Something to Hold Onto

We’ve been thoroughly focused on the real Reason for the Season at our house for weeks now. We talk about Santa, but not a ton.

To the Athlete: “Have you thought about what you want Santa to bring you this year?”

To the Princess: “Is there ever going to be a time that we don’t have to bribe you with sugar to sit on Santa’s lap so we can take a photo?”

BTW – not even the promise of ice cream, hot chocolate or candy would get her near the big guy this past weekend. The girl is having none of it and says he knows what she wants anyway and she doesn’t have to sit on his lap. Well alrighty then.

In the back of my mind I’ve had a sneaking suspicion that The Athlete doesn’t really believe in Santa and is just patronizing us. He’s clever like that and always looking out for someone else’s feelings. But this time I am DELIGHTED to be wrong.

This was the week that the official Letters from Santa came in the mail. My prior doubts about my oldest child believing in Santa are all gone now.

He was over the moon. Over.The.Moon. The letter was addressed right to him and was on Santa CLaus letterhead.  Santa knew about his Italian customs project and his book reports. He told him he was proud of him. He mentioned the gift item that my son wants the most and said he would do his best to make sure he gets it.  The Pope himself couldn’t have touched my son more.

It was refreshing to see that my super sophisticated, thoroughly thoughtful, reads at a fourth grade level in 2nd grade guy, is still my little boy. He slept with the letter one night and I’ve caught him more than once reading it at breakfast. Be still my heart.

If you haven’t seen Christmas through the eyes of a child lately, I highly recommend it. The magic is absolutely breathtaking.

My Christmas wish for you is that you believe in something that you hold onto .  . . even in your sleep