You are so very, very right.
My kids are 11, 9 and 6--like most boys at those ages, they get "the squirms" at Mass, even though it's only an hour long--EXCEPT for the 3+ hour Easter Vigil. They love it!!! The tension, the excitement, all building toward the church being flooded with light...they could sit through six hours of that anticipation.
I also think that anticipation is something to be enjoyed, whether young or old. Adequately anticipating something makes it something that much more to be enjoyed. and possibly ~ outside the spiritual realm ~ the magic of Christmas.
As for “the squirms” at Mass, like so many things in this life; you will miss those days when they are gone. It all goes by too fast!