OBSESSIVE CHRISTMAS DISORDER
I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw a quote (on Pinterest of
course) asking for forgiveness for the person's OCD problem. I thought that I was the only person around with OCD -
Obsessive Christmas Disorder. I can't help myself... I like my Christmas tree to look balanced and colour coordinated - with a different colour scheme each year. I'm not a decorator or stylist by any means, but I have a very orderly mind and there are certain things that are required when putting up the tree.
 |
| top via Zazzle |
OCD CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATING
Requirements include (but are not limited to): no two balls of the same colour within a few centimeters of each other, no tinsel (I have gone off tinsel over the years), lots of sparkling lights but they need to be evenly spaced. No mish mash of decorative baubles - I like a lean, clean Christmas tree - so yes, I am a bit of a worry. I have actually "lost" every decoration that I didn't like over the years - (sorry kids).And don't get me started on "let the kids decorate the tree" because apparently it doesn't matter how messy it looks - it's all about love. I totally understand that way of thinking, but I just couldn't look at a tree decorated by preschoolers and not have an eye twitching in response. It's my problem and I know it - so kudos to all those parents who are more flexible than me - I admire you wholeheartedly!
Our daughter takes great joy in reminding me of that episode and mocking my need for neatness with the tree. One year she and her then-boyfriend took all the balls off my freshly decorated tree when I was out and clumped them in groups of the same colour randomly all over the tree - when I saw it I nearly had an apolexy! I think I was close to crying (yes, there's the Obsessive part) and I had to take the whole thing apart and re-decorate it from scratch. Needless to say there has not been a repeat of that particular "fun" trick since. (Just lots of re-telling the story - "remember when.....")
MY FAMILY AND MY OCD AND POPD
I hadn't realized how bad I was until I saw a video snippet of our then 8 year old (or there abouts) daughter decorating the Christmas tree. I thought at the time that I was stepping back and letting her enjoy the fun of putting it all together by herself (like those great parents I mentioned above), but no.........the video shows me "supervising" from the next room, and offering "helpful suggestions" to make things look the way I wanted them to - yes I was the ultimate Christmas compulsive. Apparently there is a term for it: P.O.P.D. (Perfect Ornament Placement Disorder).Our daughter takes great joy in reminding me of that episode and mocking my need for neatness with the tree. One year she and her then-boyfriend took all the balls off my freshly decorated tree when I was out and clumped them in groups of the same colour randomly all over the tree - when I saw it I nearly had an apolexy! I think I was close to crying (yes, there's the Obsessive part) and I had to take the whole thing apart and re-decorate it from scratch. Needless to say there has not been a repeat of that particular "fun" trick since. (Just lots of re-telling the story - "remember when.....")
POPD TREE DECORATING IN THE EMPTY NEST
Now that there is only the two of us at home in our empty nest, I can do what I like for Christmas decorating - as long as it's not too over the top, and as long as it doesn't involve the playing of too many Christmas carols - did I mention that I love Christmas carols?? (He doesn't!) I'm loving being the director of Christmas decorations and I'm a little bit scared of the thought of future grandchildren wanting to "help" decorate when the time comes. Fortunately there are still a few years left before I have to cross that bridge - maybe I'll need to take a pill or a stiff drink (medicated and caffeinated) and sit back with my eyes closed and hope for the best! In the meantime I'll name and claim my P.O.P.D. and worry about therapy later.
PS: My daughter phoned me last week to say that she just realized that she has become "me" and is decorating her tree in two colours and checking the balls are evenly spaced.... ahhh my work here is done! :)
PS: My daughter phoned me last week to say that she just realized that she has become "me" and is decorating her tree in two colours and checking the balls are evenly spaced.... ahhh my work here is done! :)
PPS: An update seven years later.....the grandgirls don't decorate the tree, and the tree has subsequently downsized over time to one that I absolutely love. I call it my "Fairy Christmas Tree" and decorate it sparingly - and with a different colour theme each year. I love it and I no longer apologize for being the way I am - at 60 it's probably a character trait written in stone!
BEFORE YOU GO:
If you'd like to know when I write a new post, please click HERE for email updates.
If you'd like to comment but not here on the blog, feel free to email me at
leanne.crestingthehill@gmail.com - I'd love to hear from you.
And please share this post by clicking on a share button before you go.
Leanne, I do the same thing! I need a symmetrical, well turned-out Christmas tree or it bugs me. Glad I'm not alone.
ReplyDeleteI don't see that there is really any other way to do it Laurie :)
DeleteI am the complete opposite - and have tried to pay my children if they won't make me decorate. But I have the need to beat everybody into restaurants, and freak out if I see lines at movie theaters, and my grown kids have acquired the same issues. Therefore, my work here is also done :).
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to know that we ruin our children in different ways Donna :) Happy Christmas and may your holiday queues be short!
DeleteI try to evenly space the ornaments so the same kind of ornament isn't close to another! It drives me mad.. but it makes me feel good at the end. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteWho Let the Mum Out?
Me too - I don't know how people can look at a tree that is all over the place like a mad woman's breakfast :)
DeleteSo funny! You would get along well with my husband. He actually has his own tree because he's so particular. We tease him that there should be a velvet rope around it, like a museum. The other tree at our house is for the mish-mash of ornaments that aren't allowed on his tree :)!
ReplyDeleteI love that Lana! I think it deserves a post next Christmas - a comparison of the two trees! Enjoy your Christmas with the family xx
DeleteWhen you have grandkids someday you will just have to get a "grandkid" tree that you will go into knowing it is their special tree to decorate while you perfect yours :)
ReplyDeleteI'm keeping that idea Emmy - it could be a win/win for everyone :)
DeleteHaha, I definitely suffered from POPD in the past! This year I let my family do it, and it looks great... although there is one ornament that would just look so much better if it was two inches to the right... Practicing detachment while I try to not stare at it. ;-)
ReplyDeleteyou're a better woman than me Julie - I'd have snuck over and changed it when nobody was looking!
DeleteThat is one of the great things about getting older. Our daughters calling us horrified that they have become us! My daughter does it all the time now that she has her own kids. I used to be that way with my tree, but when I got sick the husband started doing it. Once I realized how relaxing it is to sit back and watch I've let go of being so picky.
ReplyDeletemy husband is not all that Christmassy Rena - he'd probably "forget" to do it! I am simplifying more each year so it isn't such a big deal.
DeleteI'm exactly the same Leanne. I offered helpful 'suggestions' when my other half was dressing the tree and putting the baubles of the same colour on the tree too close together. I think it's perfectly normal.
ReplyDeleteSally @ Life Loving
#LifeLovingLinkie
This doesn’t ONLY-apply to Christmas My daughter is planning her wedding ( she wanted to elope but her fiancé wants a “ do ‘). She’s so caught up in the stress of it that she can’t see any beauty. It’s heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteI have a widowed friend getting re-married and she's having so many issues with her potential in-laws. It sucks the joy right out of an already stressful time when people make occasions into performances. I might fiddle with my Christmas tree baubles, but I'll do everything in my power to make the day itself as easy and joyful as I possibly can - because who want's to be miserable?
DeleteSorry for your warped genes Leanne. Having a mother who not only matches the pegs but has to match the pegs to the clothes when hanging out the washing obviously has taken it’s toll on your tidy mind. Not only do you have to get all your ducks in a row, but the Christmas tree comes in for obsessive attention too.
ReplyDeleteAs they say….You can pick your friends, but you can’t pick your mother. Mum. xx
The funny thing is that I couldn't imagine not matching my peg colours (and I've passed that onto Hannah BTW!) and having ducks running wild would do my head in - give me a POPD Christmas tree any day!
Delete