My Letter to Santa

December 23, 2015

Written by Marykate OMalley, mother of three wonderful children, Gladwyne PA

Dear Santa,

You haven’t heard from me for quite some time. 30 years to be exact, give or take a few. And here I am. A few days to Christmas, appropriately tired, but content. Appropriately prepared, yet not. Christmas is a season, not a day. This year there are a few things I would like, and I have done my best to be a good mom, and friend, daughter, sister, and co-worker. I have given my best, every day, and what else can you do besides that.

I could ask for more sleep, time for better self care. And would love a true mani pedi vs squeezing in a polish change, and dashing out of the salon holding my hands to the heating vent in the car to dry as I drive away. Throw in a parrifin treatment and hot stone massage and well, heaven. And I would love someone to make dinner. Like Alice. What I would give for an Alice – light housekeeping, her sage advice, perspective, and always stepping in to right any mishap, behind the scenes yet in the center of it all. And dinner, did I mention dinner.

I could ask for those things and more but really what I want is this – to capture forever the look of complete awe and believing on my son’s face when he talks about our elves Jack and Sally, and the palpable excitement in my youngest’s voice when she speaks about Santa and his sleigh. I want to bottle up my oldest, playing with her younger cousins, her gentle kindness while helping them and watching over them. I want to remember us driving in the car one night, looking at Christmas lights and singing Santa Clause is Coming to Town as loud as possible, with revelry and delight. I want to remember what true innocence and goodness looks like in a world so aching for it.

I want the love of this season of light to kindle every heart and home. And while I am running about, appropriately frazzled, and orchestrating movie nights, cookie making, and merriment being churned out at a dizzying speed with carols and cards – I want to remember what it is really about. Not plastic toys from China and more stuff, when really, who needs more stuff. It’s about a baby born to us all. A child come to save us.

And so my Christmas wish is this, to see the world as my children see it. To truly believe in love and miracles. And that all of us can look to our children, see their purity and innocence, and be more loving, more forgiving, more kind, more hopeful.

Love, Mom

PS – about the Alice thing. I wasn’t kidding. For real, I want Alice

Wishing you and yours a most blessed holiday season – Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!