AS I promised, here are pics of my tree from just a few minutes ago.


My brother and I planned to surprise my mom by decorating the tree before she got back home, which will be in an hour. I was about to put the first ornament up--a glass bear my brother and I had gotten my mom for Christmas last year, when:

happened
I slipped off the chair, and it was either I let go of the ornament & IT takes a nasty fall, I take a nasty fall, or the tree takes a nasty fall... out of reflexes, I dropped the ornament. I still fell, but it wasn't as bad as if I would have held on the the ornament... I'm just got a little vut on my arm; thankfully it wasn't anything bad.
Right after, I ran down the block to the store we had bought it from last year, to buy another, hoping my mom would not notice, when I realized the store was closed! Now I have to face the truth, or try to get out of decorating the tree until tomorrow, when I can run down to the store.

Should I face the truth, or hold a "white lie"

If you tell your mom the truth she probably won't be mad! She will be happy that you fessed up. If you lie and she finds out she will be more upset. But, that is just my opinion!!!

I agree with Jessica- I would rather hear the truth. How sweet are you boys doing the hard work for your mom!

Truth:-)

So nice Mark

Yes, Mark - I'm in agreement with the others, and I think you are too, really. You're too smart to try and get away with something like that, when your mom will understand it was an accident.

Wie grün sind deine blätter.

Always the truth Mark. The tree is looking good. Sorry about the ornament.

Ahh Just tell the truth She may just overlook the broken ornament and Give Ya hugs for trying to make a pleasant surprise for her, Knowing you already feel bad enough for accidently breaking the ornament,, I'm just a softy .., I'd give ya a big hug and forgive ya quickly, knowing your heart was in the right place! and take ya out on the weekend for you to Buy me another ornament, that Only I can put on the tree from now on!

Thanks everyone, so much

Well, my mom came home (while I was trying to put the ornament back together{ }) and I told her... and she wasn't mad or anything.. I just felt bad that I broke it

My brother and I did decorate the tree, a few minutes ago... here are pics:

(without the lights turned on)

(with the lights)


Too many ornaments, do you think?

Nah, I don't think there are too many ornaments. You should wait and see what my tree looks like when we decorate. The kids love to fill it up with all the ornaments we have. And of course, none of them match. It looks very much like a kids tree when it's all done but we love it that way.

the tree looks terrific!

I think it looks perfect, Mark!

You can NEVER have too MANY ornaments, Mark; only too FEW ornaments.

That looks great Mark!

I think my tree has four times that many ornaments on it.... I like a lot. But it's a lot of work hanging them and taking them all down.

You guys did good!

Great job Mark!! Looks great!!
Very nice job!!

Looks awesome Great Job!

Good Job Mark!!

nice tree Mark, & good job telling your mom the truth

Thanks everybody

I wanted to keep the ornaments to a minimum, as I really did like the tree itself, I did not want to "ruin" it with too many ornaments..

Mark ~

Your tree looks great!

Although I agree with the others that telling your mom the truth was the right thing to do, I can also understand your desire to delay telling until you had a replacement ornament in your hand.

Having the replacement would have "softened the blow" of the bad news that the original one was broken beyond recall. And that, my friend, was a very generous thought for you to have.

Have you ever read the short story "The Gift of The Magi" by O. Henry yet?

Hollywood of course made a film version of his original tale, but the story is a better read.

In brief, it went like this:

A husband and wife were very, very poor. They each only had one thing of value. He owned a beautiful, heirloom pocket watch and she had marvelous, knee length hair.

They had no money for Christmas, yet each wanted to give the other something wonderful.

She saw a watch fob in a store window that would be perfect for his pocket watch which didn't have a fob.

He saw a beautiful set of hair combs, the kind that hold long hair in place when worn in an upsweep.

But how to afford these expensive gifts?

She cut her hair and sold it to buy the watch fob for him.

He sold his watch to buy the combs for her.

It's quite a story, isn't it? Oh, and MUCH better as told by O. Henry!

But you see, I recognize something of their generosity in what you were trying to do for your mom by wanting to hold back from telling her about the broken ornament until you had another one.

What wouldn't a kid try to do for his mom at Christmas?

So although you did the right thing by telling her immediately (it is always better NOT to lie to a mom!), I think you can also be proud of yourself for considering the idea of waiting to tell her (to be kind and generous).

You are a great kid, Mark, and I'm sure your mom is proud!

Merme

Mark- your tree is beautiful...I enjoy a "simple" tree- to me it is more beautiful.

Kudos to you for telling your mom the truth. You knew it was best and like Merme said- you were truly only wanting to soften the blow of the broken ornament by buying the new one, but I know you touched her heart by being the great son you are and telling her the hard truth! Well done!!!

It looks great Mark,......well done

The tree looks great Mark and way to go for telling your mom the truth!

Don't mine me, I'm trying to get all the holiday/decorations posts moved to the Home for the Holidays section.

tree looks great mark! wat to go on telling your mom the truth!

It is always harder to do the right thing and tell the truth, but it keeps you from destroying trust in the long run. We are proud of you, Mark, for realizing that you really needed to be up-front about it...

The tree looks great!

Dianna

Mark, ever since the first post of yours I read, I have thought you a most wonderful young man!!!! ANY mother would be proud to have you for a son.