Letters to Santa

Christmas time is a special time of year for families all around the world. Together, children, parents and grandparents can enjoy the fun and magic that this season has to offer.

Christmas is also a very busy time of year for Santa Claus. A little Irish elf who lives at the North Pole once told me that Santa has to get the sleigh ready, make sure the elves have finished all the toys, and check his list twice to be sure he hasn't forgotten a single child. But in the midst of all this chaos, he always makes time to read letters from children. That's because Santa knows children sometimes change their minds, and he wants to be sure he's bringing the right gifts on Christmas Eve.

Before the little elf was one of Santa's helpers, he was a very little boy living at home in Ireland with his Mom and Dad. It was early December and it was time to write his annual letter to Santa... He got his special crayons, some writing paper and began to write (with his Mom’s help since he was still a very little boy). He asked how Mrs Claus, the elves and the reindeer had been keeping and he told Santa that he had been a helpful boy this year and shared some of the wonderful things he had done. He told Santa that he really wanted a toy fire engine for Christmas so that he could help people. Of course, the little boy said thank you to Santa and wished him safe travels and a very Merry Christmas.

When finished, he set his letter on the logs in the fireplace and went to bed. This is an Irish tradition. Not to worry… the logs weren’t on fire! The next morning, the letter was gone and in its place was a sprinkling of magic dust on the logs! The letter had gone to Santa!

On Christmas Eve, the little boy went to bed so excited that he left his soother by his stocking... When he woke up the next morning he realized that Santa had turned his soother into a toy fire engine!

Writing letters to Santa not only brings the magic of Christmas into your home, but it allows quality discussions to be had between you and your kids... the true meaning of Christmas.

So, why not take a little time with your wee ones and get a letter writing tradition started in your family this year. Send their letters to the address below. Santa makes sure to reply to every letter... just make sure you include a return address. This is a free service Canada Post offers each year.

Santa Claus
North Pole
HOH OHO

Should you prefer, here’s an online service that will send your child a letter or give them a personal phone call… all straight from the big guy!

Click on the link below for more information

Free Download to Help You Raise Self-reliant Kids

Step One is to be convinced that this is important!

You do want to work yourself out of a job one day -right? Well think of the life-skills and qualities that would help your children function fully as young adults without you. Such as:

• Independence of thought and action - Helps them resist peer pressure during those teen years too!
• Resilience - Helps them bounce back after disappointments or failures, such as endure rejection by a friend
• Be Caring and empathetic
• etc, etc

Once you have your list, place a column for each of your children next to that list and rate how they are doing so far. Feel good about their strengths - some things are working :) - and start looking for ways to help them with their weaknesses.

To make your job a little easier we've created a list of the Top Ten Life-skills. These are based on the ideas from parents in our courses.

Go here for your FREE download -> Top Ten Life-skills

Warmly, Beverley

Beverley Cathcart-Ross is an author, speaker, certified parent educator, and co-founder of Parenting Network. Click here for Workshops for Winter 2010/11!

Don't miss our Early Bird Specials! Ends December 5th.

14-Year Old Inspires

I was so moved by this young man that I decided to share the video of his comments with you.

Fourteen-Year-Old Michigan Student Stands Up for Suspended, Gay-Defending Teacher

Jay McDowell, a teacher in Howell, Michigan, was temporarily suspended without pay earlier this month after telling a student wearing a Confederate flag and a student making anti-gay remarks to get out of his class. At a school-board meeting on Friday, openly gay 14-year-old high-school student Graeme Taylor came to McDowell's defense, thanking the teacher for doing "an amazing thing" in a town home to the KKK, and urging the school board to give McDowell his pay and reverse the disciplinary actions. The inspiring video has made its way around the Internet, because how cool is this kid? Click here. (Heads up there's an 18 second commercial before the video begins - you have the correct link!)

Warmly, Beverley

Beverley Cathcart-Ross is an author, speaker, certified parent educator, and co-founder of Parenting Network. Click here for final Workshops for Winter 2010/11!