The Perfect Gift this Christmas

When I was younger, and before I had children, every year I aspired to have what I'd decided was 'The Perfect Christmas Tree'. I would look at these pictures of 20ft Trees in gigantic hall ways and ooh and ahh over the choice of colour schemes and over the top decorations. So, with the vision in place I'd set to work planning that year's theme; I've covered pretty pastels, all white, traditional red to all gold. You can only imagine how many boxes of Christmas decorations I have in my garage!

If I ever travelled around Christmas time I'd always pick up one decoration to remind me of the holiday, and over the years I've been gifted special ornaments from family and friends. However, these never made it onto 'The Christmas Tree' because they never quite 'fit' that year's theme. 

I vividly remember my late mother-in-law pointedly commenting that whilst my tree was very beautiful, it was very different to what her trees were like. Her family tree was always a higgledy piggledy mix of ornaments, of coloured decorations that sometimes clashed, a visual representation of family, and there was definitely no theme to be found! 

Over the years our family has grown, and we now have four children who every December proudly bring their hand made Christmas decorations home from school. At the beginning I struggled to let go of my perfectly themed decor aspirations and thought I'd solve the problem by buying a separate Christmas tree for all of these randomly coloured hand made delights. However, that comment from my mother-in-law would always niggle at me and after she died I decided to fully embrace her higgledy piggledy approach.

Everything that means something special now has pride of place on the tree and it stands there in all its glory. We've got handmade pasta stars and cotton wool snowmen next to intricate glass ornaments and delicate mermaids. Decorating the tree is now a special time as a family where we have carols in the background, mince pies to munch on and it really is so wonderful being able to reminisce over each ornament.  

I think Christmas decorations are a lovely gift to give. Every year you get to be reminded of that person when you hang that ornament; it's a gift that keeps on giving.

Guest Blogger: Sophie Norris