Surviving Christmas – podcast

I had a great chat with Alan Corcoran at South East Radio again this morning, all about managing over-excited children and actually enjoying Christmas!

You can listen here:

I welcome all feedback and suggestions for future topics!

Thanks for listening,

Happy Christmas 🙂

Aisling

 

 

 

A Magical Visit to Santa

‘I wish we were going to see Santa in his grotto this year!’said Conan longingly. ‘Well maybe we will ‘ says I. ‘No, Mum, I don’t mean Santa on the bus, I mean the real Santa’ continued Conan. ‘So do I’ I said delightedly. (Our residents’ committee organises for Santa to visit our estate on a red bus each year, and he gives out selection boxes to all the children – we know he is only one of Santa’s helpers though).

Fab decorations!

So a week later we found ourselves up in Avoca @ Powerscourt, Enniskerry to visit the ‘real’ Santa. I always forget just how lovely Powerscourt is even when it is not beautifully decked out for Christmas. Our appointment with the Big Fella was for 3.15pm – we checked in and there were a few people ahead of us, so we went for a little wander around Avoca. The children were enthralled with all the decorations, and very very excited at this stage. After my fourth ‘look with your eyes, not your hands’, I decided to bring them up to Tara’s Palace, which is a lovely children’s museum upstairs in Powerscourt. Unfortunately we didn’t have time to go in to the museum but the entrance hall to Tara’s Palace had plenty to distract them for a few minutes. We will be going back for a proper visit over the Christmas holidays!

Who is coming down the chimney?

We went back to the Santa waiting area, which was really nicely decorated and had a television playing Disney’s Frozen with plenty of seating and cushions on the floor for the children. Then, as Caoimhe put it, ‘a pretty lady’ gave us a decoration – one for each child – and the children settled down to watch Frozen until Mrs Claus came to collect us.

Mrs Claus was so smiley and friendly and asked all the children their names before bringing us through a Narnian passageway and into Santa’s grotto. The children were a little anxious but once Santa addressed them all by name they relaxed and took their turns to have a chat. I anticipated Siofra, being only two, to be a little upset but no – she told Santa in no uncertain terms that she wanted a telephone for Christmas.

Entrance to Santa’s Grotto.

Santa spent a lot of time with us and there was the option to have a professional photo taken, although even Santa’s magic could not get them all to smile at the same time!! Then Mrs Claus suggested a few presents that Santa would like to give them there and then. They were lovely quality gifts, beautifully presented and when Siofra shrieked ‘but where is my phone’ looking at her plush teddy, Santa took the time to explain that this was only a small gift and he would deliver her real present on Christmas eve. She has not let the teddy out of her sight since.

SANTA!!

We said a cheerful goodbye to Santa, and we are pretty convinced that he was the real one. Our visit was not over yet though as we got to go and visit the animals in Santas Christmas stables and warm ourselves by a lovely open fire. Then we headed home full of beans and delighted with ourselves. At a cost of €10 per child and no charge for parents (an annoying add-on which seems to be coming the norm these days) we will definitely be going back next year!

Delighted!

Welcome fire at Santa’s Stables.

Disclaimer – I was invited to bring my children to visit Santa and write about my experience. All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

Have you visited Santa yet?

Thank s for reading.

Aisling

Santa Is Not a Right!

I read the article about the Frozen Snow Glow Elsa debacle with frustration and alarm. Responsible parents fighting over a toy aside, I get that they were hyped up and ‘in the moment’. It is more the thinking that got them there that really bothers me. Every year there is a must-have toy – it was Robosapiens a couple of years ago, Furbys another year, and so this is not a new phenonemon.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/garda%C3%AD-called-to-toy-store-as-frantic-parents-chase-frozen-elsa-doll-1.2011891

This year however, I have this podium from which to shout at the top of my voice, STOP!

In what universe is the idea that you have a right to get whatever you ask for a good lesson for our children? And yet this is the exact message that this kind of carry-on sends to our children. Never mind the unbelievable stress and pressure we potentially put on ourselves both financially and emotionally, we are well on our way to creating a generation of Veruca Salts!

Of course, children want everything they see. They must have every single toy that is advertised (prolifically) at this time of year! The constant refrain in this house while the children are watching TV is ‘I’m getting that, I’m getting that’. They are only too happy to ask Santa for all the things that they absolutely ‘need’. That is all well and good as they are children – the wonder of Christmas for them is the pile of presents under the tree!

However, it absolutely does not follow that we as adults must fill in the wish list. In fact, it is far, far better for children if we manage their expectations. Encourage them to understand that their letter to Santa is a suggestion of what they might like to receive. Far, far better for children if we teach them to enjoy the gathering of loved ones, the joy of being together and enjoying family time for a few uninterrupted days. Encourage them to make Christmas cards or little presents to give rather than scrabbling around Smyths, crippling ourselves financially to fulfil their ‘must have’ Santa letters!

Make some mince pies to give as gifts!

I hear from parents all the time ‘but I don’t want them to be disappointed on Christmas morning’. Well they won’t be! Unless it is a lump of coal waiting for them under the tree they will be thrilled to have a gift delivered, by Santa, especially for them. Will Christmas really be ruined if they get a Sanyo cassette recorder instead of a Sony one? (Yes, Aisling Carroll I am using your example!). For years, I don’t actually know how many, I asked Santa for a ‘Mister Frosty’. I really, really did want one, and guess what? I never got one. Did I feel a pang of regret when I opened whatever the alternative gift was? Yes in truth I did. Did it ruin Christmas for me? Of course it didn’t, there were plenty of other gifts and surprises to distract me, never mind the tin of Roses! 😉

Roses!

So rather than panicking about how on earth you will afford a ‘Disney’ Christmas, or worrying about how you will get your hands on this year’s most desired but sold-out toy, explain to your child when they are asking for everything, that Christmas is about a lot more than receiving presents. Their letters to Santa are useful suggestions and if they are really lucky they might even get one of the things in the letter. But, as we all know, Santa knows best.

Celebrate family rather than Disney!

Thanks for reading

Aisling