I have always said that I loved all the holiday decorating before having kids. I can decorate for each season exactly how I want to, without having the cheesy other decors out. I also knew that once we had kids that I would totally embrace the cheese and just roll with it. Now though, I have been in debate with myself. Technically this is my first set of holidays with a baby, but he is still so young. This Halloween for example, I only have Fall decor out, no Halloween. I mainly did this because we didn’t have time to go out and get Halloween stuff when trying to sell our home. But now I am pathetically feeling guilty because it IS his first Halloween whether or not he realizes it or cares at all, and I’m not all decked out for it!
Tell me, with having kids…do you feel like you need to decorate for every holiday? Meaning, decorate for Halloween, then for Fall, then for Christmas? Or are there people out there that stay away from all the Hocus Pocus spiderwebbed mantels? We have to decorate the house for just about any occasion. Recently, one of my friends suggested that I get some home furnishings from companies like Gardenfurniture.co.uk so that I can use them just for decor purposes. The kids love it, and it is quite fun. Usually, on Halloween, we take the kids out trick or treating. That’s their favorite part. Dressing up as their favorite character, then getting some candy from the neighbors. They love it. However, we’re constantly worried after Halloween about their teeth. So much so, that we’ve been looking into teeth cleaning lessons for kids to make sure they brush away all of the sugar from the sweets they’ve eaten.
Here are little peeks in to the Fall in our home currently. I’ve got a few more changes to make. I’ve found some gorgeous wall art that I need to order and I’ve also got my eye on a new pumpkin mug! I just love Fall! Lighting can be a great way to switch up decor. Lamps that give off a lovely glow are great for that fall transition; like this custom photo moon lamp. I also didn’t put every decoration out because of home showings. Also, random fact- my favorite types of decorations are ones that you can seamlessly add to your current home decor without it being over the top. Just like the leaves added to our milk jars below:
To answer your question..’do I feel the need to decorate for every holiday?’ Only the last 2 of our 5 kids are home–they are 11th and 12th graders. I have been feeling guilty lately because I haven’t put forth hardly any effort to decorate like I did when they were all home! I’m being lazy, I guess! Isn’t it funny, as moms, we put so much pressure on ourselves? One Christmas, when I was feeling overwhelmed, I had the kids list their favorite 2 foods and 2 activities, that made ‘Chrismas’ for them. It was surprising and eye-opening to me. With 5 kids several things overlapped (a bonus for me), but it wasn’t the decorations, but the simple things–deocorating cookies together and getting their special pj’s Christmas eve. Sorry, this turned out to be a long answer, lol, but I think kids just want us, as parents, to be PRESENT with them, and the decorations are like the whipped topping. 🙂 Life is full of cycles–this year, you are busy with your move, next year, you will probably have more time to devote to the ‘extras’. Cut yourself some slack. 🙂 I love your fall decorations–you are doing a great job!!
Don’t stress so much about it. Like you said, it’s not important to him- and while you’re moving at all that it isn’t worth it. There will come a day when he’ll get so excited about Halloween and will genuinely want to decorate- when that happens you can decide how to handle it. But you’re not there yet. At least that’s my two cents! Do whatever feels right to you.
I don’t feel the pressure at all. I kind of like a sparse environment. My friends know not to give me things that “sit on things”… BUT my big exception is Christmas. I have pared it back to more is less and do try to keep it simple and manageable. Part of it is the stress of the decorating, the presents, the cards. The cards are a big priority for me that take a lot of time, BUT I really love to get and send cards. My 2 cents. 🙂
I think for this year, it really doesn’t matter, so don’t stress since you are moving. But I have a 9 year old and a 7 year old and they really love seeing the changing decorations with each holiday. I think it makes them feel secure, like it’s a tradition to see the same favorite items out every year. We are believers and don’t really do Halloween very heavily, mostly fall decor. They are cool with that and have never liked the scary Halloween stuff anyway. The short answer is I think it’s fun! But maybe when Bray is old enough to notice it! 😉
To answer your question..’do I feel the need to decorate for every holiday?’ Only the last 2 of our 5 kids are home–they are 11th and 12th graders. I have been feeling guilty lately because I haven’t put forth hardly any effort to decorate like I did when they were all home! I’m being lazy, I guess! Isn’t it funny, as moms, we put so much pressure on ourselves? One Christmas, when I was feeling overwhelmed, I had the kids list their favorite 2 foods and 2 activities, that made ‘Chrismas’ for them. It was surprising and eye-opening to me. With 5 kids several things overlapped (a bonus for me), but it wasn’t the decorations, but the simple things–deocorating cookies together and getting their special pj’s Christmas eve.
Sorry, this turned out to be a long answer, lol, but I think kids just want us, as parents, to be PRESENT with them, and the decorations are like the whipped topping. 🙂 Life is full of cycles–this year, you are busy with your move, next year, you will probably have more time to devote to the ‘extras’. Cut yourself some slack. 🙂 I love your fall decorations–you are doing a great job!!
Don’t stress so much about it. Like you said, it’s not important to him- and while you’re moving at all that it isn’t worth it. There will come a day when he’ll get so excited about Halloween and will genuinely want to decorate- when that happens you can decide how to handle it. But you’re not there yet. At least that’s my two cents! Do whatever feels right to you.
I don’t feel the pressure at all. I kind of like a sparse environment. My friends know not to give me things that “sit on things”… BUT my big exception is Christmas. I have pared it back to more is less and do try to keep it simple and manageable. Part of it is the stress of the decorating, the presents, the cards. The cards are a big priority for me that take a lot of time, BUT I really love to get and send cards. My 2 cents. 🙂
I think for this year, it really doesn’t matter, so don’t stress since you are moving. But I have a 9 year old and a 7 year old and they really love seeing the changing decorations with each holiday. I think it makes them feel secure, like it’s a tradition to see the same favorite items out every year. We are believers and don’t really do Halloween very heavily, mostly fall decor. They are cool with that and have never liked the scary Halloween stuff anyway.
The short answer is I think it’s fun! But maybe when Bray is old enough to notice it! 😉