Amanda Worthley, a Kansas City mom with three children, has taken the TikTok world by storm with her extraordinary Christmas present display. Each year, she showcases nearly 200 gifts, creating a visual spectacle that has left viewers in awe.

Unbelievable Christmas Present Display by a Kansas City Mom

Where the Tradition Began

Growing up with her parents, Amanda experienced Christmases filled with an abundance of presents. This tradition continued when she became a mom herself, with her son Derek being 20 years old, son Elliott 5 years old, and daughter Delilah 3 years old. She wanted to replicate the magic of Santa on Christmas morning for her children.Amanda recalls, "Growing up, our Christmases were like this. I had a younger brother and sister, and we all helped keep the magic alive. Now, as a mom, I just kind of perfected this present display tradition."

The "Optical Illusion" Technique

A retired art teacher for seven years, Amanda uses her creative skills to create an overwhelming display. She is very strategic in how she wraps the gifts and lays them out. "I make it look like a lot more than it actually is," she explains. She purchases and wraps gifts throughout the year, and it's this careful arrangement that gives the illusion of a multiplied number of presents.Another trick is that she wraps "everything," including her kids' favorite electronics, clothing, and toys. According to her 2023 "gifts-per-child" tracking spreadsheet, the "official number" of gifts came to 231, including wrapped snacks.Amanda also considers the disposal of the gift wrapping. If the bags and tissue paper aren't "broken or ripped," she reuses them every year. She keeps them in the basement, and the kids think they go to the trash.

Making the Display Come to Life

From the front, the display looks like a sea of presents, but when you walk to the side, you can see the gaps. It's a giant optical illusion that Amanda takes pride in. "I work very, very hard to make that visual come to life," she says. "Other people work really, really hard to do as little wrapping as they can - and if that's your goal, then you're not going to get the visual that I'm getting."The content she shares on TikTok is from Christmases past, and this year's display won't be revealed until December 25th. All the gifts are stored in the basement until Christmas Eve when the setup begins. Her husband and sometimes her eldest son, Derek, help with the setup, but someone has to stay with the kids to prevent them from waking up early.

Giving and Donating

After Christmas, the toys that aren't broken are either given away or donated. "None of it goes into a landfill unless it's not usable anymore," Amanda emphasizes. She makes sure to do a donation purge before Christmas to keep their house from getting cluttered.Above all, her three children are "so appreciative" of the gifts and the presentation. She also emphasizes the importance of kindness and love among her kids.For those who think she's bragging on social media, Amanda reiterates, "I was an art teacher for seven years, and it's fun for me. It's like an art for me!" She concludes, "I just want to keep the magic alive for as long as possible."