Has he even asked for them? I would not even mention them unless he asks to have them, or brings the subject up.

I would wait till they marry. Use them on your tree as you have done in the past.

What's your intent? Has it always been to hand over his ornaments when he got his own place? If so, follow through and don't waiver because he might not use them or his gf might not put them up.

To withhold them for these reasons is controlling and unnecessarily punitive.

I hope his gf makes a point to put them up. She should if it means something to him.

Screw the "catalog tree"!

Don't give them now in the middle of a move! I'd kill someone who gave me yet another thing to have to put away. Here's a novel idea.... ask him what he wants!

I really just wondered if they go with the child, or stay with the parents. I think they go with the child....

hi, cindywhitall, because you said "I really just wondered if they go with the child, or stay with the parents. I think they go with the child...." then that is your answer right there. But do wait until they are settled. I have no idea what to do with the broken stuff.

I will give him the two that will fit on the pretty tree now, I'll save the others until after christmas. We must not have had babys first christmas ornaments when I was a baby, cause I don't have any and neither does my mom! I would ask for any of my childhood ones if they were special to me, but I don't know if boys think that way. They are usually happy that someone put the tree up and they didn't have to help! I am trying to learn to step back....and hope that he will ask for what he wants and not just secretly wish it was different. "not my problem" is hard for me to do!

My husband and my ornaments from our childhood were mostly passed down with a few that my Mom kept (Im not sure about hubs situation). However as a welcoming I would if I were you gift them a "Our First Christmas"/other relationship type one, to show you care about their relationship and just say if you two wish to carry on the tradition of getting an ornament each year if not just let me know and I wont purchase any more :) say it lightheartedly so they dont have any pressure, or just give the gift and if youd like him to follow your tradition say to embrace your new partner and to set you up on your own we decided to get you your first ornament as a couple, if you want any from your childhood we would be happy to pass it along, but do not want to push as I know DIL's family had a different tradition growing up so I dont want to push

When my kids moved out of the house I gave them certain ornaments but kept the ones that I felt were special. I still use them on the tree n I told the kids when I pass they will get them. For me it's important to keep those memories alive when that part of our life is over. They have new lives today n so I think they were only to happy to let me have that (as a yearly Christmas present) lol

I kept them - two reasons,

- I wanted to respect that they were building their own family traditions and style.

- a little more selfishly, if they don't make it home at Christmas, I can look at them and enjoy a little nostalgia, and if they do, they get a kick out of pointing them out to their kids, it reminds them them that once upon a time we were a nuclear family and that those ties are still important to us and it helps the grandkids realize that all of us were younger once upon a time (as my husband says, 'when moby dick was a minnow' :)

I never bought my sons yearly ornaments, but each year they made me something to hang on the tree. The boys are now 41&36 and still bring me a yearly ornament although they are now store bought. We do a family meal when the day comes to decorate the tree and the boys each hang whatever ornament they made/bought me.I have been raising my 2 grandsons now age 7&9 since they were infants and they each make me a tree ornament, LOL. Who gets these ornaments...the giver. Each child's is wrapped and stored in a box with their name posted on the box. I already know they will hang them on their tree's when they get them.

New house, fairly new relationship, new living arrangement and new baby.... They need time to figure out their own dynamic without any outside input.

Wait to see if he asks for them. If not, keep them safe until he does.

I like the idea of keeping them for your own nostalagia, and showing grandkids/them/their spouses that you were once a nuclear family, I would consider keeping adding to the tree as their new relationship develops though, or gifting them their first ornament celebrating them and their home together as a way of acceptance of his partner and a way of opening the door for them to start that as a tradition on their own/that discussion but just keep in mind they may also be people who want just a fancy tree not personalized. Be open to their decisions and communication is key.