Peeking and Poking

Hanukkah is officially more than half over. That might sound sad to the kids, but for parents, it's sort of a relief. Although my children are teenagers, they can be just as annoying as toddlers when it comes to presents. Around this time every Hanukkah I start to feel sorry for all those poor children that have to look at presents piling up under their Christmas tree. I know that my kids couldn't stand to wait. In fact, my kids are the king and queen of peeking. They would be insane if they had to see piles of packages under a tree that they weren't allowed to touch. Kudos to you parents who have figured out how to keep your childen away from peeking.

In our house, presents are given out each night. But I have to hide the presents because my kids are incapable of keeping their hands off a wrapped package. Even worse, if they are peeking and find something for the sibling, they tell said sibling what they are getting. They drive me crazy, these kids. When they were 4 they found the presents and ripped into them. I figured that teaching them a lesson might work, so every present that was ripped open got put away for their birthday...in August. Did that teach them not to peek? No, it did not.

By the time they were 7, they had found every single hiding place I have ever had, including in the tool box in the garage. They are ruthless. They will not give up until they find the goods. Now they don't unwrap, but they do shake and rattle and carefully poke each package to try and figure out what it is. Tonight, for example, Gila chose to unwrap the bulletin board that she had already poked enough to describe it. She was thrilled to see it had polkadots, but the present itself was no surprise. Natanel chose a game to open. He thought it might have been the special edition of Monopoly, but he knew it was a game. Yes, he was surprised to see it was Trivial Pursuit Pop Culture Edition 2, but he knew it was a game.

I don't poke and peek. I did as a kid, but now I like the surprise of gifts. And I like giving more than receiving. I wonder if my kids will ever outgrow their greedy propensity towards peeking? What about your kids? Are they peekers and pokers?

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Peeking and Poking

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