I was able to be one of Santa’s helpers at my grandsons elementary school yesterday and just thought I’d post about it-
Started at 8:15 with pre-K and ended around 2:30 after seeing a large number of kiddo’s.
I gotta tell you it’s a pretty enjoyable thing to do, if the opportunity presents itself for any of you, I would highly recommend taking advantage of it-
Most of the day was what you may expect, but there was a few things that made me want to share with you guys and girls-
The youngest ones up until 3rd grade, many were just plain goo-goo eyed getting to see Santa, that started as I was leaving the office to get to the room pictures were happening at-
A lot of the 4th and 5 th graders new what was up-
Now for the part that was a bit rough-
I had one pre-k kid that didn’t want any toys, just wanted $20 so he could give it to his mom-
Another one was a 1st or second grade girl that told me she didn’t want Santa to bring her any toys, but if I could bring her $1000 she wanted to give it to her mom to be able to buy Christmas for her family-
There were five or six kids that told me they just wanted their family to get along or for the parents to get back together-
After we went through all the grades then it was time for the special needs class, wow, that was the best feeling ever!
A few of the interactions tugged on my grandpa heart, but man at the end of the day I got way more out of it than the kids did-
Very few kids were scared, and of course I got the request for the latest IPhones, apple laptops, a real horse, even a donkey lol-
I’ve been the Santa at a few office Christmas parties and once for a school class party but this one was the longest and most rewarding-
Anyway, I thought a few of you may enjoy hearing about it-
I don’t do the Facebook thing so here is where I tell the story-

Very nice.

On a different subject. Any hot teachers sit on your lap?

Steve, what a wonderful experience for you. A blessing for the kids and you. Thanks for sharing that!

That’s very cool Steve

Thanks guys, it really was awesome-

I would like a mini-donkey.

I’ll check with your parents to make sure they are ok with it-
Now say cheeeese!

Thanks for sharing.

I, for one at least, am tired of the rut my family is in with regards to holidays. It’s the same ol’ same ol’. Every year. Someone is always putting “limits” on things to protect the less fortunate. My family has no less fortunate memebers. Therefore, a huge hassle is created and lots of feelings are hurt.

I would rather toss the whole thing aside and spend time with others like you do.

Maybe that will be a resolution for this coming decade. Bah humbug for now.

I think most every family has a similar feeling each season, personally I think you are on the right track as far as you are feeling-
It’s hard not to feel almost inadequate sometimes if we aren’t giving gifts of the latest thing-
My family is no different but my wife and I have developed some new “traditions” over last 10 years or so that feels pretty good and satisfies somewhat a desire to affect a random life-
We always get more back than it cost us-
I mean, most all of us will pay a good amount to make us “feel” a certain way-
Each person or couple or family are always on their own journey-
I hope success for you guys in your own journey during the holidays-

Great job and thank you for sharing. As a former teacher/coach, I saw first hand the struggles kids go through. Sometimes what we take for granted will actually change someones life.

Christmas is my least favorite time of year, the whole idea has become a warped, rushed hassle. But what you did is great and makes me sad for the kids that really need something. Wish I could find a few of them and give them the money they need.

Thanks DI,
When I think about the purity and unselfishness of a few of these kids, I am really humbled-
Just to think that in their world, they have a chance to ask for anything for the possible chance they may be able to get this “thing”, and what they actually wish for is something that would in their mind lessen an obvious burden on someone they love-
I just admire that-
And I think these same compassionate kids are in schools in every city, in every state, I was just able to witness it on such a personal level-

A lot of the adults that I have interacted with over the years, the ones that seems to have a strong compassion for others, I would suspect could have been one of those children.
I also suspect a few reading and maybe following this post may have been one of these kids-
Many of the people I have admired the most have come from some tough situations-

I feel I was blessed to see pure, at the base unselfishness-
Life is tough sometimes, I know that, we all know that.

But on Christmas morning I really hope these kids, and the ones they were concerned about, find a reason to smile Christmas morning-