A Parents Night Before Christmas

RGrew176

Commander
Joined
Mar 20, 2002
Messages
2,114
'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house
I searched for the tools to hand to my spouse.
Instructions were studied and we were inspired,
In hopes we could manage "Some Assembly Required."
The children were quiet (not asleep) in their beds,
While Dad and I faced the evening with dread:
A kitchen, two bikes, Barbie's town house to boot!
And, thanks to Grandpa, a train with a toot!

Christmas Santa
We opened the boxes, my heart skipped a beat....
Let no parts be missing or parts incomplete!
Too late for last-minute returns or replacement;
If we can't get it right, it goes in the basement!

When what to my worrying eyes should appear,
But 50 sheets of directions, concise, but not clear,
With each part numbered and every slot named,
So if we failed, only we could be blamed.

More rapid than eagles the parts then fell out,
All over the carpet they were scattered about.
"Now bolt it! Now twist it! Attach it right there!
Slide on the seats, and staple the stair!
Hammer the shelves, and nail to the stand."
"Honey," said hubby, "you just glued my hand."

And then in a twinkling, I knew for a fact
That all the toy dealers had indeed made a pact
To keep parents busy all Christmas Eve night
With "assembly required" till morning's first light.

We spoke not a word, but kept bent at our work,
Till our eyes, they went bleary; our fingers all hurt.
The coffee went cold and the night, it wore thin
Before we attached the last rod and last pin.

Then laying the tools away in the chest,
We fell into bed for a well-deserved rest.
But I said to my husband just before I passed out,
"This will be the best Christmas, without any doubt.

Tomorrow we'll cheer, let the holiday ring,
And not have to run to the store for a thing!
We did it! We did it! The toys are all set
For the perfect, most perfect, Christmas, I bet!"

Then off to dreamland and sweet repose I gratefully went,
Though I suppose there's something to say for those self-deluded...
I'd forgotten that batteries are never included!
 

sphelps

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 16, 2011
Messages
11,475
Glad those days are over ... My kids are old enough to put things together themselves ... Now I make them put my stuff together ..;)
Nice post Grew !
 

gm280

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 26, 2011
Messages
14,605
Sounded like what I used to go through. So glad those days are over. My kids are now adults and they get to assembly things for their kids. Ha Ha Ha

RGrew176, I want to list a true experience that actually happened to me when I was a salesman in a department store before I got married.

I was a salesmen in a department store much like the old Western Auto stores used to be. That store was called "Whites". We also sold toys. And lots of people would come in and layaway toys for their kids for Christmas. One particular toy was selling very well at that time, a toy drum set. And so we would layaway the toy for them to pick up Christmas Eve. I sold one of those drum sets to a family and went into the back room to tag one of the drum set with a layaway tag on the box. That was how we did such layaways. Problem was you could come in from three different directions to that column of drum sets stacked up. Three of us sold one drum set and put a tag on the box without seeing the other two tags on it. You can see where this is going.

Sadly come Christmas Eve, only the first family got the drum set. You can only imagine the troubles we encountered with the other two families. An honest mistake caused two families to want to kill us. And I can see how they would feel like that at Christmas Eve. Money back certainly didn't remedy the situation. And no amount a apologies did as well. I felt totally miserable and sad and somehow that Christmas just wasn't as bright that year. :facepalm: :distress: :doh: :violin::nono:
 

NewfieDan

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 8, 2011
Messages
383
Now I "get to help" my son put together my grand-daughters toys on Christams Eve. Usually very close to what you describe. Last year was the kitchen, this year, it's the doll house. Haven't even seen it yet. Should be another interesting evening.
 

mickyryan

Rear Admiral
Joined
Apr 18, 2016
Messages
4,216
loved it stealin it :) I used to tell folks Barbie cars with bad stickers is a crime don't be that guy!
 

WIMUSKY

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Sep 26, 2009
Messages
20,045
My kid is in college. They only thing I have to put together is my wallet!
 
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