FUNNY FAMILY STORY #1
Four year old Steven is sitting on Santa's lap at the mall
(Yes, it's true … good little Jewish boys and girls long to see Santa, too!
I mean, who wouldn't like to believe that if you're good, really really good, then all your wishes will come true ... right?)
When Santa asks: What shall I bring you for Xmas?
Clear as a bell, Steven declares: Nothing!
Santa is certainly surprised, so he asks:
Nothing? Why nothing? Aren't you a good boy?
Yes! responds Steven—But I'm a good Jewish boy!
Santa couldn't wait to get the next child in line on his lap …
That child was Barry, who made Santa happy by rattling off his list of desires :)
FUNNY FAMILY STORY #2 :)
Chanukah is over, and it's Xmas eve.
I walk into six year old Barry's room to kiss him goodnight. I'm surprised to see all of his Chanukah gifts piled up on the carpet in the center of his room.
What's this? I ask.
Well, if I give all of my presents away, Santa will think I'm such a good boy that he'll come to our house, tonight …
Oy ...
I sit down on Barry's bed and while sweeping a dark lock of hair off his forehead, I reassure my young son, again, that Santa is a fantasy … that Christian parents buy Xmas presents just like Jewish parents buy Chanukah gifts.
After leaning over to kiss my sweet son, good night, I walk to the door of his room, and upon turning to smile at him before turning off the light, my first born asks: Mom, who told Santa I'm Jewish?
I've shared this trio of stories in class after class, year after year, when parents lament that older children tell younger siblings Santa doesn't exist. And once all three stories have been told, I smile and finish by saying: Children will believe what they want to believe no matter how we try to replace fantasy with reality … and actually, the same is true of adults :)
BTW, as with many stories that had originally seemed wistful rather than funny, with the passage of time, we tend to laugh at the truth ... And upon looking back, today, at yesterday's childlike longings, Barry, a true romantic in every way, smiles at the depth of his need to believe that Santa should have stopped at every home to grant heartfelt wishes where good boys and good girls had learned to offer kindness for kindness, early on. And wouldn't it be fitting if, when good girls and boys grew into the kind of adults, who considered the needs of loved ones over their own desires, some how, at some time in the far future, in some magical way, those heartfelt desires actually came true ... I mean isn't a heartfelt belief as powerful as that what positive focus is truly about? :)
FUNNY FAMILY STORY #3 :)
David is four. We are in a mall where little, old ladies keep asking him if he's been a good boy, so Santa will stop at his house. David attends a Jewish pre school and feels 'fusterated' with my suggestion that he respect kindness with kindness by smiling and responding as his brother, Steven, had: Yes, I'm a good boy but I'm Jewish. I celebrate Chanukah.
Within minutes, another lady asks David if he's been a good boy. At this, my small son stamps his foot and admonishes her with his own interpretation of his brother's words: I'm a Jewish little boy! We don't celebrate Xmas!! Feeling rebuffed, the lady huffs away. I remind David, kindness with kindness ...
Before too long, yet another lady, who means well, smiles and when she asks David the Santa question, I hold my breath until my son looks up at me and then smiles up at her while saying: No Santa for me… I'm a good little Jewish boy. When she laughs, pats him on the head and continues on her way, I smile widely at David and commend his kind response. Then it's my turn to laugh when when my four year old tyke replies: Dont worry, Mommy. I wanted to kick her, but I remembered what you said. :) :)
Several days after our experience in the mall, we are hosting a Chanukah party for our neighbors, most of whom are not Jewish. I remind four year old David about kindness for kindness. The doorbell rings. David runs to the front door. Upon swinging the door open, we greet the four Ivonelli children and their parents, and before I get a chance to welcome them inside, David springs in front of me and raising his arm, my son directs his pointer finger straight at all six of our next door neighbors while I hear these words fly out of his mouth: This is a Chanukah party so don't give me any of that Merry Xmas stuff!!!
This leaves me speechless until I watch all six Ivonelli's break up into hysterical laughter. You see, all of the kids on the block know how 'fusterated' David feels about the holidays, so our dear friends had planned to wish him Merry Xmas right off the bat—but my independently minded, good, little boy beat them to the punch—and every year when the holidays rolled around, our two families laughed, together, while retelling that story, which had provided so much pleasure, all around …
So, no matter which of many holidays you celebrate, I'd like to wish a wondrously Happy Holiday Season and a very healthy New Year to one and all in hopes that you are offering kindness for kindess wherever in this wide, wide world your home may be, and perhaps, with positive focus intact, kindness for kindness may, one day, grant us all the long range goals of good will toward wo/man and peace on Earth ... And what I ask, could feel better than that!!
Warm hugs,
Your friend, Annie :) :) :)
Four year old Steven is sitting on Santa's lap at the mall
(Yes, it's true … good little Jewish boys and girls long to see Santa, too!
I mean, who wouldn't like to believe that if you're good, really really good, then all your wishes will come true ... right?)
When Santa asks: What shall I bring you for Xmas?
Clear as a bell, Steven declares: Nothing!
Santa is certainly surprised, so he asks:
Nothing? Why nothing? Aren't you a good boy?
Yes! responds Steven—But I'm a good Jewish boy!
Santa couldn't wait to get the next child in line on his lap …
That child was Barry, who made Santa happy by rattling off his list of desires :)
FUNNY FAMILY STORY #2 :)
Chanukah is over, and it's Xmas eve.
I walk into six year old Barry's room to kiss him goodnight. I'm surprised to see all of his Chanukah gifts piled up on the carpet in the center of his room.
What's this? I ask.
Well, if I give all of my presents away, Santa will think I'm such a good boy that he'll come to our house, tonight …
Oy ...
I sit down on Barry's bed and while sweeping a dark lock of hair off his forehead, I reassure my young son, again, that Santa is a fantasy … that Christian parents buy Xmas presents just like Jewish parents buy Chanukah gifts.
After leaning over to kiss my sweet son, good night, I walk to the door of his room, and upon turning to smile at him before turning off the light, my first born asks: Mom, who told Santa I'm Jewish?
I've shared this trio of stories in class after class, year after year, when parents lament that older children tell younger siblings Santa doesn't exist. And once all three stories have been told, I smile and finish by saying: Children will believe what they want to believe no matter how we try to replace fantasy with reality … and actually, the same is true of adults :)
BTW, as with many stories that had originally seemed wistful rather than funny, with the passage of time, we tend to laugh at the truth ... And upon looking back, today, at yesterday's childlike longings, Barry, a true romantic in every way, smiles at the depth of his need to believe that Santa should have stopped at every home to grant heartfelt wishes where good boys and good girls had learned to offer kindness for kindness, early on. And wouldn't it be fitting if, when good girls and boys grew into the kind of adults, who considered the needs of loved ones over their own desires, some how, at some time in the far future, in some magical way, those heartfelt desires actually came true ... I mean isn't a heartfelt belief as powerful as that what positive focus is truly about? :)
FUNNY FAMILY STORY #3 :)
David is four. We are in a mall where little, old ladies keep asking him if he's been a good boy, so Santa will stop at his house. David attends a Jewish pre school and feels 'fusterated' with my suggestion that he respect kindness with kindness by smiling and responding as his brother, Steven, had: Yes, I'm a good boy but I'm Jewish. I celebrate Chanukah.
Within minutes, another lady asks David if he's been a good boy. At this, my small son stamps his foot and admonishes her with his own interpretation of his brother's words: I'm a Jewish little boy! We don't celebrate Xmas!! Feeling rebuffed, the lady huffs away. I remind David, kindness with kindness ...
Before too long, yet another lady, who means well, smiles and when she asks David the Santa question, I hold my breath until my son looks up at me and then smiles up at her while saying: No Santa for me… I'm a good little Jewish boy. When she laughs, pats him on the head and continues on her way, I smile widely at David and commend his kind response. Then it's my turn to laugh when when my four year old tyke replies: Dont worry, Mommy. I wanted to kick her, but I remembered what you said. :) :)
Several days after our experience in the mall, we are hosting a Chanukah party for our neighbors, most of whom are not Jewish. I remind four year old David about kindness for kindness. The doorbell rings. David runs to the front door. Upon swinging the door open, we greet the four Ivonelli children and their parents, and before I get a chance to welcome them inside, David springs in front of me and raising his arm, my son directs his pointer finger straight at all six of our next door neighbors while I hear these words fly out of his mouth: This is a Chanukah party so don't give me any of that Merry Xmas stuff!!!
This leaves me speechless until I watch all six Ivonelli's break up into hysterical laughter. You see, all of the kids on the block know how 'fusterated' David feels about the holidays, so our dear friends had planned to wish him Merry Xmas right off the bat—but my independently minded, good, little boy beat them to the punch—and every year when the holidays rolled around, our two families laughed, together, while retelling that story, which had provided so much pleasure, all around …
So, no matter which of many holidays you celebrate, I'd like to wish a wondrously Happy Holiday Season and a very healthy New Year to one and all in hopes that you are offering kindness for kindess wherever in this wide, wide world your home may be, and perhaps, with positive focus intact, kindness for kindness may, one day, grant us all the long range goals of good will toward wo/man and peace on Earth ... And what I ask, could feel better than that!!
Warm hugs,
Your friend, Annie :) :) :)
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