I have my Christmas decorations up already, trolls think it’s too early but I don’t care – it’s for special reason

A MUM who already has her Christmas tree up has said she is not bothered by trolls who think it's too early, saying: "At the end of the day it's our choice".

This is Caroline Roddy's second year putting up her decorations in early November, a tradition she plans to continue every year.

The Tipperary mum revealed there is a very special reason she started the tradition last year.

Her son Alfie, who is now eight, had a tumour removed from his mouth in June of last year but it started to grow again just three weeks later.

As the tumour was growing back, little Alfie was referred to Crumlin Children's Hospital.

And as the family awaited a bed for Alfie, mum Caroline decided to get the decorations up to have "one less thing to worry about" during his recovery.

She told The Irish Sun: "I said, look, we'll put the Christmas tree up because there's one less thing to worry about when we come out of hospital because of his recovery.

"We put the tree up, I think it was a week before we got the phone call so he had his operation and we just got home the night of the Toy Show actually."

During the operation, brave Alfie had part of his jaw removed and requires a plate in his mouth to cover the hole from the tumour removal.

And as a special celebration to mark the year anniversary of the operation, Caroline got the decorations out and up last week.

She said: "We've had a busy year since his operation, between hospital appointments, surgeon appointments and dental appointments up and down to Dublin, so why not?

"Life's too short to be worrying about what other people think, especially after what we've been through this last year."

And she added: "I'm at the stage if people don't like it they know where the door is, at the end of the day it's our choice.

"What harm is it, if we want to put them up early to cheer us up with everything that's going on these days?

"It's nothing but doom and gloom so this is our little cheer in life."

And Caroline admitted she has gotten a few questions about having the house decorated nearly two months before Christmas day.

She said: "There's a few going 'Jesus you're a bit early would you not leave them in the shed for another five weeks?'"

But some friends also see the benefit of having the mammoth task "over with".

'TOO EXPENSIVE'

And Caroline revealed that the decorating process took hours, even with help from her other son, Alex.

She said: "We were at it for a good few hours by the time you get it all up to the time the house is half organised afterwards but we enjoyed it."

Despite the early Christmas start in their household, Caroline reuses the same decorations admitting it would be "too expensive" to buy new decor each year.

She said: "I'd say in another two years I'll have to change the baubles just to make it look different.

"Of course I couldn't be doing it every year. It's too expensive to be changing this all around."

'I LOVE THEM'

Despite having the decorations up in early November, Caroline plans to leave them up well into the New Year stating she doesn't get sick of them.

She said: "I'll keep them up until the second week in January.

"I love them. It's just nice when you're sitting there in the evening."

And she added: "It's nice, it's relaxing just to have the little glow of the tree."

The family plan to make the most of Christmas this year after spending most of last Christmas aiding Alfie's recovery.

She said: "We are spreading our Christmas joy as last year's joy was swallowed with the aftercare of the operation.

"So we are making up for it."