'My friend has a second Xmas tree to hide her kid's crafts from public view'

"That thing that barely resembles Santa made in 2009? That's MAIN TREE-worthy. Still." 

I've recently learned that some parents (one of my friends) have a SECOND Christmas tree.

And this is a thing.

It's not because she's bougie and extra and has too much time and money on her hands. (I mean, she has all of that, but that's not why she has a second tree.)

My friend has a second tree... upstairs... hidden from public view...

Purely decorated with her kids' adorable Christmas crafts. 

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. 

My tree is imperfect thanks to my now-teen son who pops on the decorations he made years ago, knowing his mum is super proud of them. Source: Supplied

RELATED: I sent my nieces gifts from Santa but my BIL blew it

The second Christmas tree is common

Apparently, lots of parents do this. 

Their 'real' tree, the one that's suitable for public view and admiration, takes pride of place downstairs in the lounge room.

It is perfectly decorated; colour coordinated, themed, brimming with expensive ornaments.

But the secondary tree - which is often assembled upstairs, or hidden in the office, or out of sight in a back room - that's the substandard tree, or the back-up tree.

This is the tree that sports the Kindy Christmas craft, the messy baubles, the laminated card with a tiny hand-print stamp.

My friend says that as she unpacks her decorations box, she hands out each item to her kids to either put on the upstairs tree, or the main one in the living room.

I just don't get it. I told her the children will figure it out at some point, because that's what friends who lovingly troll each other do. (Don't worry, she does the same to me below.)

I love the perfect imperfection of my sentimental tree, which wouldn't mean anything to anyone else. Source: supplied

RELATED: Mum nails what her toddler ‘REALLY wants’ for Xmas

"I don't get your tree"

Of course, you do you.

There was a time when my Christmas tree was so perfect, absolutely immaculate, I used to tell my poor stepson that the baubles had cameras in them.

(#wickedstepmother)

I absolutely appreciate the aesthetic of a beautifully-decorated tree.

It's just my definition of it has changed, since my child began bringing home lovingly handmade decorations just for his mum.

Even when he stopped doing that, I still happily display his Star Wars baubles and the mini-LEGO snow house each year - the things he loved seeing on the tree as he grew up.

But everyone is entitled to do their tree, and Christmas, however they want. And as my friend told me, "Thanks for making my tree look better because yours looks crap."

Fair call.

But my tree is packed with love and memories... in the same way her secret, hidden tree is. The difference being that I could not be prouder to display mine.

Originally published as 'My friend has a second Xmas tree to hide her kid's crafts from public view'