I'm The Jerk

Published on December 22, 2005 By Texas Wahine In Misc

I'm the Grinch. The Scrooge. The Christmas Jerk.

We have an abundance of gifts this year. We bought the children about 9 presents each back in November. Since then we've added nearly as many, piece by piece. Then the in-laws sent money which we used to buy gifts for the children. Finally, earlier this week we received 4 or 5 HUGE boxes full of presents from my parents. I didn't count them all, but I'd say it's a safe bet to assume that each child and adult in our family received between 8 and 10 gifts each. My mom wrapped them all up and shipped them, and I stacked them under the tree.

It looks like this (and that's AFTER opening 3 adult presents at various points during the month):

There are wrapped gifts all around the tree and then a larger explosion of packages right at the front.

Today Adrian suggested (in front of the boys!) that we let them each open a present a day leading up to Christmas. They were excited about the idea. I can remember being allowed to do this as a child, and it was almost a tradition in my family.

But....

I really like Christmas. The anticipation is the most wonderful feeling in the world. I like to extend it as long as possible. And unwrapping gifts on Christmas morning is spectacular. I want to draw it out for as long as I possibly can. We take turns opening packages...we don't tear into them or each unwrap our gifts at the same time. I like to savor the expression on my children's faces as they open each and every gift.

So I said no. I said we should wait until Christmas morning. I'm the jerk now. I know it's harmless to let them open gifts before Christmas and I know that I have a selfish reason for making them wait, but I can't seem to maneuver around my bias. I want Christmas morning to last a loooong time.

So today Daddy's the cool one, and I'm the miserly jerk. Luckily for me though, the kids know better than to grumble. Adrian told them to thank me (sarcastically) for not letting them open up gifts today. Hehe. And they thanked me...sincerely and sweetly.

I may be a jerk, but they're little treasures.

Comments (Page 1)

Locamama

on Dec 22, 2005

I'm not going to say you're a jerk but I'm a huge fan of the twelve days of Christmas. (and no lectures its just an expression, I know the twelve days of Christmas are the days between Christmas and the Epiphany) If anyone sends me a Christmas package, like my Grandma, it gets opened the day we recieve it. I feel like that gift is so much more appreciated when it is the focus of that day than when it is just one of dozens. I mean if they open twenty or thirty presents on Christmas morning how much time do they spend being excited and focusing on any one gift. It's open it, throw it aside and what's next. JMHO.

Sounds like your boys are going to have a great Christmas.

Locamama

on Dec 22, 2005

BTW, I love the snowflakes. I think we may make that a project tommorow. I can't believe I forgot about those.

MasonM

on Dec 22, 2005

You were born a poor black child?

Texas Wahine

on Dec 22, 2005

Locamama:

I'm not going to say you're a jerk but I'm a huge fan of the twelve days of Christmas.

That's OK...you can say it.

feel like that gift is so much more appreciated when it is the focus of that day than when it is just one of dozens.

That's a good point.

Sounds like your boys are going to have a great Christmas.

I hope so.

BTW, I love the snowflakes. I think we may make that a project tommorow. I can't believe I forgot about those.

So fun! Orian can't quite make them yet, but Xavier's learning, and it's been fun doing that together. And today we're going to do a red and green chain for the tree.

Mason:

You were born a poor black child?

Huh?

And I did agree to do some gifts on Christmas Eve...hehe...I'm trying to compromise.

MasonM

on Dec 22, 2005

Guess you never saw the movie The Jerk.

HC1240

on Dec 22, 2005

Well if ya ask me... Adrian's comment ("Thank your mother for not letting you open gifts today") gets HIM the jerk of the day award.

I know he's not a jerk... but dang. I think I'd have smacked him for that.

If we get something in the mail before Christmas from someone outside the family (or presents from the kids' teachers at school) we let them open it when it's received. Other than that... they have to wait til Christmas. I don't even let them open one on Christmas Eve. I guess I'm a grinch too. At least I'm in good company!!

Dr Guy

on Dec 22, 2005

YOu are not the jerk! I hate opening presents early! I like th emagic and the buildup like you! I guess we just came from different eras.

Sorry, none of mine get opened early either!

dharmagrl

on Dec 22, 2005

Hehehe....Dave's the jerk on our house. I wanted to let the kids open one per day too, but he said no. Nobody gets to open anything until Christmas Day.

That's okay. It just prolongs the anticipation. It's like an orgasm that you know is coming but that takes a while....when it does hit you, it's a knee trembling experience.

Hehe....can you tell my husband came home yesterday? All I can think about is nookie......

Tova7

on Dec 22, 2005

I let my kids open one on Christmas Eve, usually because they are so excited if I don't they will focus all that excited energy on me and whew I am just too tired by Christmas Eve for that!

So they get one, and they do focus on it like Locomama said. But none before then.

I don't know how you get your kids to wait while someone else in the family opens a gift...hehe...my youngest tries to open all of them!

My husband and I have not bought official Christmas gifts for each other in years. We don't open anything Christmas morning. Crazy things is, I don't feel like it matters or I'm missing out. I truly am gifted watching my kids faces. Besides I spend the rest of the year getting exactly what I want!

But we often will do a little after Christmas bargain shopping....its fun.

Have A Merry Christmas Tex.

straniera

on Dec 23, 2005

I am totally on your side! I love the anticipation! That's the best part. I mean, the gifts are great of course, but it is the anticipation and suprise that makes it magic!

However, I can see the other side, with so many presents, its true that kids just move from one to the next. So....I'm glad I don't have to make that decision yet since I don't have kids.

Only one year were we allowed to open a present early, on Christmas eve, we all got new pillows! Fun, fun!

AvantiTexan

on Dec 23, 2005

Hey sis, it's okay to be the jerk, I agree with what you did.

I say that mainly because I remember a Christmas when we convinced mom and dad to let us open all our presents early and then on Christmas day we had fruit on the try. Now, I'm not saying fruit isn't a wonderful (and delicious) gift, but it kind of took some of the magic away, like you said, it's the anticipation that is so wonderful!

Spc Nobody Special

on Dec 23, 2005

Guess you never saw the movie The Jerk.

{nods}Yep. Steve Martin, back when he used to be funny. "The cans! He's shooting at the cans!!!"

Crack that whip! They'll show the proper christmas spirit in your house, or else!!!

"What's that? Huh? I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you over the UPS trucks arriving with those loads of coal and bundles of switches."

That said, you're doing the right thing. The anticipation makes it better. But if you really want to mess with them.....let them open one present on Christmas Eve.....and then make sure it's socks or underwear or fruit. It drives them crazy every time.

Toblerone

on Dec 23, 2005

Frankly I'm with you. I hate the idea of opening presents early to me the anticipation is everything. It'll teach them patience and the idea that waiting can make something twice as good.

And now for the bad taste joke at the end....

Besides boys who open Christmas presents early end up being premature ejaculators later in life......100% FACT!

I apologise but I couldn't help it.

citahellion

on Dec 23, 2005

I'd consider letting them open ONE present on Christmas Eve, but not one a day starting days in advance. Later on, when they're teenagers or so, they might not be getting 16 presents apiece.

terpfan1980

on Dec 23, 2005

You were born a poor black child?

Beat me to it! Now I gotta pull out that DVD and sit and watch it again. One of my all time fave's. Oooops, have to duck, he's shooting at the cans.

Back on topic though - I don't think TW's wrong for making the family wait, though I too am not the most patient individual and kind of hate wating too.

Having to wait may not be fun, but when you do hit the end of the stack on Christmas morning you always feel bad that there isn't just one more present to un-wrap. It all ends so quickly anyway, making it stretch out just a little longer isn't a bad idea.

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