before or after?

So DS will be spending Christmas away from me for the first time this year. He is going to be gone for an entire month! (i've never been apart more than 2 weeks  ....) Anywho....We are going to have "our" Christmas when he gets back (so I can buy everything cheaper after the holidays) Big question....when should we put up the tree? He is leaving Dec 18 and coming home Jan 17. If we put the tree up before, it will be up forever till he gets back +a day or two. Or wait till he gets back and leave it up till like Feb cause I'm not putting it up then taking it down the next day. thats a pain in the booty!

would put it up a few days before he leaves so he can help do it. my grandmother always makes christmas cookies for the kids that have to go see their other families for a while.

I would putt it up now