It's Christmas and they're just little kids

Woke up this morning recalling a Christmas morning when our three kids were little.

Mrs Claus & I had been up late, decorating the tree, stuffing stockings, putting presents under the tree, polishing off the milk and cookies.

We slept soundly. And late. When we awoke, the little greedheads had already unwrapped all their gifts. No pix. No seeing their surprise. No sharing the moment. They didn't want to wake us, the eldest explained. Right. Thanks. Unclear on the whole family Christmas morning concept; where did I fail? And couldn't freak out at them: it's Christmas and they're just little kids.

Decades later, I'm still grumpy about it. And sadly I remember that more than some others.

This year. No tree. No gifts. No stockings on the mantle. No kids here for Christmas breakfast. Humbu... uh... I mean, may the spirit of the season fill you with joyous gratefulness for what it's all really about.