Comments on: Bah. And Also, Humbug. http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/23/bah-and-also-humbug/ I'm the scofflaw in your mother'hood Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:48:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.1 by: Kirsten http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/23/bah-and-also-humbug/#comment-3243 Mon, 24 Dec 2007 17:19:51 +0000 http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/23/bah-and-also-humbug/#comment-3243 I vote "No" on the note. Santa shouldn't come with a side of poison. The Santa moment, as you have created it, is a moment of joy. If you make a point of reminding her, at that moment, that she doesn't really deserve all that joy, it takes an unconditional expression of love and acceptance into a guilt trip and a manipulation. Mind you, I'm against the whole Naughty List idea in the first place, so that's where I'm coming from. I do like the idea of a note like Eden mentioned though. As long as it's not linked to the gifts, or giving her the idea that she's losing Santa's patience too. (I rather liked, as a child, that Santa seemed to have a lot more patience and forgiving than my parents). I vote “No” on the note. Santa shouldn’t come with a side of poison. The Santa moment, as you have created it, is a moment of joy. If you make a point of reminding her, at that moment, that she doesn’t really deserve all that joy, it takes an unconditional expression of love and acceptance into a guilt trip and a manipulation. Mind you, I’m against the whole Naughty List idea in the first place, so that’s where I’m coming from.

I do like the idea of a note like Eden mentioned though. As long as it’s not linked to the gifts, or giving her the idea that she’s losing Santa’s patience too. (I rather liked, as a child, that Santa seemed to have a lot more patience and forgiving than my parents).

]]> by: Eden http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/23/bah-and-also-humbug/#comment-3240 Mon, 24 Dec 2007 16:25:33 +0000 http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/23/bah-and-also-humbug/#comment-3240 Another "yes" vote on the note. Something positive, like a reminder about how to cope with frustration, "gifts" to give Mommy, examples of her good behavior from the year, etc. Another “yes” vote on the note. Something positive, like a reminder about how to cope with frustration, “gifts” to give Mommy, examples of her good behavior from the year, etc.

]]> by: Rebecca http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/23/bah-and-also-humbug/#comment-3235 Mon, 24 Dec 2007 15:07:58 +0000 http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/23/bah-and-also-humbug/#comment-3235 I've been known to slip a little piece of (char)coal in a stocking as a reminder. I know excactly how you feel! I think tantrums are normal right now, with all the excitement, etc. Not that it's okay, but a little reminder in the form of a note or a bit of coal couldn't hurt. Right? Merry Christmas to you and the Ladies!! I’ve been known to slip a little piece of (char)coal in a stocking as a reminder. I know excactly how you feel! I think tantrums are normal right now, with all the excitement, etc. Not that it’s okay, but a little reminder in the form of a note or a bit of coal couldn’t hurt. Right?

Merry Christmas to you and the Ladies!!

]]> by: thordora http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/23/bah-and-also-humbug/#comment-3217 Mon, 24 Dec 2007 12:04:20 +0000 http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/23/bah-and-also-humbug/#comment-3217 Santa used to leave little notes on gifts in my house-some reminding me that while it may not have been exactly what I wanted, I was lucky to get presents. Horrifying stories of getting only fruit in stockings from my father usually helped as well. Do you have time to take her volunteering somewhere this season? That might help reinforce what you want to remind her of. And Merry Christmas friend. I hope there is much squeeing tomorrow morning. At a reasonable hour of course. Santa used to leave little notes on gifts in my house-some reminding me that while it may not have been exactly what I wanted, I was lucky to get presents. Horrifying stories of getting only fruit in stockings from my father usually helped as well.

Do you have time to take her volunteering somewhere this season? That might help reinforce what you want to remind her of.

And Merry Christmas friend. I hope there is much squeeing tomorrow morning. At a reasonable hour of course.

]]> by: Betsy http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/23/bah-and-also-humbug/#comment-3193 Mon, 24 Dec 2007 06:19:38 +0000 http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/23/bah-and-also-humbug/#comment-3193 Weeeeell...I'm the grinchiest of the grinches you ever will know, so of <em>course</em> I'm going to come down on the 'make her suffer' side of the fence. Except - not really. I would, however, take the opportunity to remind her in whatever way works best that the rest of the world isn't nearly as privileged as she might be, even though she may not feel like it right about now. (For my kids, it was a drive through an area of town - with yours truly providing caustic color commentary - where many of our less fortunate citizens live after I'd finished hearing complaints about the lack of appropriate seafood on the menu at our 'very special splurge' restaurant dinner.) Weeeeell…I’m the grinchiest of the grinches you ever will know, so of course I’m going to come down on the ‘make her suffer’ side of the fence.

Except - not really. I would, however, take the opportunity to remind her in whatever way works best that the rest of the world isn’t nearly as privileged as she might be, even though she may not feel like it right about now.

(For my kids, it was a drive through an area of town - with yours truly providing caustic color commentary - where many of our less fortunate citizens live after I’d finished hearing complaints about the lack of appropriate seafood on the menu at our ‘very special splurge’ restaurant dinner.)

]]> by: Kate http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/23/bah-and-also-humbug/#comment-3191 Mon, 24 Dec 2007 06:00:36 +0000 http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/23/bah-and-also-humbug/#comment-3191 Much as I really believe in the wonder of Christmas and the love of Santa I think that Santa really wouldn't object to you taking the opportunity to remind Diva girl of her priorities. Having seen via instant messaging the conflict you guys have been having the last few days/weeks, I would like to admit to having similar thoughts about what to do with Baa and the Santa note has not escaped my thoughts!! Much as I really believe in the wonder of Christmas and the love of Santa I think that Santa really wouldn’t object to you taking the opportunity to remind Diva girl of her priorities.
Having seen via instant messaging the conflict you guys have been having the last few days/weeks, I would like to admit to having similar thoughts about what to do with Baa and the Santa note has not escaped my thoughts!!

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