Does Santa have an email address?
A quick internet search reveals that he does. Several, in fact, and parents can browse the choices to see which is the best fit for their family.
But nothing gets a kid into the Christmas spirit like sitting down with old-fashioned pencil and paper and actually writing a letter to Santa Claus.
The child will, of course, want to open the letter with a few traditional pleasantries. That includes asking how Rudolph and the other reindeer are doing, and asking Santa to say hello to Mrs. Claus and the elves.
And of course, there is always the obligatory “I have been very good this year” testimony – although occasionally that line is written with a sense of anxiously hoping Santa does not review his “Naughty or Nice” surveillance records too carefully.
But once all that stuff is out of the way, it’s time to dive into the heart of the matter: “Bring me …”
Parents have used these “letters to Santa” for generations as a way of making a child winnow down his massive wish list to its top priorities. By the time the Thanksgiving leftovers have been scraped into the dog bowl, most kids have already started pointing out television commercials, toys and electronic gadgets on store shelves and online advertisements, saying each time, “I want that for Christmas!”
After a couple of weeks of hearing a never-ending chorus of “I want!” “I want!” “I want!,” the overwhelmed and desperate (but clever) parent will hand over pencil and paper and ask the kid to put it in writing. Now that some effort is actually required, the child is more likely to focus on the things he really really really wants.
That’s all well and good.
After all, every parent wants to see their child happy on Christmas morning, wide-eyed with excitement as he tears off the wrapping paper to discover THE gift, exclaiming, “It’s just what I wanted!”
But – is it, really?
Most of our children – thankfully – already have everything they need, and to be honest, pretty much everything they want, too.
And this column is not intended to heap guilt on any parent who strives to put that special gift under the tree for his or her child. Again, that’s what every parent wants to do.
But maybe this year, when we encourage our children and grandchildren to write to Santa, we can sit down beside them at the table and write our own letters too. Just as this exercise compels kids to prioritize their wishes, it might help us adults think about what matters most to us, as well.
Here is my letter:
Dear Santa –
How are you? How is the weather at the North Pole? I hope Rudolph and the other reindeer are fine. Say hello to Mrs. Claus and the elves for me. I have been good this year – mostly – or at least I have tried. Here are the things I want for Christmas this year:
If you bring us any gifts this year – the kind we find under the tree – please make us truly thankful. But what I really want, Santa, is for my family to be safe and healthy. I want us to enjoy spending time together. I want us to talk to each other at the dinner table instead of eating alone staring at our various screens and devices. I want us to appreciate how fortunate we are and to find ways to share our blessings with others. I want us to remember what Christmas is all about, and to carry that light in our hearts throughout the year.
I am watching the children who are precious to me write letters to you. They trust me to deliver these letters to you and I will do my best to make their wishes come true. Most of all, I promise to try to make my own wishes for my family come true.
Merry Christmas to all the parents out there.
