Santa and I are tight. He once warned me to slow down because I was carrying precious cargo. He also gave me a few goofy tips (he was laughing so hard he almost spit out his candy cane) for parents to insure their inclusion on the Nice List. Here it goes:
Say “Yes”
Try doing something with your children that you normally wouldn’t do. This doesn’t mean you have to break the bank or spend any money really, but what’s something outside of your comfort zone that the kids want to do that you can afford (emotionally) to try? Try it.
Eat dessert first
Go ahead. Break the rules and let the children see your inner kid. Whether at home or out and about, stop and have a sundae, pastry or some sort of dessert before dinner, and remember that large smile your kid will have on his or her face while you do. It’s worth it. Do it just once.
Play old-school
If your game closet is anything like mine, it is stuffed and sometimes dusty. With all the electronic devices, we have forgotten how to sit around a table, play some cards and laugh at our good, or ill, fortune.
Read with a silly voice
Many of you may already do this, but let loose when you read to your kids and bring those fictional characters to life.
Show some kindness to others
Doesn’t matter if it is volunteering in a soup kitchen, donating cans or money to a cause, donating used clothes. Remind yourself, and your kids, that there’s a bigger world out there and that we each can make a difference somehow. Need some thoughts or ideas? Check out R.A.K.E. (Random Acts of Kindness Everywhere).
Bonus Nice List tip: Santa likes chocolate chip cookies. I’m his official taster, so feel free to send those my way.
A version of this list of Nice List tips first appeared on Tales from the Poop Deck.
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