I won't hide my kid's Xmas decorations on a second tree

"I was told, thanks for making my tree look better because yours looks crap." Fair call? 

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

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' Christmas crafts, which are not main-tree worthy. 

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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

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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 in a main room.

It is perfectly decorated; colour coordinated, themed, brimming with bougie 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 daycare/kindy Christmas craft, the messy baubles, the laminated card with a tiny hand-print stamp.

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

I was shook. I was worried for their futures.

I told her the children will figure it out at some point, and have childhood Christmas trauma.

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

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"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 totally 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 ornaments just for his mum.

Even when he stopped doing that, I still happily display his Star Wars baubles and the mini-LEGO cabin 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 workmate 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 I won't hide my kid's Xmas decorations on a second tree