I have several nativity sets, including a Playmobil one that my sister gave to ME, and I make sure that everybody knows that it’s mine mine mine and they play with it merely at my whim and pleasure.

I located that set today and permitted the kids to set it up. There were tears and skirmishes, and I finally told everybody to leave it alone and go away. After everyone calmed down and found other amusements, I told the older boys they could play with it. Jenny found out, and she wanted to as well, but I told her she had to wait.

Fifteen minutes later, the set was deserted and I told Jenny she could take a turn. My mistake. Billy had merely gone into the basement to retrieve some other Playmobil pieces – Roman soldiers. More tears, and I told Billy he had to share with her (Fritz had lost interest).

Everybody is happy because Jenny is playing with the nativity set and Billy is having his soldiers run patrols. Doing what, you may wonder? Well, they’re Herod’s men and they’re looking for the newborn King so they can kill him.

Um. Not quite the mood I wanted to set. Accurate, though.