The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1193961
The Press-Dispatch School Wednesday, December 18, 2019 C- 9 Pike Central Above: Pike Central Middle School student council sponsored a canned food drive for Somebody's Place through the month of November. The home- room to collect the most items received a pizza party. Pictured are students from Mrs. Lori Smith's class, the winning homeroom for collecting the most canned food. Right: Shyanna Blessinger and Landan McDowell test the balloon they made in Mrs. Nikki Nalley's technology class. The eighth grade homeroom spelling bee winners were Hannah Fort, Kearstan Hart- ley, Ali Hardin, Ivy Cook, Rease Green and Rya Graves. The eighth grade class spelling bee winner from Mrs.Truesdale's homeroom was Kearstan Hartley. When I was about 7, my son's age, I was determined to see Santa Claus. From previous years, I knew that if I stared out my window long enough, my eyes would go heavy and I'd eventual- ly sleep, my head resting on the windowsill. This year, I couldn't miss it. I wouldn't miss it. Rather than sleep in my bedroom, I insisted on sleeping on the couch, next to the tree. If I fell asleep, surely I'd wake from the bustle of Santa placing pre- sents under my tree. This was a bold move. At this age, I had a healthy fear of Santa. I knew he was a no-nonsense guy. He had a lot of kids to get to that night and didn't have patience for kids who would try to trap him, ensnare him or sneak up on him. If he saw me curled around the tree, soft- ly snoring, it was just as like- ly that he would opt to give me coal instead of toys. It was a naughty act, and I felt as if I was already pushing it, seeing as my mom is Jew- ish. Santa didn't visit any of my other Jewish friends. It was worth never getting a single present again (well, not from Santa, anyway) to see magic in action. To this day, I don't know how I didn't wake as pre- sents were placed around the tree. That year both secured my belief in mag- ic and secured my fear of Santa. I had undoubtedly pushed a boundary. Now I'd better be extra good. My 4-year-old daughter does not share this fear. My 4-year-old daughter slapped Santa Claus. Whereas other children have photos taken of them while they squirm and cry on Santa's lap, my daugh- ter refused to go on Santa's lap. When he reached out to her and offered a hug, she backed away. When he took her hand to pull her in for the photo, my daughter slapped Santa Claus. Santa was surprised for a moment, but he quickly re- covered, turning his "Oh! " into an "Oh! Ho-ho! " My daughter stood back and watched as her elder brother hugged Old St. Nick for pictures, and then she grabbed my hand and skipped out the door. But I knew. As her moth- er, I knew that inside, my kid must be ter- rified. San- ta would turn on her! There would be no presents this year! If I had pushed a boundary by sleeping un- der the tree, surely she had crossed it by slapping the jolly old man. Ain't enough jelly in your belly to laugh that off. I sat her down and said, "Sweetie, you want to talk about what just happened with Santa? " "Umm, what? " she asked. Her voice sounded chipper, even lyrical. Poor thing. She must be trying so hard to hide her terror. "Did you hit Santa? " "Umm, yeah! But that's OK, because I already told him I want a unicorn," she said, sucking on her candy cane, completely unfazed. Unlike me. "So, you're not worried you won't get a present now? " "Well, that's OK. There's always Hanukkah. And it's not like he gives me my birthday presents." Her legs swung above the ground. She could not have cared less. It almost didn't even process that she had assaulted Kriss Kringle. I was in awe. How many times have I stood up for myself and then feared a conse- quence? My kid knew that a conse- quence might come but she would sur- vive just fine. There would be other op- portunities. Maybe the season of giv- ing needs to include giving yourself a break. Why are we taught to fear the source of magic? Perhaps true magic comes from knowing that something good is al- ways coming down the pike. If not this, then the next thing. Another birthday is right around the bend. I asked my son what he thought of his sister's slap- ping Santa. He just laughed. "You shouldn't hit. But you shouldn't grab, either," he said. I told him I thought that was a good summary. "I'm surprised he's not hit a lot more," my son con- tinued, "breaking in to peo- ple's homes and making them sit on his lap." I wonder whether there is special Santa medical insur- ance for his high-risk job. "Instead of cookies, may- be we can leave Santa an ice pack," my son suggested. Now that's the spirit of Christmas. Like Katiedid Langro- ck on Facebook, at http:// www.facebook.com/katie- didhumor. 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