A letter from Santa

In case you missed it in yesterday's photos, Big Sister got her "Barbie I Can Be Pet Vet" from Santa. But there was a catch...

The last few days before Christmas, she started having a really hard time behaving. And reminders about Santa (and our Elf on the shelf, Buddy) were not effective in helping her turn that behavior around. She didn't seem to care that Santa hadn't yet delivered her gifts; as far as she was concerned, they were already in the bag.

After a big temper tantrum right before bed on Christmas Eve, we decided we had to do something. I struggled for a long time with what it would be, then finally I had an idea. I talked to Santa, and (along with gifts) he left this letter:

Dear [Big Sister],

I have heard very wonderful things about you from your Elf friend, Buddy. He says you are a kind and loving Big Sister and a very sweet little girl. I’ve been watching and have seen this to be true. I’ve also seen how well you listen and help at school. You are a very good friend.

Buddy and I, along with your Mom and Dad, have also seen a few not very wonderful things. You have had some trouble listening to your parents, and sometimes you even hurt them or other people in your family. We all know that you are too sweet to act like this, and we are counting on you to control your behavior.

I only deliver toys once a year, and I did not want you to miss out on the toy you really wanted this year, the Barbie Pet Vet. But you have not been working hard to earn it the last few days. You have to keep trying to be a kind and loving person, not just at Christmas but all year long. I am counting on you to work hard to try to earn a Barbie Pet Vet toy.

If you go and look behind your daddy’s chair, you will see a surprise. It isn’t yours to keep, not yet. I understand that you sometimes use charts to help your behavior, so I am leaving you a special one from my workshop. When it is filled in all the way, the Barbie Pet Vet will be yours to keep. If you chose not to try to earn it, you can take it to share with another child.

I am trusting your Mom & Dad to know when you can mark your chart, and also to know if it is time to take the Barbie Pet Vet to someone else. But I know you are a good girl, so I don’t think that will have to happen.

Thank you for the cookies and the celery for Rudolph. I know you had to hurry to bed, but your mom put them out because she knew you wanted to share them with us. You are always very thoughtful. It is one of the many things people love about you.

Enjoy your gifts and work hard to keep the special one. But don’t forget that Christmas is about much more than gifts! God gave us the most important gift when He sent Jesus. I just give people gifts hoping they’ll remember about God’s Christmas gift to the whole world- Baby Jesus.

Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas!
Love, Santa


When Big Sister came downstairs on Christmas morning, she looked everywhere for the one toy she had been expecting. We had to remind her that Christmas was not just about gifts and that we were going to be very thankful for what we received, no matter what it was. We only had to tell her once. She opened up her other gifts with real excitement and gratitude, even though I am sure she was terribly disappointed.

Then came time to read the letter.

She was SO excited. And she has been trying to work hard to be deserving of the gift.

We ALL received gifts on Christmas. And we've all been given the most important Gift of Christmas, too. Seeing Big Sis makes me wonder- do I work hard to live up to the Gift I could never really deserve?