A Troubling Tip

Well, the tree is up and the fake presents are underneath.

You may be asking, "Miss Beth, why would you put fake presents under your tree?"

The short answer: all our gifts go out of town, so to keep from looking like a total loser, I simply stuff tissue paper into bags and voila! it's Christmas!

So a couple of weeks ago, I was reading a local publication that offers a variety of articles including local restaurant reviews, suggestions of places to visit throughout the state, short stories, book reviews, recipes, holiday specialty drinks, interviews with local "celebrities"  gardening tips and much, much more!

In the advertisement section, a box with the heading "Christmas Tip" caught my eye. It started out with "wrap empty boxes for presents" (see someone else had the same idea) but then suddenly it went really off the rails because the rest of the tip read, "and when your child misbehaves or doesn't listen throw one in the fire."

Just to be sure, I re-read it several times, and sure enough it really said that! Now, who among us hasn't at one time or another told a child, "Santa is watching" or "Santa wants you to be good", but throwing  presents into the fire, seriously?

I'm hoping that this was some one's idea of a sick joke and it slipped past the proofreader or something. I'm trying to have "positive intent" here, people, but I am really having trouble processing this.

Needless to say, this is Not Okay! Do not do this! Duh!
It is not the way to develop trust in young children or build a safe, loving relationship between parent and child. (The duh was added for emphasis).

I personally think Christmas for children should be a time of making connections with family members, marveling at decorations and lights, learning about the joy of giving to others, baking (and eating) cookies, making gifts for friends, presenting an original play at a family gathering, and drinking hot chocolate while reading The Polar Express with mom, dad, or grandparents.

It is not, nor should it be, a time to be scarred for life!

So, bottom line, if you use fake presents please use them wisely!

That's it for now.
Check back later!