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Good Deeds & The Santa Factor
By J Gardener
Looking back, it may seem a little like cheating, but my friend Annie found a
way, several years ago, to instill in her young kids the habit of performing
random acts of kindness. She didn't call them that at the time-this was before
the phrase became popular-she called these acts "good deeds". And here's the
kicker: her kids, young as they were, were tickled to learn the habit, becoming
anxious and even competitive in finding ways to help others. And the habit has
stuck with them, as they've grown into teenagers. They're two of the most
compassionate, caring, helpful kids you'e ever imagine meeting.
How did Annie do it? By teaching them The Golden Rule? By finding a magic
empathy elixir? By forcing them to watch endless reruns of Touched By An Angel?
Nope-she accomplished this amazing feat through the clever and devious use of a
terrifying threat guaranteed to chill the heart of any young child-if they
didn't do it, Santa would be upset. Of course, it helped that she intitiated
them into kindness, right after Thanksgiving, when they started seriously
contemplating the possibilities of a magical Christmas morning.
Annie was worried, at the time, that she was the kind of fairly new parent
who could wind up spoiling these children she loved so much. So, one early
December day, when her kids were demanding that Santa be given long lists of
desired toys, she warned them that the Jolly Old Elf expected them to earn their
wonderful Christmas morning, a stunning prospect they had never considered.
Desperate to please Santa, Annie's kids begged her to tell them what they
could do to appease him. "Three good deeds a day," she blurted, without
thinking. Instantly realizing, from their silence, that she was on to something,
she continued, inventing on the fly: "Three good deeds a day, besides your
normal chores, for other people, without being asked. Then, maybe Santa will be
pleased, and put you on his list."
Though Annie's kids were only four and six at the time, the good deeds
started piling up. There was help with the garbage, help with dinner, help with
the dishes. Her son even tried his best to shovel the neighbor's sidewalk, one
snowy morning. At first, Annie kept a record of the good deeds, on a chart in
the kitchen, and, ultimately, Christmas morning was merry for all.
Of course, there was a post-Christmas lull in the new order-after all, it was
a whole year until Santa would be back, and he was probably on vacation for a
while. But, eventually, with a little gentle reminding, Annie got her kids back
on the three-a-day track.
And it really did become a habit. Annie was always prompt to praise her kids'
acts of kindness, and soon others outside the family circle began to compliment
them, as well. Kids really do love to please their friends and family,
especially when their efforts are acknowledged. And, years later, when Santa was
no longer a factor, the habit was set, and since then, Annie's children have
always gone out of their way to help others. Now, it's just a fact of their
lives that brings them inner joy. If you're looking for a way to ingrain the
same kind of behavior in your young ones, try St. Nick. Sometimes, especially in
December, his opinion can work miracles. About the Author This article was brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented content. For a safe and fun place online for your children this holiday season visit the official Santa Claus Web Site.
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