Bound and Gagged by Dana Summers for December 25, 2024

I get fewer presents now, so I try to take my time opening them. Try to make the moments last longer.

And the 12 hours of Christmas cleanup.

So poor kid gots empty boxes eh.

That was Christmas of my childhood – a frenzy of ripping paper! Then I married into a family that did one gift at a time and everyone watched the recipient open it. It took ages!

Under our tree this A.M., is a huge pile of wrapped gifts. Most for the two kids but, meh! THAT’S OK!!

We never rushed opening presents. We appreciate the gifts, not just the getting.

Sadly, this is the attitude that exists in many children now.

Great, now what?

For me there were always at least two unwrapped items that I could explore and enjoy when I got up, but they were the only ones. Once everybody got up and we had breakfast, we would all sit down and open presents together. My wife and I carried that tradition into our own family and it made Christmas morning a lot nicer for everyone. The kids had new toys and we had some control over the impending mess.

EXCELLENT!

From anticipation to disappointment.