thekidexperience

Growing up in the 70′s & 80′s, we had the same fake (excuse me, artificial) Christmas tree that we hauled out from the crawlspace each year. We went all out with decorations that included school-made gems like the paper-plate-macaroni-wreath, the red-plastic-cup-jingle-bell and the pipe-cleaner-candy-cane.

We also had typical decorations of the time like tinsel, garland and the awesome finishing touch, Snow-in-a-Can! (which my brother and I used to fight over, so my mom would end up doing it). We capped it off with this incredible, colourful, spinning disco-star that would light up the room with awe and wonder – a tree-topper that I have not since seen equalled. (I have to find a picture of that)

Janey’s family on the other hand, would get a real tree every year (trimmed with equal style and awesomeness), so it became a real sticky point, our first married Christmas together.

In the early years my stubbornness won out and we trimmed up a pretty decent fake (oops, artificial) tree but when we had our first daughter a number of years ago, Janey finally won the argument to go out and get a real tree.

We decided to do it right the first time out and go to an actual tree farm to cut down one for ourselves. That itself is a pretty fun experience for kids as they run through the “magic-christmas-tree-forest” in their little snowsuits looking for the perfect christmas tree.

I will admit that we haven’t really looked back since. I’m officially a convert. Real trees may be a little higher in maintenance and you have to deal with shedding needles and such – but there is something a little extra-special about having a robust, real Fraser Fir perched festively in your home.

So there it is. A once staunch “faker” (artificial-er), converted to the “real” camp…

…but what of our fake/artificial tree from early in our marriage? Well, it has spent a number of lonely years boxed up in the basement but I just can’t bring myself to put it up on Kijiji.