Thursday, December 13, 2007

Journal Your Christmas, Day 13

I hope you don't think me elitist or snobbish or flat-out crazy, but when it comes to the distribution process of Christmas morning, I have a very strong opinion of a right way to do it ... and a wrong way. *grin*

Text for today's page: "I have witnessed a few Christmases where people distributed gifts either by (a) a mad dash-and-grab for everything under the tree or (b) carefully pulling all the gifts out from under the tree, sorting them into piles, then each individual focuses solely on his or her “stash”, ignoring what anyone else is doing. Both of those methods just rock me to my core, because my experience on Christmas morning is to have just a few gifts handed out at a time, with lots of attention paid to each and every gift, by everyone present. Sure, the process takes a while, but it means that all the gifts are treated with care & are considered special and unique. The idea of people focused on only “their loot”, and ripping into papers with mad abandon, with no thought at all to anyone but themselves, well, it just seems completely at odds with how I view Christmas. I think I will always value the careful opening of presents & treasuring those moments of wonder, seeing what’s inside. I just can’t imagine doing it any other way!"

9 comments:

Michele said...

Love this and totally agree with your journalling. I love watching people open their presents - it's part of the whole thing.

PS Just posted this on the journal forum thinking I was on your blog! Couldn't get it to delete! Ooops...

crazierinreallife said...

a parent that has watched her children rip into gifts with reckless abandon I have to somewhat disagree in part with you. There was no greater joy than watching this when the kids were little. It absolutely was part of our Christmas magic.

As adults, both young and old, I would absolutely agree with your sentiments . It is so joyful to watch everyone opening their gifts and seeing the surprise on their faces

crazierinreallife said...

oops, forgot to mention how much I love all the little details on this page. it is so visually appeaing

Latharia said...

Karen has a very valid point -- watching glee on kids' faces as they tear into a package, yeah, THAT is AWESOME. I can remember bouncing on my heels in excitement, waiting my turn to open a gift, but I was always expected to show a measure of patience and appreciation for what someone else was receiving, too.

Debra said...

gorgeous page, like to pop in every now and then and see what you are up too... :)

Anonymous said...

I'm with you Latharia about watching people open their presents.

Alex
Alex's World! - http://www.kakinan.com/alex

Heather said...

Love it Susanne.. and I wholeheartedly agree with you!

Birdie said...

I'm with Karen on this one! There is nothing to compare to the screeching delight of kids and wrapping paper flying every where. It's definitely one of the things I miss now that there are no little ones around. The adult in me agrees with your sentiments but I will always be a kid at heart!

Linda said...

i am exactly the same way. just this morning.. in our VT XMAS, I told my FIL to slow down!!!