AITA for not allowing popcorn on the Christmas tree?

A Reddit user shared their dilemma about not allowing their brother’s family to string popcorn on their Christmas tree due to concerns about attracting bugs. Having recently dealt with a significant pest problem, the user and their husband established a strict no-food-left-out rule in their home.

However, their brother’s wife insists on continuing the tradition for the sake of their young children, arguing the kids would be disappointed otherwise. Is the user being overly strict, or are their concerns valid? Read the full story below to decide.

‘ AITA for not allowing popcorn on the Christmas tree?’

I 35f and my husband 36m are hosting Christmas this year for my brother 33m his wife 33f and their kids 6f and 2m. So far it’s been pretty good but there’s one issue, apparently they usually string popcorn on their Christmas tree , my brother and I never did that growing up but his wife’s family did and she has now gotten them into it.

The problem is that my husband and I have had big problems with bugs lately, we had a bunch of flies in our kitchen swarming around and ants crawling around on the counter. We believe it happend because we had been busy and weren’t able to keep the kitchen as clean as usual which drew them in.

We were able to get a hold on the issue by using sprays and fly hotels and picking up the slack on keeping the kitchen clean. And now the house is back to being pretty good and clean and we believe we can keep the bugs out by keeping the house clean. So we have made it a rule of not leaving food out anywhere, and we are afraid popcorn on the tree we would attract more bugs.

When we told this to my brother and his wife they got upset and said they always strung popcorn on the tree and that the kids will be very disappointed, we told them sorry but we don’t think it’s a good idea because popcorn will attract more bugs. His wife still insisted that the kids would be very disappointed and that we were being ridiculous. My husband and i still think popcorn on the tree is a bad idea but we are sorry to disappoint the kids?. AITA?

Here’s what the community had to contribute:

PopulationMe −  I have never strung popcorn on a tree but always considered that a fun activity for an outdoor tree so birds and squirrels get a treat. I would never want that on my indoor Christmas tree. And it’s also very rude of your brother and wife to insist and to keep harping on how their kids will be disappointed. If their kids were that disappointed, they can do that at their own house then.. NTA but your brother and wife are.

StAlvis −  NTA. Popcorn garlands? What is this, 1950? But mainly: Since when do **guests** decorate *your* tree? Or get one say about how it is? That said, *flies* aren’t going to give a f**k about *popcorn*, though. Roaches, on the other hand…

PrintOk8045 −  NTA, and from personal, painful experience earned as a result of an overzealous mother, there is nothing more unfun than making popcorn garlands with needles, thread, and for some reason, unnecessarily salty popcorn.

BoysenberryPicker −  If they need a family activity then make paper garlands ??? . Nta.

Buckinfrance −  Fighting insects is miserable, so definitely NTA. When I was a kid my mother decided to make strings of popcorn and cranberries for an old fashioned tree. We strung it up and then left for the evening to visit family for the holidays. We came back and the tree was on its side, brought down by our dog who ate all of the popcorn. That was the first and last time we put popcorn on the tree. What a mess.

Acrobatic-Kiwi-1208 −  NTA. It’s incredibly reasonable to not leave food out 24/7, and the kids are little enough that any ‘disappointment’ they have will be cued up by their parents, like when preschoolers trip and fall and look to the adults to see if they should get upset or not.

Anxious-Routine-5526 −  NTA. Your brother and his family can have all the popcorn on *their* Christmas tree all they want. They do not, however, get to dictate how a tree is decorated in someone else’s home.

peoplesuck2024 −  NTA. But if you want to compromise/keep the peace, make a popcorn garland and string it up outside. Great way to watch the birds. (Make sure to pick up the string afterwards. Don’t want all the activists coming after you.)

666POD −  Oh, no! Christmas is ruined! I’m sure you all will find other fun activities for the children. The only one who is being childish is your sister in law. NTA.

Extension-Issue3560 −  If you’re a guest in someone’s home , and they say no….it’s NO. To insist is incredibly rude. Perhaps , they would prefer to stay home and decorate their own tree.