I have to say that this year I am as excited as ever for Christmas. I have even found myself glancing at the calendar counting down the days a couple of times. New snow is falling as I write this column and I look forward to the day when we have enough snow accumulated to take my kids out snowshoeing and sliding.
Maybe that is why I am so excited for Christmas this year: my kids are all old enough, yet young enough at the same time to have a healthy and naïve excitement for Christmas. Santa is coming and they are counting down the days! As parents, my wife and I are doing our best to teach the true meaning of Christmas in hopes that one day my kids will understand it’s not just about presents.
I also don’t want my kids to fear saying, “Merry Christmas.” We want our kids to stand on the pillar of truth, not the false teachings of “political correctness.” Maybe that is another reason why I am excited for Christmas: to boldly remind everyone why it’s called Christmas!
In the spirit of our youth, I have decided to put together a “common sense” Christmas list for Santa Claus:
My first wish for Santa is in regards to any video games that may be handed out this year under the tree or in a stocking. Please attach “time limits” on these games, Santa, and make them unusable if set up in a kid’s bedroom. Video games may be fun, but content should be monitored closely by parents with proper time limits set.
A second wish for Santa is for parents to give less “material” and more of “themselves” to their kids for Christmas this year. Children long for time and attention from their parents. Please give the parents of this nation the wisdom to know that their influence and love is essential to their kids.
The third item on my Christmas list is for children to learn the proper respect that they should exhibit to all adults, but especially to their parents. Santa, have you noticed how much young people are incorporating swear words into their language lately? Please give them the gifts of saying, “Thank you,” “Yes or no sir,” “Please,” “You’re welcome,” "Excuse me,” and any other respectful words you can think of.
On a strictly selfish note, is there any way you can grant safe passage to the Super Bowl for the Minnesota Vikings? I just watched the Vikings get stomped by the Carolina Panthers and am feeling like a Viking fan of years past. If you have it in your power, a Super Bowl trophy in Minnesota would fill all Vikings’ fans with great holiday cheer!
If anything else though, Santa, please give Americans a new sense of unity and spirit of cooperation. Health care, wars overseas, and many other issues in our time are threatening to split us apart. Give us some “common sense” so that we may all prosper again as Americans.
Mitch Dorr, a Cook County High School Class of 1993 graduate, is now a social studies teacher and coach at his former alma mater. Mitch coaches Vikings football and boys’ basketball.
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