public service announcements

It's long past time to make my Christmas list. In fact, it may already be overdue and overlooked by the shopper. Half the time she already knows what she'll get, anyway. And she knows me well enough to know what I'll like. But "the list" means more so e-mailing her the ISBN numbers of any books I may request. Specific DVDs, CDs, etc., etc.

This topic (Christmas and gifts) brings me to two important points:

1) If you are ever a teacher, parent, relative, or friend of a small child with a Christmastime birthday, it is important to not overlook those birthdays, even with all the celebrating hullabaloo going on already. These poor children are often overlooked and do not receive equal recognition with their peers, i.e.: having their birthdays announced weeks afterward at school, having to have birthday parties weeks later because no one is around to celebrate, getting smaller birthday presents or no presents/cards because of the seasonal busysness/broke-ness.

Never mail a child Christmas and birthday gifts in the same package. At least be kind enough to send them in separate packages if they must go out the same day, but even consider sending them separate days. Never wrap said gifts in Christmas wrap. Do not let the child become one of many who must see their birthday gifts sitting under the Christmas tree days after all the others are gone, lonely and pathetic, almost as an afterthought.

All children's birthdays deserve equal treatment. Given an option, all of the Christmastime babies would opt to be born in June or July. Even summer birthdays get better treatment, because they get half-birthdays during the school year in addition to a celebration on their real birthday in the summer. Christmas birthdays don't have the luxury of half-birthdays. They only get one shot, and but it's often halfhearted. When you're all grown up, remember: be kind to all children.

2) Stop and reconsider when you take out "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" the first time with your children. Is telling them about Santa such a good idea? My biggest personal qualm about the whole Santa issue: what do you say if your kids ask next, "Does this mean Jesus isn't real, either?" Don't you want the credit for buying the gifts? Tell them about the real Santa. Tell them the stories of the fake Santa, but why start off lying to your kids when they're that little?