“There are moms out there who film their children doing the Christmas tree set-up, and I admire them. Because there’s no f–king way my child is touching my Christmas tree.”
It’s the age-old question that has divided festive parents for decades.
Do you let your kids decorate the Christmas tree? Or are you the one-and-only chief ornament placer?
Two types of Christmas moms
There are two types of mothers in the small, but intense, corner of the internet belonging to Christmas Moms.
Those who film their children adorning the tree with paper and clay creations from daycare, and dangling baubles on low branches, where they hang on for dear life.
There is tinsel in clumps, tangled lights and a crooked star. It’s a mess, but… memories.
Then there are Pinterest Moms. With magazine-shoot-worthy trees: no gaps and flawlessly styled bows and bells.
Who stay up in darkness to decorate and would rather put a playpen around the tree, than have gingerbread-covered fingers touching perfectly fluffed faux leaves.
And the kid’s craft? That’s hidden on a second tree in the playroom.
Because Instagram photos are more important than magic for the kids. Amiright?
“I’ve set it up exactly how I want it”
Former reality TV star, and presenter, Tayla Broad falls into the latter camp.
The Christmas fanatic is one year into parenthood but knows exactly where her daughter stands in the decorating department – and that’s way outside of it.
In a TikTok video, that has moms around the country nodding their heads in agreement, she makes her stance clear: “There’s no f–king way my child is touching my Christmas tree.”
While the Melbourne mom “admires” families who decorate together, for her there was only one option – dress the tree while the toddler sleeps.
“There’s moms out there, (who) film their children doing the Christmas tree set-up, and I really admire them,” she says.
“Because there’s no f–king way my child is touching my Christmas tree. She’s asleep and I’ve set it up exactly how I want it.
“She will not be helping until she’s at the age, where she knows the placement… until then, no. Don’t touch my Christmas tree.”
She added in the caption that she’s considering getting her daughter her own tree.
“Everyone has second trees, guys”
You might think this a minority view, but a scroll of the comments and social media – shows this is a movement.
While Christmas Magic is about kids, the styling and decorating is for moms.
TikTok videos show moms ‘toddler-proofing’ their Christmas trees, with giant fake presents and clear elastics tied on every single hanging decoration. While others set up smaller trees just for the kids.
In 24 hours, Tayla’s video had 390,000 views, and nearly 800 comments.
One mom admitted her daughter only passes her the decorations, and never touches a branch.
Most mothers act like their kids have creative control, but as soon as their eyes are shut they “fix” the tree styling.
“I let my kids do it, film it, and then change everything to be exactly how I want it when they are asleep,” a mom wrote.
Other mothers are fans of children decorating the back of the tree. “Not me turning the tree so their decorations face nothing but the wall”, one savvy mom suggests.
Some users blame the strict ‘no touching rule’ on our festive heroes.
“Our elf puts our tree up for this exact reason,” a clever mom noted. While a second parents tells her children that Santa doesn’t want the tree touched.
Another serious stylist doesn’t even let her partner near the jolly centrepiece, “my 30-year-old fiancée still isn’t old enough to set up the tree”, and Tayla replied, “I feel this”.
Many people wrote about getting additional trees for kids. “I got my boys a $5 tree from Kmart, they were so happy to decorate it exactly how they wanted… and I got the bonus of doing our big tree alone.”
However, some moms thought this behavior was not in the spirit of Christmas.
“Imagine caring more about what a Christmas tree looks like than making magic and memories with your young daughter,” one mom shared.
Another said, “my mom is like you, it’s a joy stealer. Now my kids set up the tree how they want because Christmas is about making memories”.
While I love the enthusiasm from both sides (I wouldn’t go as far as banning kids from touching a tree) I do lean more towards giving mom, the undisputed hero of Christmas, something that’s hers.
Blame Santa or the Elf, get those second and third trees going, but let mom have her shiny tree to stare at while she’s silently losing her mind making everyone else’s Christmas perfect.
