We normally don’t put our Christmas tree up until the second week in December. We enjoy getting out the ornaments and putting them on the tree. We collect airplane ornaments so it’s neat to see how many we have collected. This year, however, we are making blueprints on how to put up the tree. You see, Baden is our real dilemma. It’s really not the Christmas tree. Billy has always been in awe of the Christmas tree. He gets a special ornament each year to hang up and he loves it. He never touched the tree when he was Baden’s age. He admired it. Still does. Baden is a different story. If a drawer or cabinet is open, whatever is inside must come out. I can picture ornaments thrown everywhere. We are really afraid that once the Christmas tree goes up, there will be a path of ornaments all over the house. What do you do? Put the ornaments up high and leave the bottom half of the tree bare. Put the ornaments that won’t get damaged or broken on the bottom so if he does get his hands on them and he will, they can easily be put back on the tree. Or do you surround your tree with a “play yard” gate. We are seriously considering the last option. How lovely, our Christmas tree surrounded. Maybe a red velvet rope would add a nice holiday touch. Better yet, a security guard to protect the tree. Yeah that sounds good. Know anyone looking for a job?
I am willing to do it but whats the pay and are there benefits?
I say put up the tree but no ornaments for a while to let Baden get use to it and hopefully by the time you put on ornaments it won’t be that interesting to him. Or use those non breakable ornaments. I don’t know …my 2 mess with the ornaments more now than when they were babies.
I did the play yard barrier when Jarod was little. It worked good.
I seriously like the fence with the guard. Goes along with the airplane/flightline theme. If Baden crosses the “flightline” you could hook a a very loud siren and then “jack him up” like they do on cops. Well, maybe thats a bit extreme but admit it, if you saw that on America’s Funniest Videos you would laugh!!
Ha, Ha . . . what a lovely dilemma!
Okay…I change my vote and go with LeeAnn’s 🙂 Hilarious…I would laugh!
Just un-screw a couple of the lights ever so softly, so they still work. When Baden grabs the tree it will give him a little ZAP! It will only hurt for a minute. It worked with Bryson, but maybe that is why he screams and sucks his thumb when we put the tree up now. J/K
I say just put stuff on that you don’t care if he takes off. Or better yet get him his own tree.
My kids loved to play with the tree, too. For when they were at that “have to touch everything” age, I’d only decorate half the tree! Seriously, it looked ridiculous- but it worked!
Maybe if you let him put some ornaments on the tree and tell him how good he is doing and how pretty the tree looks with the ornaments on it he will get the idea not to touch. It is best to use the non breakable ones on the bottom and the others all on top where he can’t reach them. The gate around the tree would protect the wrapped pacakages under the tree too. Don’t forget to get the ornaments for Bill, Billy and Baden out of the upstairs bedroom closet by your sewing box.
Dad said to just put the tree up with no decorations on it for a few days to get Baden used to it being there and hopefully he will just forget about it!!!! 🙂