December 2011

Dear Santa,
I do believe in you. As a mother and teacher in my community I happen to know that a lot of young (and even not so young) children still believe (or certainly want to) believe in you.

You’ve enjoyed an incredible and magical 200 year run but I have to say, Santa, you’ve got competition nowadays.
Kids have incredible technology now at their disposal. They have things called IPads and apps with instant this and instant that… What do they need to wait 364 days for you and your reindeer and sleigh of gifts for?

Santa, with all my heart I believe our kids in this day and age still need you, but you are going to have to do a few things or else you may end up discarded along with the typewriters, VHS cassettes, and phonograph records…

My advice is simple:
Downplay your internet presence. Yes, today’s conventional wisdom is that you need to market yourself on the internet and use social media. Santa, please don’t create a Facebook page or open a Twitter account. Don’t worry about your status on Klout.

Instead, use your magic to make the stars just a little brighter on Christmas Eve, so that maybe children will turn off their TVs, computers, and phones and look out their windows and up to the night sky and search for you in wonder, awe, and anticipation…

Continue to bring gifts to children with lasting value such as books that will inspire youthful minds and dolls that will be good listeners when a lonely child needs a friend.

Please continue to do all the good work that you do each year. Do not be discouraged. You are appreciated and needed now more than ever.
Give a hug to Mrs. Santa for me and a “hey!” and thanks to all of your hard working elves.

P.S.
What kind of cookies would you like this year?

Love from your friend,
Debra Di Pietro
Atlantic Beach, FL USA

Related Posts:

• Three lists for our journal writing, including my list to Santa