Question: Your extended family is gathered together for the holidays. It’s time to open gifts. Should you open one at a time, waiting and watching as each person opens in turn? Or should someone yell out “go!” and then the opening frenzy begin, everyone opening at once?
Survey Winner: ONE AT A TIME
Analysis: This one wasn’t very close. A clear 85 percent said the gifts should be opened one at a time. The other 15 percent, of course, said to open gifts simultaneously. Those who prefer opening one gift at a time liked that it made it the gift exchange last longer. Some also thought it helped kids focus more on the spirit of giving. My friend Leanna said: “I also grew up opening 1 at a time and of course, have to keep doing it that way with my kids…makes it last longer!!” Those wanting to open simultaneously seemed to recognize that some groups are large enough that it just takes too long to open one at a time.
Survey comments: Another friend, Aisha, has a column (see it at www.stltoday.com/dirtylaundry) in which she mentioned this issue. Here’s what she wrote: “Fight the frenzy on Christmas morning. Rather than encouraging a complete gift-wrap-tearing, free-for-all, allow each family member a chance to open one gift at a time. There should be a chance to appreciate the sentiment that went into each present.”
Jenny, another friend, said that the one-at-a-time approach worked with her family of four as a child, but it might not for a larger group. ”Depends on the size of the family. I like one at a time so I can see whateveryone gets and that is what my family of 4 did growing up. But that wouldn’t work for [my husband's bigger] family, especially today with so many grandkids and in-laws.”
Final random thoughts: So maybe there should be a rule of thumb for which approach to use? Eight or fewer? Then use the one-at-a-time approach. If you have a bigger group that than, only do it if there’s only one gift per person. Otherwise, you’ll never get to the egg nog.
