Symptoms of Santa Guilt
Playing Santa is supposed to be fun, right? I mean, it IS fun. It’s kind of a rush putting together toys at midnight because that’s when you know your 4-year-old is really really asleep. Getting all of them wrapped up, arranging them just so under the tree.
But I couldn’t help but feel a tad guilty. My son and I were getting all ready for Santa on Christmas Eve. He counted out 8 carrots for the reindeer and put them in a bowl on our porch. He picked out 3 Christmas cookies he made himself, for Santa, and put them by the fireplace. He even moved them over from their original position so Santa wouldn’t mistakenly step on them on his way out of the chimney.
The look on my boy’s face was enough to make my heart melt. His eyes were wide, his voice full of excitement and anticipation. But I couldn’t help but feel just a little guilty. I felt like I was putting all this false hope into him, almost lying to him in a way. It’s strange, because as a girl, I held on to my belief in Santa for much longer than my peers. And although I think it had a lot to do with my mom’s threat … “if you don’t believe, you don’t get presents” … I think a big part of me just didn’t want to let it go of the magic.
I asked my mom if she felt the Santa Guilt with me and my brother. She said “No way.” Maybe I’m being a little oversensitive. I mean, it was a perfect Christmas. And there is something magical about a little guy waking up and counting the carrots in the bowl and saying “I really need to thank Santa for my presents.”
What about you? Did you have a twinge of Santa guilt this season? Let me know!
-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com
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- Sprinkling glitter on the lawn so Santa knows the way.
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- Counting out the carrots.
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- Santa’s cookies are perfectly arranged.
Christmas shopping complete?
The frenzy is almost over …
Less than 3 days away from the kids’ most anticipated day of the year.
For some of us, the shopping frenzy started the day after last Christmas.
For others, it hasn’t started yet (after all, the malls and stores are open Christmas Eve for that very reason).
Still others are going to be taking full advantage of 24-hour shopping (no, not online … at your local Toys R Us store!)
And although I don’t plan to have a hankering to shop at 3 a.m. anytime soon, I know that the early/late hours are helping people get those last wishes fulfilled.
So what about you? Are you all done or have you not even started yet? Somewhere in between? Let us know!
-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com
Drop-side cribs are outlawed
A drop-side crib.
According to a story by The Associated Press, the government Wednesday officially outlawed drop-side cribs. This move comes after millions of recalls and 30 infant deaths in the past 1o years.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reached a unanimous decision to ban the manufacturing, sale and resale of drop-side cribs, which have a side rail that moves up and down. Hotels and day care centers also would be prohibited from using these types of cribs.
To read the full story, click here.
-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com
