poppy Posted December 24, 2016 Share Posted December 24, 2016 I was thinking presents, logistics and different family styles and I almost posted a poll: If you do Christmas, does your family open gifts one-by-one, or do you have a free for all? I grew up one way, my husband the other, and we have a bit of push-pull about this. I wrote two sentences of this poll then felt like a donkey. This is not a problem. Not really a debate. Let's keep things in perspective. To all of us with a pile of gifts to open tomorrow- may you have a wonderful morning of peace and joy. To those without much to open-may you have a wonderful morning of peace and joy. To those who don't do Christmas and have to know the whole world is shut down for someone else's holiday- may you have a wonderful morning of peace and joy. Happy Christmas . 28 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted December 24, 2016 Share Posted December 24, 2016 Happy Christmas! Peace and joy to all tomorrow. This is one of the nicest Almost-Posted Threads ever. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted December 24, 2016 Share Posted December 24, 2016 (edited) we've done this since the kids were small. we basically start out with people opening one at at time - then we can ooh and ahh over other people's gifts. the kids give thought to their siblings. jokes are cracked, fun is had by all . . . my brother was here with his kids one year . . .wow. free for all central and they were out of here within 10/15 minutes. they didn't give a rip about anyone else. eta: one christmas (ok, couple days before) 2ds ended up i the ER.. . the dr shared a story of one of his christmases, before they got up, his son came into their bedroom showing off all the gifts from santa that he got. . . . it seems his son got up before everyone- opened *e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.* and tossed what he didn't want, then came upstairs to show off his haul. from the mom's reaction - he probably never did that again. Edited December 24, 2016 by gardenmom5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 Happy holidays, however and whatever, to all. (I witnessed the free-for-all when my sister's kids were little. Ugh.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmrich Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 Merry Christmas! We are one at a timers here. Except when my mom gets the girls all the same thing then we have to root around for the same present and then they can open them at the exact same time. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimm Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 Merry Christmas. :) We do one at a time. I'm always the one passing out gifts. A job I wouldn't mind delegating but everyone seems to want me doing it. My husband's family is slightly different. They pass out all the gifts but open them one at a time. So we do it that way over there and my way over here. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2scouts Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 We do one at a time. I think it's more fun to watch, laugh, and enjoy each person's gift. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wintermom Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 One gift at a time just seems too formal and organized for my crew. ;) I don't even know how they open gifts; it's just a blur. When they were very young, they spent a lot of time eating wrapping paper, then things sped up and I got left behind. :laugh: I do recall them opening a gift and playing with it immediately, then eventually opening another gift, with LEGO bits strewn all about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 We open one at a time. I grew up with the free-for-all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 We open one at a time. I grew up with the free-for-all. This. But this year we actually remarked that it might have become too orderly. They are patient, they are reserved...it's weird. There is something unnatural about children carefully finding the seams, slicing the tape, and taking the paper off in one sheet as the other child finds a gift to bring to someone else. :lol: They have been well trained by living in other countries to make a recycle pile, but we're at the point where it feels a little off when one gets an empty box and they carefully fold the paper to fit inside instead of flying all over. This was the most polite Christmas I can ever remember. It is much different than the ecstasy and excitement I remember as a child. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 I grew up with the free-for-all; dh grew up with one-at-a-time. We do a combo: stockings first--that's a free-for-all--then we do the "big" gifts one-at-a-time. Happy December to all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy Posted December 25, 2016 Author Share Posted December 25, 2016 We do each kid can open a gift together, then we pause and see what everyone got vs full on every man for himself. We do free for all at the in laws and it is a let down to me. You never get to see kids open the gifts you brought ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 Free for all. Well, we dole out presents and stack them next to each person and then everyone starts opening at the same time. We ooh and aahh as we go along so it drags out a while. I could never do one at a time with all eyes on one person at a time. Way too much attention for a family of introverts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy Posted December 25, 2016 Author Share Posted December 25, 2016 That funny because I have observed it's the extroverts who love the free for all. Loud, merry, raucous and make me want to take a nap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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