O' Christmas Tree

[kilee]

Yep-- we stopped in at MIL's yesterday for a moment (First time since the holiday). There in her living room in all it's glory was her Christmas Tree still decorated. Not to mention the stockings, garland, and Santa decorations on the Entertainment Center and end tables. I could not believe it. I had to pull dh out of the dining room to take a peek because I knew he'd never believe me. He was really disgusted w/ his mom. He asked her about it. She said she didn't feel like boxing everything up and carrying it into the basement, it was too much work (she's only 50 btw). She said at this point they may as well just leave it up . Anyone else know someone w/ a tree still up????

 

[Fan2CSkr]

Not a tree but we have a house in the neighborhood that still has christmas lights and decorations up outside. They must be on a timer cause they still go on each night!

 

[hlbtimes2]

Yikes!

Unless is mom is a very busy person, it sounds like you should start watching her for signs of depression.

 

[Aurora63]

Not a tree but we have a house in the neighborhood that still has christmas lights and decorations up outside. They must be on a timer cause they still go on each night!

They must be misplaced rednecks. Year-round Christmas lights are one of our time honored traditions.

I am ashamed to say our tree was up until the middle of February. Because DH was too lazy to take the thing to the dumpster. So we had to do it under cover of darkness, covered in plastic bags. If anyone saw us they probably thought we were dumping a body!

 

[agnes!]

*Sometimes* how we behave about the holidays when they're over has more to do with good feelings about the past than depression about the present. Maybe she misses all the fun and when your DH was little?
Also, in the grand scheme of things is this behavior actually hurting anyone? Does your MIL enjoy having the decorations up or do they actually bother her (or other family members still living in the house)? Maybe someone else could offer to help put away the Christmas decorations...

If this is the worst issue you are having with your MIL (especially considering some of the DIS/IL stories I have heard? )...consider yourself blessed.

agnes!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Seriously, this is probably a cry for help.

 

[L107ANGEL]

They must be misplaced rednecks. Year-round Christmas lights are one of our time honored traditions.

I am ashamed to say our tree was up until the middle of February. Because DH was too lazy to take the thing to the dumpster. So we had to do it under cover of darkness, covered in plastic bags. If anyone saw us they probably thought we were dumping a body!

Sorry but that cracked me up!

 

[Sparx]

Don't look at me. My tree was down on December 27. It was also boxed up and in the attic. before noon.

 

[ilovepcot]

Misplaced redneck here crying out for help!

 

[momrek06]

(she's only 50 btw). QUOTE]


In defense of your MIL: I am 52yo and I have been reduced to putting up ONLY a FIBER-OPTIC tree....YUP, let me think now OH YEAH...exactly 5 minutes....take tree out of box, put on table, plug in..YUP about 5 minutes!!! So when the holiday is over....5 minutes to put everything AWAY!!! EASY & EASY

If your MIL is anything at all like me, I went WAYYYY OVERBOARDDDD over the years(ME) decorating practically every room of the house taking practically an entire month and then I, yup, ME, MYSELF and I took everything DOWN and PUT everything AWAY...

I WAS COMPLETELY BURNT OUT. So now that DS' are 23yo and 20yo I am COOLING IT. I did warn 20yo that that would be it and did he feel he would need any kind of "counseling" as the MOTHER as basically become sort of kind of a GRINCH.....

I am burnt out with all the holidays. I did every holiday there is imaginable and waaayyyy overrrrrr the topppp.....

NEWS FLASH: I AM DONE!!!!

So tell you MIL, to simply do what I do as I can enjoy the holidays allot better without all the lights, tinsel, garland, stockings, just sit and stare all night long at my FIBER-OPTIC TREE....Oh, BTW, Xmas music is STILL allowed!!!

I just did this POST as I really love SMILIES and was dying to use this one

 

[kilee]

This has nothing to do w/ memories. She doesn't clean the house point blank. To sit- you have to usually remove items. To walk- you must high step over many items and bags of things. Her and her BF are massive pack-rat junk collectors. Like if you throw it out-- they'll take it. Neither wants to be bothered w/ taking the tree down because that would mean "cleaning/working". So, they don't do it. Oh, and she doesn't work at all. No job for the last 7 years- so she does have some time on her hands and no the youngest boyfriends child at home is 17- so thats not an issue either.

My MIL don't really have anything to do w/ each other. Her choice. Heck she barely has anything to do w/ dh-- her choice. Her Boyfriend's kids are "her kids" now. So we all have very little to do w/ them.

That is really neither here nor there-- just thought it was kind of funny that it's almost May and she still had her tree up.

 

[momrek06]

This has nothing to do w/ memories. She doesn't clean the house point blank. To sit- you have to usually remove items. To walk- you must high step over many items and bags of things. Her and her BF are massive pack-rat junk collectors. Like if you throw it out-- they'll take it. Neither wants to be bothered w/ taking the tree down because that would mean "cleaning/working". So, they don't do it. Oh, and she doesn't work at all. No job for the last 7 years- so she does have some time on her hands and no the youngest boyfriends child at home is 17- so thats not an issue either.

My MIL don't really have anything to do w/ each other. Her choice. Heck she barely has anything to do w/ dh-- her choice. Her Boyfriend's kids are "her kids" now. So we all have very little to do w/ them.

That is really neither here nor there-- just thought it was kind of funny that it's almost May and she still had her tree up.

NAAA, KILEE: I guess she is not at all like me, as I have a pretty tide ship over here.....and NO job and still doesn't want to take the tree down..ugh...
But on the "flip-side" of all of this MY mom is pretty NEAT but like your MIL's house...same thing I think my mom still has newspapers from o like 1950 STACKED to the ceiling..."hey, mom, throw some of these away already!"..."no, dear, I might need to re-read an article or too!"...and so yes, we are removing from chairs and stepping over BIG TIME at her house BUT after dealing with this BEHAVIOR for years (mom is 78yo) we have FINALLY just accepted it....ugh...!!!

 

[bigolive9]

We have a house in our neighborhood that still has christmas lights up and Santa clings on the windows. We thought the house might be empty, but I saw a little girl playing in the back yard the other day. I love Christmas, but there is a time when Christmas Decor should come down.

 

[Kahana-ri]

My mom use to leave the tree up almost until Easter. I don't remember why, I was still young. She just loved the look of the holidays.

 

[Mickey527]

Ok, I guess I am about as crazy as your MIL. Maybe a little less.
Does she have any problems or disabilities? Would she take an offer of you or your husband bringing the stuff down to the basement?
I boxed away all of my stuff but I still have my eramic tree and the wreath box in the living room.
I got my boys to carry up most of the stuff but I wanted to put it away where I always do so they just brought it up to the attic. I tore my meniscus and climbing to the attic right now is just not possible so I gave up.
I have surgery scheduled on Wednesday and I hope tat by next week I can get them to carry the rest of the stuff up and I can organize it the way I want. Until then, my ceramic tree is on the coffee table. Not plugged in, just sitting there. Peggie

 

[kilee]

No reason she cannot clean, she just doesn't. This was probably only the 4th time I've been to this house (they moved in about 18 months ago). It is disgusting. There was a 1/2 eaten sandwhich just laying on the table (nobody was eating it). There was a butter container w/ no lid- on the table- as well as a plate of what looked like fudge w/ mold. All amongst bags of groceries the dog food (they have 5) and socks (for some reason ). They use their hallway that leads from the dining room to the master bedroom as a soda/pop bottle collector. I swear there was no less than a dozen empty 2 liter bottles just laying on the floor outside their bedroom door (in their old house they used the dining room floor- since they didn't eat in there anyhow).

There is no way dh or I are going over there to help take the stuff downstairs. She's healthy, her 37 yr old boyfriend is healthy (only 6 yrs older than my dh and her son), the boyfriends 17 yr old son and 19 yr old girlfriend (that lives there) are very, very able bodied. As well as MIL's sister and neice that live there (54 and 33). Yep it's an overcrowded house w/ lots of mess, people, and pets. ICK!!!! Oh and a Christmas Tree in April

 

[agnes!]

Ah, well your & your DH's reactions make a lot more sense to me now. There's a whole history of obsessive/complusive pack-rat/collector behavior by this woman coupled with irritation at how poorly she treats her son(your DH). When I read the OP, leaving the tree up for months just didn't seem so awful by itself, but add in the other behaviors...

agnes!