Stop acting like an inmate!

A woman kept yelling this at someone a few yards behind me. Eventually I glanced to see what was going on. I thought she might be annoyed with an adult who was having socialization problems now that they were no longer incarcerated, but no. The comment was directed at a child who was being too rowdy.

I suppose it's no worse than saying "Stop running around like a chicken with your head cut off." I mean seriously, is that an image you want in your kids' heads, right next to their dreams of lollipops and rainbow colored unicorns?

Still... "Stop acting like an inmate!?" What the heck?

* From my Draft Folder

Just a spoonful of sugar....

My friend's kids got a cake making kit. Guess who got to supervise?

Here's how they're supposed to look

And here's how they actually looked.

(We liked to call this "the cheeseburger stage")

The cakes were about the size of a cupcake bottom with no top, and there was more icing on these than cake, so when the kids asked if they could eat them, I said they could each have 1/4 of their cakes. - Which was essentially the same thing as scooping out 2 tablespoons of confectioner's sugar, adding food coloring, and saying "here!"

It didn't take long before their speech ramped up to about a hundred miles per hour and they were ricochetting off the walls. Their "crashes" later were just as evident. Funny to watch, in a way, but thank God I didn't say "Sure! Pop the whole thing in your mouth!" 

4 kids (x2)

I told myself I would get gifts for 3 Operation Santa Claus kids this year. Maybe 4. Which is exactly what I did. - Twice.

That's right. I've committed to getting gifts for 8 kids. In addition to gifts I have to get for kids I actually know! To be fair, a friend offered to help out with a couple of them, so it's more like I have six. But six is still twice ad many as THREE, and I could have stopped at ONE letter with FOUR kids and been done with it. But nooooooooooo!

The problem is, I had stuff for some kids from each letter (each of the letters I took has 4 kids), but I didn't have stuff for all the kids on either letter. I was trying to decide between the two letters (which 4 kids to take), and then my friend chimed in and said she had a few extra things kid A could use, and a couple of things kid B could use... and that's how I ended up with two letters with 4 kids each.

I'm stuck on what to get a 9 year old girl who didn't give me any information about what she'd like. Thoughts? I don't want to get anything too specific, like a Barbie, because she might not be into that. I'm thinking a sew it yourself Build A Bear kit, but I'm open to suggestions.

Operation Santa Claus

With only a few days left until December, I figured it's time for me to mention Operation Santa Claus since, as I said last year, when I write about it later, people always say "Why didn't you tell me about this in advance?!"

I've covered this pretty well in the past so I'll try not to repeat too much here. The short version is: Kids address letters to "Santa Claus" or to the North Pole every year. Those letters are re-directed to post offices participating in Operation Santa Claus, and volunteers answer them and fulfill gift requests.

I'm doing things a little backwards this year. I already have some gifts, so I'll take inventory before I go and try to find letters that fit my current "haul." Probably letters written by moms who say "We can't afford Christmas this year. I would appreciate anything you can send for my child." - There are lots of those. There are also lots of kids asking for Wiis, iphones, and the latest Madden games. Last year there were also several requests for LaLaLoopsies, which I'd never heard of before. (Resulting in my later shrieking "LA LA LOOPSIE!!!" upon seeing one at a local Kmart.  - It's a doll? Who knew it was a doll?!)

I tried finding letters to fit gifts I had last year too, and still ended up buying things. This year will probably be the same!

See my previous posts on Operation Santa Claus for more information, and if you'd like to get involved, call your local post offices to see if they participate. Most seem to start Operation Santa Claus (aka Operation Letters to Santa) the day after Thanksgiving or near the first of December.

5 Year old on Malpractice

Her

I keep thinking about L.

Me

Who's L?

Her

My neighbor. He died.

Me

Oh, I'm sorry. How did he die?

Her

A doctor killed him.

Me

I hate it when that happens! I'm sorry that happened to your friend. Do you know what happened? How did the doctor kill him?

Her

He took out his sword and stabbed him in the back. All of the doctors in the hospital took out their swords and stabbed him in the back!

* Ironically, that's probably not far from the truth!

Totally Kid Carousel

A friend and I decided to check out a park we'd never been to. I was particularly excited to learn that there was a carousel in the park, though from the few pictures I'd seen, I thought it looked kind of… odd.

Seeing the carousel in person did little to change my opinion of it - initially. 

It was very bright, very colorful, and I couldn't help thinking WHAT THE HECK DRUGS WAS THE DESIGNER ON WHEN HE MADE THIS??? These were the scariest, most brightly colored, misshapen, creatures I'd ever seen! 

It was obviously meant to be whimsical and quirky, but all I could think was "Seriously, dude… what was up???"

And then… I figured it out.

Above each carousel animal was a drawing. A child's drawing.

And at the base of each animal, was a signature. 

The artist, Milo Mottola, had brought the children's drawings to life - exactly as they'd been drawn.

- I love this, and now think it's coolest carousel EVER!

(I didn't notice the guy in the video until after I uploaded it. "Hello Mr. Parks Person!")

Go back through the pictures and try to guess what the animals are. Roll over each one for the answer.

Read more about the Totally Kid Carousel.

5 year old's costume ideas

Me

What do you want to be for Halloween?

Her

Maybe a witch!

Me

A witch! That'd be fun!

Her

Or a dog!

Me

A dog!

Her

Or a marker!

Me

A...

A marker? 

Her

Yeah because I like to draw. 

6 Year Old "Dream"

Me

What did you dream last night?

6 year old

Umm…..

(This was the kind of "ummmm" that let me know she was about to invent a story. Which is just as good in my book!)

6 year old

I dreamt that you and me were in a park. And there were 100 kids. And 15 ponies. And the ponies could fly! And I got on a blue flying pony, and you got on a pink one, and they had pink wings. And we flew up up in the sky. And we flew to a park where you live. And we got off the ponies and we were jumping and climbing and playing on the rocks. And then we saw Mommy and Daddy, and Mommy got on your pony and Daddy got on my pony and they flew away.

Me

They left us? Then what did we do?

6 year old

No. We were on the ponies too.

Me

Oh ok.

6 year old

And then we flew to [another State] and got [siblings] and they got on our ponies too. And then we got [pets] and they were on the ponies too.

And then we flew to Africa.

And there was a food court there.

And we ate pillows.

Me

We ate pillows?

6 year old

Yeah, like the blue one on my bed.

Me

What did the pillows taste like?

6 year old

Raspberry, and cherry, and grape. And they were all different colors. And we each ate two pillows. Except the pets. They shared one pillow.

And then I woke up.

Universal Constants

A friend's example of things that never change (I laughed so hard at this! :D )

My Friend

"Over the years I watched lots of little children play with the dollhouse we had in the store. And they'd all play the exact same ways and do the exact same things. They'd always act out the same little stories and make the same little sounds... They'd always put the baby on the toilet... and stick somebody in the oven..."

Well Trained

Conversation with a 5 year old

Her

Do you want to know how old my mommy is?

[Note: "Mommy" is in her 40s.]

Me

Sure.

Her

Twenty one.

Me

Really.

Her

Yes. I remember because last year on her birthday she said she was 20. So now she's 21.

Me

Ok.

Her

Do you want to know how old my daddy is?

[Note: "Daddy" is in his 40s.]

Me

Sure. How old is your daddy?

Her

Seventy Eight. 

Have some cupcakes with your milk

Friend's Son

Can I make cupcakes?

Friend

If you want to. Go ahead.

(Later)

Friend's Son

Can you help me with something?

Me

Sure, what do you need?

Friend's Son

This is the recipe...

(Friend's son points to a line that says 1 1/4 C of milk.)

Friend's Son (cont.)

Do I really have to put in eleven fourths of a cup of milk?

Counting Cat

Phone conversation with a five year old

Her

Do you want to talk to the cat?

Me

Sure.

Her

Meow meow meow.

Me

Hi cat. How was your day?

Her

Meow meow meow meow meow meow.

Me

So cat, can you count to ten?

Her

Meow.

Meow.

Meow.

Meow.

Meow.

Meow.

Meow.

Meow.

Meow.

Meow.

That was ten!

Me

Wow, you have a really smart cat!

Her

I know! She can count really high! She can count to A THOUSAND!  

Wanna hear?

Me

Um....

Her

Meow.

Meow. 

Meow....

Letters at Operation Santa Claus

Reading letters at Operation Santa Claus never disappoints. I took two friends with me this year, and the three of us sat at a table reading letters, trading piles back and forth, and googling (via phone) toy names we weren't "with it" enough to recognize. Volunteers at other tables did the same. I didn't cry this year, interestingly, but I did laugh a lot. There were some very funny letters.

One girl was very conversational in her writing, stating three lines in "ok, so let's get down to business..." I wish I could have kept her letter. I liked this kid, but her wants were well out of my price range. Including her request for a new Godfather, which she placed a star next to, as she'd done with some of her other top wants. She even went so far as to add at the end of her letter:

"PS: I'm serious about the Godfather thing. 
PPS: If you can't get me a new Godfather, then coal for the old one will do."

Another letter was from an adult woman who wanted a house, a garden and a car so she and a man she liked could get married and live there. 

- She also wanted Santa to call the man and tell him to marry her. 

- She also wanted Santa to bring her teeth. 

(I actually really felt for this woman. I wish I had the money to buy her teeth!)

There were touching letters too. One from a child who wanted Santa to help children in Haiti, and asked for nothing for himself. And then there were the usual slew of letters from single parents, ill parents, and parents who were out of work and didn't have enough money for gifts.

Most letters were written by mothers on behalf of their children. Many were written by teenagers with very organized wants lists, some with pictures. Some letters buttered Santa up at the beginning and at the end, asking how he and Mrs. Claus were, and talking about how he was their BEST FRIEND.

In the end, I walked out with two letters and five kids (three kids in one letter, and two in the other.) Most around five or six years old. They didn't have huge wants that I couldn't afford, and I already had some gifts set aside for that age range, so it was a good fit. - I tend to buy small things throughout the year for this. Usually, I buy something for other kids in my life and then think "hmmm... I'll get a few more and save them for Operation Santa." Things like stickers, pencils, playing cards, coloring books.... (I got a great deal on mini containers of Play Doh this year. One dollar for a five pack and the lids have little stamp/mold type indentations for the clay. Michaels, and Target had them in their bargain bins about two weeks ago :) )

I wish I had the resources to answer more letters. Some requests are very reasonable, but there are so many kids in the family that I wouldn't be able to accommodate them all. One child had a list of gifts for her family that was very simple (Cologne for brother, Cheese log for father, Star Wars and Tinkerbell for younger siblings). But there were about ten people total and it was going to add up to more than I had in my budget - especially since I'd already bought some gifts in advance.

I think that's the hardest part of Operation Santa Claus for me. Putting letters back. GOOD letters from nice kids with small and reasonable wants, or from families with very necessary wants, that just aren't a good "fit" for me. I tell myself I can't answer every letter, that I have the ones I have, and that the letters I put back will hopefully be a good fit for somebody else. (Someone with kids that age, or with a bigger budget, - or with four or five Wii s to spare...) I know there are some uber rich people who have answered requests for pianos, beds, and other large items, but I wish there were more like them. Heck, I wish I was one of them!

I met the head of my local Operation Santa Claus this year. Nice guy :) Friendly, fun sense of humor, and great stories about his past 15 years running the program. I also spoke with several volunteers. The most memorable letter they'd read? A mother who asked Santa to give a Christmas hug and kiss to her child, in Heaven.

Operation Santa Claus

People seem to get annoyed when I talk about this after the fact, and ask why I didn't tell them about it in advance. Well, here you go!

Every year, kids mail out letters addressed to "Santa Claus" and many (all?) get re-routed to an Operation Santa Claus post office, where volunteers can respond to the letters and mail gifts. Some kids know they're writing to volunteers, and some truly think they're writing to Santa. Many parents also write in on their kids' behalf or add to their childrens' letters before mailing them.

I didn't expect to cry when I did Operation Santa Claus, but it's hard not to. Some letters are so beautifully innocent, and others are written with so much love. Mothers that write in are truly amazing. They make things so easy. They often tell you the ages of each kid, what their interests are, and what their clothing sizes are. I love these moms.

It helps to go in knowing what kind of letters you're looking for. Maybe you want to buy one big gift for a large family (like a Wii), or maybe you only want to respond to letters that request daily necessities like shoes, coats, and food. Maybe you're looking for a certain age range, or only boys or girls. Maybe, you only want to answer letters from kids who are asking for toys. Having an idea of what kinds of gifts you want to buy (and how much you want to spend total) will make it easier to sort through the letters. You may completely change your mind once you're there, but I think it helps to have a plan.

I prefer to answer young kids' requests for toys (or parents' requests for toys for young kids). To me, that's what Christmas is about. TOYS! And that's what I'm good at buying. Believe me, most kids don't want me picking out their clothes! I know there are some children who really need a down jacket and schoolbooks, but it's not in my budget, and I know there are other volunteers who are specifically looking for those kids, so I leave those letters for them.

About the letters: Before you can read through letters, you need to show some kind of ID and fill out a quick form. Then you can read through as many letters as you'd like while you're there. You'll only be given a few at a time, but you can return the ones you're not interested in and get more. I think there's a limit to how many you can choose to keep and reply to. It might have been six when I was last there, but keep in mind that many letters contain requests for more than one child. ("Me and my two brothers" or "My four children, ages 2, 6, 10 and 12" etc.)

The past two years I haven't been able to do Operation Santa Claus. Both years I had plans to go to the post office with friends and was then called out of town for the ENTIRE MONTH OF DECEMBER for emergencies. It was like some weird conspiracy. This year my friends and I have plans once again and I'm hoping to be able to follow through.

The rules seem to have changed since the last time I volunteered. Unlike before, you are no longer given any identifying information about the children. No last name, and no addresses. Just a code number (and their letter). I think the way it works now is you buy the gifts, then return to the post office and pack them up there, addressing them with the code number, which a postal employee then matches up to the correct address. Seems like a lot of extra work for the Post Office but, I admit, I was always uncomfortable knowing that these kids' names and addresses were given out in the past. I told myself that the people who wrote letters knew volunteers would be given their information and if they were ok with that, I should be too, but it still made me uneasy. I think this new way sounds safer. Still, it's going to be difficult to get back to the post office with gifts and send everything from there. It's easier for me to box everything and put it together at home.

Hopefully, I'll let you know how it all goes in a few weeks. That's when my friends and I are planning to go. -Unless I'm stuck out of town again. (Fingers crossed!)

For more information, you can visit the Operation Santa Claus Website. It's a bit outdated and not easy to navigate, but it might get you closer to finding an Operation Santa Claus location near you. You can also visit USPS.com and do a search for "Operation Santa Claus" (so far they still have 2009 info) or call your local Post Office for more current information.