A few years ago I put numbers on the gift tags for the kids instead of their names. To keep them guessing and not comparing and counting all their presents. The numbers were random, too, not just the standard “birth order” numbers. Then, on Christmas morning, we would reveal their number, and they were able to find their own gifts. I thought it was a brilliant idea, myself, and it seemed to work pretty well.
For some reason, I haven’t been consistent about the secret number thing, and last year I think I just used their names. Well, today I finally got serious about the wrapping and wrapped a few of the LARGE gifts. The gifts that all the kids are going to look at and say, “I hope that’s MY present”. Not that bigger means better or more expensive, but to a kid, that’s how it seems. When John came home from school, my dad was here AND the phone was ringing. So I didn’t have time to explain to John who the BIG presents on the table were for. I just read the tag that said “to Skippy from Mom and Dad.” It was obvious that he did NOT like this idea as he scrunched up his face and in his angry voice said, “No, it has to be a REAL person!” He then proceeded to stomp up to his room and then stomp around and make as much noise as possible.
As soon as I was off the phone and could give John my attention, I called him down from upstairs so I could talk to him. His face was red and splotchy and he had been crying. I tried to explain to him that even though these weren’t OUR names on the presents, they were going to be for US. I then gave him a little hint that one of the presents that had two names on it, (I think it was Bufford and Skeeter) was for him and one other person. That seemed to placate him just a little bit. He then helped me put the presents under the tree with only a little bit of sniffling.
And I was once again reminded that sometimes the ideas that are going to be “great” are, in the eyes of the little people, “not so great.” Like the time I told Cole that he couldn’t wear that ripped, faded and almost falling apart shirt anymore and then grabbed the hole under the arm and ripped it right off of him. I was just laughing at how hilarious I am, and he was upset and hurt. Maybe I’m just too clever for my own good.
I do the same thing, except I dedicate one wrapping paper to each kid, leaving them guessing until Christmas Eve when I tell them whose is whose. Funny for moms, frustrating for kids. Just the way I like it!
Cute ideas Paige…I never even considered such a thing… Oh wait…that’s because I don’t do Christmas presents…. You almost made me wish I did though. Maybe I’ll break with tradition and actually buy presents NEXT YEAR… maybe not…
That little note in the post below makes up for just about anything, don’t you think? It’s precious to see how their minds work and how tender their feelings are.
I, personally, love the number idea.
Hope you can remember what number or name you assign to each person. I used to write your names in shorthand. Ha ha!
I’m sorry–I was the one on the phone causing the distraction. I hope John is happy with your idea now and can play along. We’ve solved that problem by not wrapping ANYTHING yet! Okay, I’ve let the kids wrap the stuff to daddy, and they’ve wrapped their presents to each other, but nothing from Brian and me is under the tree yet. I’d better get busy!