Late on Christmas Day

It’s official, Christmas is over. It was fun while it lasted, but I’m also glad it’s done. Christmas Day was an exhausting event. The kids rushed down stairs and attacked the presents like a pack of rabid dogs. With Santa’s gifts, four sets of Grandparent gifts, and too many aunts, uncles, cousins and other assorted relatives to mention, there was no shortage of gifts which only added to the mess.

Even though he’s a year older, Boy hasn’t changed at all. For him, it’s still about the video games, electronics, and, of course, toys. But I noticed a subtle shift in the girls’ attitudes. Tiny is still about the dolls and games, but periodically she would lean over and inspect the clothes Girl was getting. Girl, much to my surprise, spent as much time admiring her new clothes as she did her new doll accessories.

Boy barely managed to hide his disinterest in the clothes he did receive.And, it only got worse as the day progressed. By the time Wife decided to start seeing what did and did not fit in the afternoon, I’m not sure he even remembered he’d opened boxes of clothes.

Boy approached trying on clothes with the same zeal that he opened the clothes boxes. “It’s clothes. Do I have to open it?”Undeterred, Wife started with pants. He had the first half of his first leg in when he asked for the first of many, many times “Are we done yet?”

“No,” Wife hissed, “and the more you complain the longer this will take!” Well, that didn’t stop the complaining, and it did take longer than ever.

Then Wife started with the girls. Tiny and Girl were in their natural element! In a fraction of a second we went from Boy’s incessant whining to a Vogue fashion show.I swear disco lights popped out of the ceiling and the whump-whump-whump of the bass started.

As Dad, my job was to sit and watch the fashion show. And, while I sat with a big smile on my face, I couldn’t help but whine to myself, “Are we done yet?”