If there is one thing I have learned...

If there is one thing I have learned through ten years of planning the perfect Christmas for children, it’s that there is no way to lay out a morning that will cause the kids a deep and profound memory that will endure through their lifetime.

When I was Justin and Jared’s age, the yuletide holiday was an event like no other, with a build up of anticipation akin to a rocket launch.

I would sneak out in the wee hours of the morning and try to get a peek at the gifts under the tree. I poked around in the dark, feeling the packages as if I were reading Braille.

Under my breath, my mantra was “No clothes” as I rummaged through the wrapped packages, hoping to score some gifts that were at the top of my list.

One time I got busted when I yelled “Hot wheels!” as I clearly identified the miniature cars in my hand.

A gas powered Baja mini dune buggy, a Skittle Bowling set, Rockem Sockem Robots… these are but a few of the highlights from my Christmas morning.

One particular gift I really enjoyed was a pogo stick. I have always had a strong desire to get into the Guinness World Book of Records, so I pogo-ed incessantly as my sister counted until she got bored and left me with no witness for my achievement.

I’d like to wax nostalgia and believe that I had more appreciation and use for my gifts, but frankly I did the same think my kids do – used my toys for about a week and moved back to the simple games like “kick the can” or “monster tag”.

Creating play is so much more rewarding than having Silicon Valley geeks invent the world we play in.

Use the imagination, much like I do when I imagine that my life as a child was any better or different than my children.