Not long ago in a land just like this
There were two little girls who were on the nice list.
They both wrote to Santa, so heartfelt and real
And all his deliveries were met with a squeal.
Every morn in December they’d jump from the sack
And cheer when they found the elf on the wine rack.
They wore Christmas jammies and made cookies galore
Which they set by the fireplace; reindeer food by the door.
‘Till one day the sister, older by three
Became suspect of Santa and those gifts round the tree.
“He can’t get in here,” she’d say, rolling her eyes
We have an alarm and our flue’s the wrong size.
“And that Santa Tracker we watch on your phone
Shows he went straight from China to Sierra Leone.
And if I learned one thing from geography class,
that trip would take, like, a three days and a half.
“And, mom, you know that’s not my only critique
Sometimes our elf doesn’t move for a week.
And if Santa loved him or sent him like that
Don’t you think he’d stitch up that hole on his hat?
“That rip has been there since 2014
When he tore it while crawling in the washing machine.
I just need some answers ’cause nothing makes sense.”
(Whew. Christmas in Tweenville is getting quite tense.)
“Well,” said her mother, “those facts may be true
But the magic of Christmas can still live in you.
Whether you’re tiny or even a tween
It’s about giving and sharing and not being mean.
“It’s showing forgiveness and living in grace
And the knowledge that Christ came to dwell in this place.
And by the way, if you see an elf stuck for a while
Please help un-stick him and give him a boost and a smile.”
And while not in an instant, over time she saw the light.
Merry Christmas from Tweenville. Good luck and good night.
Once again, Awesome Kelly! My heart smiles at your craft and your story but breaks and fills my eyes with tears that the window of imagination and sheer joy is so short. Thank you for your candor and the reminder that while we are all on this journey- at different places- we are not alone in the parenting adventures. ❤️
Thank you, Brittany! I’m so glad you are enjoying the posts. I can definitely say I have been completely unprepared for each new parenting challenge, but sharing the ups and downs sure does make it easier. Xo