Is it too early to be buying Christmas decorations? | THE MOM STOP

I went into Hobby Lobby last week, for what was meant to be a quick trip solely for the purpose of buying a tiny tube of gold paint.

And yet, I left the store about an hour later with a cart full of Christmas decorations — and it was only the end of September. Still, in the back of my mind, I kept thinking that the next time I go into the store, which isn’t all that often, the ornaments might be gone.

More: How long will cherished bedtime reading ritual last? | THE MOM STOP

I used to be one of those “respect the seasons” people. My favorite season, after all, is fall with all it’s pumpkin spice glory. When we got married, we had a fall-themed wedding in November. I love pumpkins, leaves, soups and sweaters. I look forward to fall weather, even if that means putting on corduroy or donning tweed when it’s still a high of 90 degrees outside. It’s the season, regardless of the temperature.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and I’m a “respect the turkey” kind of mom. No Christmas decorations up until Thanksgiving has passed. Pumpkins stay up until the Christmas decor comes out.

Or at least, I used to be. What happened?

I could blame it on COVID. In 2020, when we were all home and we had moved into a new house, I put up a new Christmas tree before Thanksgiving. It felt a little wrong. It felt a little like I was breaking the rules. But I was home so much, a little bored and looking forward to something happy ― like Christmas.

You could say it was ripping the proverbial Christmas decorating Band-Aid.

In 2021, I put up two trees before Thanksgiving. In 2022, my home looked like it couldn’t decide what season it was, since it was all fall in the front, pumpkins out, while Christmas trees were in their full glory in the back of the house.

And so here I was, on Sept. 29 this year, at Hobby Lobby with a cart full of Christmas decorations. I’d walk through the aisle of ornaments, a little in awe of some of their selection, a little embarrassed at buying for Christmas so early, and yet finding solace in other shoppers who were also buying up decor before fall had even yet to really begin.

Some other shoppers would look at my cart, and I’d look at theirs, and we’d smile or give a quick acknowledgement, almost as if to say “You too, huh?” While passing a mother shopping with her adult daughter, I heard her say “We have to get it early because who knows if the good stuff will be here next time.”

I couldn’t help but agree, since I had used the same excuse for myself.

And so I quietly checked out my cart filled with new decorations, pointing out to the sales clerk that I had really only come in for a single tube of paint.

“It always happens that way, doesn’t it,” she laughed.

The next day, after I stored my new Christmas decor up in the attic for a few more weeks, I set to putting out our Halloween decorations in the front yard with my youngest daughter. She asked if she could show her neighbor friend our decorations. My friend next door overheard the request.

“You haven’t started decorating for Christmas already have you,” she asked, laughing.

Thankfully, not. But apparently she knows me well.

Hi, my name is Lydia, and apparently I’ve crossed party lines. I’m a fall girl who loves Christmas, and if you come into my home anytime in the next few weeks, you might find pumpkins. You might find Halloween decor. And you might find a Christmas tree or two, too.

Happy fall, y'all.

Lydia Seabol Avant writes The Mom Stop for The Tuscaloosa News. Reach her at momstopcolumn@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Is it too early to be buying Christmas decorations? | THE MOM STOP