Translate

Friday, December 5, 2014

SHHHH!...Santa Letter's

Each year my good friend Millie and I send letters to children across our area from Santa.  We started it 5 years ago as  band fundraiser and though our sons have graduated and moved to different colleges, we still continue the tradition for our local high school band and an additional local non-profit organization.  They get the message out that there are a couple of elves who will send personalized Santa letters with the official North Pole cancellation to "your child" for a donation and a little bit of information.  We have always had a pretty good response, but this year there was an avalanche of requests.

Unlike the commercial Santa letters, we do not ask or comment on any particular wants from the Christmas lists.  Instead we ask for a few successes each child has experienced during the year as well as what needs a little tweaking.  Those things are couched in a sweet little note about the elves, reindeer and of course the Claus family.

I thought today I might share a few of the successes and problem areas from the past few years.
One little fellow is now wearing clothes regularly. We have numerous children who are learning to go to the potty.  Several little people are learning their colors, letters and numbers.  Many of the kids are making excellent grades and are involved in everything from sports, gymnastics, cheerleading and scouts to music lessons, dance lesson, and learning foreign languages. ( Special thumbs up to one little fellow who is learning Chinese characters this year and a guy from a couple of years back who had mastered Czech)
Perhaps the nicest things we see are the words "she is kind to everyone" "he is a great helper and has a tender heart" "she makes everyone around her smile" "he tries to make everyone feel included".  Great job parents!

The "needs to work on" list is the funniest most of the time.  We do have the usual request for Santa to say something about nap time, whining, being a nicer brother/sister, sharing, using good manners, listening to mommy and daddy the FIRST time they say something, but we also see some original things that need a little adjusting.  A couple of years ago Santa had to tell one little boy that he had to wear underwear to school-every day!  One little angel need to quit acting like a cat when she meets people.  Another girl needs to quit throwing her spoons and forks at meal time  and several need to tone down the sass.

For the record, though we have request each and every year for Santa to say something about bed wetting, Santa does NOT scold an immature bladder.  If your child wets the bed it is not because he/she wants to or is too lazy to get up.  It is because their bladder is somewhat immature and they don't get "the signal" like everyone else.  Don't worry they will outgrow it.  In the meantime either get up and change their sheets or buy Pull-ups.

Hope you have enjoyed this little window into my yearly Christmas tradition.  Now as we speak about 400 letters are on their way to the North Pole remailing station.  A special thanks to some of the mothers who video their little ones reading their letters then tagging us with it.  The bright eyes and ear to ear grins make 2 days of chaos well worth it.

Oh and for the record, this year Santa had to explain why it is not a great idea to get a seahorse as a pet!
I LOVE SANTA LETTER WEEK!


21 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks Denise! It is fun to do and especially fun after they are done and gone. Now we wait to hear the stories after the kids get them.

      Delete
  2. This is such a beautiful thing you and your friend Millie do for the children. I enjoyed reading through the special requests!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is fun plus it benefits the band and the little people get really cute letters just for them. We love being elves!

      Delete
  3. What fun and a good service you do. I think I could have written some of those "interesting" letters when my kids were younger.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, it really is fun and will get you in the Christmas spirit so quickly!

      Delete
  4. It's such a fun tradition in our house! It's even more special to me because of who is sending the letters! Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Allison, you know how much we love you and your ENTIRE family!

    ReplyDelete
  6. You are really the best, Anne. I never knew you did this. Wish I had. What a lovely thing to do.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Barbara, it starts my Christmas every year now!

      Delete
  7. I love the idea of what you do and how you do it. The idea of "being good" is not concrete enough. You give them child specific goals with the help of the parents--good idea. Of course, mine pushed the limits.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Nearly all kids push the limits, it's part of their job. I do know, because we have heard from the parents, that the letters have has some positive changes. i.e. One little fellow threw his pacifier away ( he was nearly 4 and they had been trying for 2 years to get rid of it) our little no underwear friend started wearing it daily, kids clean their room ( at least until Christmas) It is a fun thing to do, plus who wants Santa to be just an enforcer. He always tells them how proud he is of their accomplishments first.

    ReplyDelete
  9. You are an awesome Santa's helper!!!! WOW, kids learning Chinese and Czech! I still don't know English. And how awesome would it be to meet the little girl that thought she was a cat. I would be laughing the entire time.

    ReplyDelete
  10. it's great isn't it. i hope she purrs and licks people

    ReplyDelete
  11. That would be great!!! If she wasn't my kid, I might encourage that.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your post made me grin!

    In answer to a comment you left at Harvest Lane Cottage....

    Hi Anne,
    It's not looking much like Christmas here, but...
    I do hope it will by the end of this week!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love being Santa with you! Meow!

    ReplyDelete
  14. love the tradition...how wonderful

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks MJ, the letters should be hitting the kiddo's mailboxes today!

      Delete

Hey y'all thanks for leaving a comment. They are much appreciated. I read them all and do my best to respond to them, except for trolls or spam and I delete those suckers forever.