Do we really need our kids to be grateful on Christmas morning?
Awww, remember when we could get close to Santa?
Last weekend I told my husband to take the kids out of the house for a bit so I could wrap a few presents. Two hours later, I told him to take his time coming back, I wasn’t finished.
We went a tad overboard.
To be fair, they weren’t ALL for my kids. And I had to clean off the dining room table to make space to wrap which took awhile, and I may have been drinking egg nog and brandy.
Still.
I really meant to stick with that 4 present rule this year. Something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read. Even that, I am fully aware, is more than enough. But the marketers got me. All they had to do was slap STEM on the box and I was sold.
You’ve heard of STEM, right? Sick and Tired of being Educated by Mom?
At least that’s how it goes in 2020 which is why I may have bought one or two extra STEM toys beyond the four-rule I was trying so hard to keep. If my kids can geek out on science with something other than me, I’ll take two please. Especially since my own curiosities don’t lead me down staircases of DNA or point me toward programming of any variety outside my coffeemaker. (I'm learning to let go of the self-judgment on that).
But now the dilemma. How not to raise ungrateful little sh*ts who tear through these presents like cats and dogs in search of the next, bigger, better, shinier gift under the tree on Christmas?
I wanted to come up with a list to share. I’d planned on titling it “How to keep the magic alive for more than 45 minutes on Christmas morning.” I googled it, and wouldn’t you know, those lists are out there. But in my opinion, aren’t particularly helpful.
One present at a time. Take turns. Everyone watches everyone else. No jumping ahead. Throw away the wrapping paper as you go. Make coffee. Stop for breakfast.
Yes, yes, all great ideas. But we’ve been doing all these things. And it STILL only takes a half a minute to get through the morning. #firstworldproblems - I know. 🙋🏼♀️
I was hoping for more creative ideas. So I tried to think of a few of my own.
Like how about we create a curated Christmas morning playlist and every song that has ‘Jingle’ in it, they get to open a present. And then we space out those songs with instrumental Christmas jazz? So maybe every third song is a present opening song?
Or how about we stop to read a different Christmas book, or share a magical Christmas memory after each go-around?
Or maybe we take a family walk after the first couple presents? Maybe one present each hour?
Or what if we stopped to write a thank you note immediately after each gift is opened so as to get our gratitude on right away and not forget?
Hold up. You want us to do WHAT, mom?
(If I could insert a record scratch right here I would)
Talk about taking the magic right out of Christmas.
In thinking about it more, what I noticed is that I am (as usual?) trying to control the moment by making it a teachable one. Trying to fit my kids’ Christmas into some sort of geometrical if-then proof. (If I can force them slow down, then they will be grateful, ergo kind and thoughtful humans one day).
Instead of just trusting that the kids will be alright.
So we’ll see. I will indeed make the coffee. And Nana’s monkey bread - which has become a tradition at our house. But apart from that, I think I’ll just see what happens. And not worry about the pace of Christmas. (I mean, really, slow down 2020? What was I even THINKING?)
But I’m still open to ideas! If Christmas is your jam and you’ve got any secrets that work in your house, I’d love to hear ‘em!
Happiest of holidays, however you celebrate. And I hope you can find a creative way to be together with the ones you love, even if you’re far apart.
