him, second I got him a bear to signify his first word. Now he’s at an age he could probably pick something himself so do I;
a) continue to choose something myself that’s relevant to the year
b) let him choose his own, but have a little note about the year.
c) just give up now - he won’t care about them or want them when he’s older.

OP posts:
Cornishmumofone · 02/09/2024 15:21

C. They probably won't mean anything to him.

longdistanceclaraclara · 02/09/2024 15:22

I think I'd go with C, sorry!

We always get a bauble when we go away but not with the intention of handing down. The kids can have them if they'd like but I wouldn't want to inflict them on them if they wanted a pristine themed tree.

I'd take him and let him choose one.

RedHelenB · 02/09/2024 15:22

Do you put them on the tree each year? Mine weren't bought a new bauble every year but each have matching " special.baubles) maybe about 7 or 8 each that they lije to put on the tree. Once they have their own homes it will.be up to them if they take them or not but the memories are there from them putting them o a d choosing which branch each year. HTH.

ANiceCuppaTeaandBiscuit · 02/09/2024 15:22

Oh I love this idea, and might steal it for my girls, though I’d have to backdate a bit. I’d probably keep choosing myself but adding a little note about the year is lovely. I’m not one for keeping things, and keepsake boxes etc, mostly it’s a lot of rubbish to collect dust. But the Christmas decorations come out every year and this would be lovely to have 🥰

GuestFeatu · 02/09/2024 15:24

I think the idea of giving an 18 year old 18 baubles for his Christmas tree is one that sounds nice when he's a baby but in reality will be received with a 🫤 face. Just collect them for your own tree and enjoy the memories in the future.

Needmorelego · 02/09/2024 15:24

How old is he now?

AmazingBouncingFerret · 02/09/2024 15:26

I let mine choose one for themselves every year.
my eldest will be 18 this Christmas and after a brief couple of years of “I’m not that fussed” it’s gone back to a higher level of enthusiasm!
The tree is outstanding now though. 18 years (plus 15 years for my youngest) of baubles and ornaments that don’t match but all meant something at the time!

Kitkat1523 · 02/09/2024 15:27

He won’t care about them OP….I always buy a bauble when I go away somewhere but when I’m gone I fully expect then all to end up at the charity shop…..he will be in his 30 likely before he’s even arsed about having a tree of his own….then he will likely be with a partner who will want to choose their own babbles together…..it’s a nice idea …..but maybe stop now

Elbone · 02/09/2024 15:28

We do this every year. Even if they end up throwing them all away instead of putting them on their own trees, we love the tradition of all getting wrapped up, going to the garden centre, helping each other pick baubles, having a hot chocolate and a play on the playground.
Sometimes it’s nice to enjoy the moment and not worry if it will be relevant in 20 years x

Haroldwilson · 02/09/2024 15:28

You say children - is it more than your son? Would you do this for subsequent children too?

I think it's kindly meant, but a bit nuts. Have you met 18 year old boys? They're not known for liking sentimental trinkets. He's likely to move out to a messy share house or to move in with a partner who won't want her mother in law decorating the Christmas tree for her.

Keep them for yourself, they're your memories. He won't remember his first word or think it's at all important. He might remember seeing the baubles through his childhood and enjoy seeing them again at your house. Keeping them hidden away is verging on creepy.

ICanBuyMyselfFlowersICanWriteMyNameInTheSand · 02/09/2024 15:29

C. Sorry. I think people generally like to decorate trees in order to look good rather than sentimental stuff. And I think the baubles would mean more to you than him so why not carry on what you're doing but for your own tree.

Maybe take a pic of him each year, infront of the tree with the new bauble and compile the pics somehow. That would show him growing and enjoying Christmas.

LePetitMaman · 02/09/2024 15:29

It's a lovely idea. And I'm also a Christmas obsessive. But I have to tell you, they honestly don't care. Not in proportion to the thought and meaning it has to you. If it makes you happy, then definitely do it.

(Just waiting for someone to come along and insist their child adores the "whatever" they stockpiled and handed over Grin)

TheClawDecides · 02/09/2024 15:30

It's a lovely thought but I went with 'Just don't bother' because what if he or any future partners don't want them on the tree?

And then there's the responsibility or carting them from one loft to another whenever he moves.

I'm sure he'd be gutted if he broke them.

Elbone · 02/09/2024 15:30

Elbone · 02/09/2024 15:28

We do this every year. Even if they end up throwing them all away instead of putting them on their own trees, we love the tradition of all getting wrapped up, going to the garden centre, helping each other pick baubles, having a hot chocolate and a play on the playground.
Sometimes it’s nice to enjoy the moment and not worry if it will be relevant in 20 years x

Also, the kids love unpacking previous years’ decorations and laughing at the stories behind them when we decorate the tree.

Candleabra · 02/09/2024 15:32

GuestFeatu · 02/09/2024 15:24

I think the idea of giving an 18 year old 18 baubles for his Christmas tree is one that sounds nice when he's a baby but in reality will be received with a 🫤 face. Just collect them for your own tree and enjoy the memories in the future.

This. Sorry.
But love the idea of meaningful baubles. Use them on your tree now and enjoy them every year.

SilverBranchGoldenPears · 02/09/2024 15:32

i like the idea in principle and we do buy baubles together but the chances of their partner wanting baubles that you chose to the the mainstay of their Christmas tree are very slim.
Your kids will make their own home as adults with someone else. Do it for your tree?

Spinet · 02/09/2024 15:33

A trip to a special Christmas shop (we went to Liberty once) to pick one would be lovely. Then there's the memory as well as the object.

When they are 18 they might scoff but when they have their own households and families they (and their partners) will probably feel differently.

PullTheBricksDown · 02/09/2024 15:33

If you're not putting them up and using them on the tree now, how will he have any nostalgia about them later? I have this for some of my childhood Christmas tree decorations but because I remember them going up year after year.

Ponderingwindow · 02/09/2024 15:36

A

we do this too. My dd is 15 and it is an ongoing tradition she takes very seriously.

im not handing over the box of duplicates at 18. I buy 2. One for me and one for her later home. I’ll deliver it when she finally is established and doing things like setting up her own tree

ITSSSSCHRISTMASSS · 02/09/2024 15:36

All my DDs have a significant bauble, but just the one each. I have lots of baubles I’ve collected over the years, through travelling, special occasions, but they are for me not my DDs. Right now all they care about is their favourite at that moment in time and their 1 special one significant to them.

They also have a collection of home made ones through nursery/school/home. Some seem more treasured than others, but how long the desire to keep them will last I don’t know. Some are pretty flimsy so I can’t see them lasting the test of time.

it’s a nice idea but not sure your DC will feel the same. I’d also let them choose if your keeping it up as it’s not about them if your choosing, it’s about you.

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 02/09/2024 15:38

Do you decorate the tree with them? Then go with he goes with you to pick a bauble, you add the year to it some way, and then you put it with the other decorations.

Another idea is you take dc to a pottery painting place and have a hand decorated bauble by your dcs, put the year on. (And if you have more than one dc, add their name/initials). Warning when they are giant teens you will cry at the tiny finger prints/wobbly snowman painting.

casapenguin · 02/09/2024 15:41

I actually do have inherited baubles and take them very seriously 😂 however we used them when I was growing up every year so that’s where the meaning comes from. We also had a very… erm… particular? way of decorating the tree which involved an entire evening getting them out the box and discussing our favourites etc - apparently this is not normal. And yes I am an only child 😂 so I think you can have a lovely bauble tradition but as it stands hanging them over at 18 might be a bit weird

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 02/09/2024 15:43

My mum has held onto all the special baubles etc she bought 'for us'. She knew she'd get more pleasure from the memories than we would - we have no recollection of choosing them, but she does.

mondaytosunday · 02/09/2024 15:44

Well now, you just don't know.
On another thread it was asking about 'making memories'. I wrote that you don't 'make' them in a planned way - you never know what will stay with your child. For me one fond tradition was going out every year with my Dad, just us, to pick a Christmas tree. He was so patient as a dragged him around at least two or three stalls around town before heading back to the first one! So I continued this with my kids - for the first few years we actually went to a farm and cut one down after lots of debate, then the tree quality got poorer so just went to pick a ready cut one. We always had hot chocolate and I thought it was a special memory for us. Well my son has moved out and this year my DD goes to uni so I said 'oh no you won't be here to pick the Christmas tree'! She looked at me as if I had two heads - I guess she does not have share the same warm cosy feeling about it!
So you don't know - but keep buying the ornaments. They may not necessarily appreciate it when you hand them over, but maybe when they have their own kids or, dare I say it, when you are no longer around, they will look at each one and recognise the love that went into choosing them.
By the way my son said he'll take the time off work and visit and pick the tree with me this year!

weareallqueens · 02/09/2024 15:45

I was going to do that tradition but quickly worked out that 2 children x 14/16 years adds up to a lot of crap on the tree. So I've let it slide. If there's something they really love I'll get it, and it's 'theirs' but it's a tradition more for me than them so I'm not keeping it up.