1. TMNews.com
'Mamaw' still makes Christmas requests of Santa
By Glenda DeFord Special to the Times-Mail
December 18, 2007
Dear Santa,
I know I am old now, but I still can’t help looking for you on Christmas Eve. My wrapping paper
is printed with you and your reindeer flying across the moon through the midnight sky.
That might surprise you, since it’s been quite awhile since my last letter.
First of all, thanks for all the past Christmas gifts. I especially liked my first riding toy, the
yellow Minneapolis Moline tractor. Thanks for getting me that instead of the tricycle my mother
thought was more appropriate for girls. I also liked the Betsy McCall doll and the Etch-A-
Sketch. The metal doll house, though fun to play with, eventually rusted and became dented,
making sharp edges that could cut your finger. You couldn’t keep the door shut either, without
sticking a piece of Play-Doh in the handle. Remember the electric toy stove you gave to Gloria
and me? Well, she got a coil burn print when she laid her little hand on it while we were alone in
the playroom having a real tea party. I thought you might want to know about the few safety
issues we had, although I should have said something much sooner.
My grandfather’s Christmas as a child consisted of getting an orange, some nuts and an apple. It
was the rich families who gave and received presents at Christmas.
My being raised by grandparents was an interesting experience, and we got more than the
orange, nuts and apple. Thanks for all the help you gave them. I must say they were far better at
setting limits when it came to Christmas than either “Farmor” Ann-Christin or “Mamaw”
Glenda.
We do seem to not be able to help ourselves.
While I would like to tell you I have conquered my addiction to buying for grandchildren. I have
not. But, I am working on it. Awareness is the first step! Maybe you can help me a little with that
for next year. The world does not need more demanding human beings with a big sense of
entitlement.
“Farmor” sends a beautiful St. Lucia costume from Sweden each year to Abby. Baby Aiden got
his first star boy hat and golden star wand. He tolerated having his picture taken in a gingerbread
man costume on Dec. 13. Ann-Christin and Stig have sent many other Christmas gifts that are to
be opened on Christmas Eve before you arrive.
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2. I love to talk to the almost 5-year-old Abby about what she wants to be when she grows up. The
list has expanded, as you probably already know since last Christmas. Now she will be a
veterinarian, a tennis player, a museum girl, (this recently replaced hair cut girl) and a rock star. I
am currently nurturing the rock star in her — costumes, microphones, technique, “Hannah
Montana” and “High School Musical” — having felt that I could have had a career myself on
stage. O.K., maybe not. I know you like the truth.
I have checked out the gifts on U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission list of recalled toys
(www.cpsc.gov) to make sure they are safe and lead-free. Also, I made sure they were age-
appropriate and well-made.
I am going to give you some help in getting some presents to boys and girls who would not have
a very nice Christmas otherwise. Abby has already set aside some toys. Maybe these children are
missing a parent who is in the military or absent for another reason. Maybe they themselves are
sick, don’t have enough to eat or clothes to wear. Please find a special surprise in your bag for all
parents, relatives, foster parents, for those who are not with their children this year and especially
grandparents who are raising their grandchildren.
Trust me, if I could live next door to all of my children and grandchildren, I would be the
happiest person on Earth. However, I will only ask for this one Christmas gift: I would like
enough good health and time to be there in their lives as much as possible (or as much as they
will allow!).
Yes, I know that the best present of all for any time of year is the gift of yourself, to live in each
moment to the fullest, to be a good role model, to take time for the little things and to try to make
the world a kinder, healthier place to live in. No sleigh is big enough for all that.
Please take care of yourself, and don’t work too hard. There are more elves these days that are
willing to help if you can let go of some things. I know you like your one big night, but you
might want to learn to pace yourself a little better. I do worry about your weight and blood
pressure and hope you are remembering to have your check-ups and do what the doctor says.
Yes, yes, I am working on all that, too.
Santa, we want you around for a long time yet to come. We all still need a little magic reindeer
dust.
Glenda
Glenda K. DeFord, Extension educator, consumer and family sciences, writes about issues
affecting families the third Tuesday of each month. She welcomes comments, questions or
suggestions at 275-4623 or gdeford@ purdue.edu.
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