“Santa’s Watching” was a dead-stop phrase thrown down year-round with the power to stop nefarious marshmallow-hoarding of Lucky Charms. The Naughty List was real, and I wanted toys. Compliance was a struggle for me; I was hardwired to push back and ask why. By December, though, it was ...

For like the zillionth time, I left my bags in the car when I shopped. I was out of town, making an unplanned stop at a big-box store that I normally avoid. Sometimes, though, there’s just no way around it. So, there I was, with a cart full of party necessities, sprinkled with a few ...

As an elementary teacher, my mother could string together colorful phrases using the names of fourth-grade art supplies, just to avoid a “swear word.” She had strict rules on what was allowed to be said and what was considered poor manners. I would write them all here, but the list is ...

Every year, as Santa travels more than a million miles to deliver presents all over the world, he must consider all the possible problems he might encounter on Christmas Eve. Yes, even Santa must plan his trip well, anticipating problems that could develop along the way and how to cope with ...

My Mom grew up during the 1930s in a secular home. She had little concept of special holidays or religious celebrations of any type. When she was four, walking to the market with her nanny on a cold December day, they stopped at her fiance’s home, where she was mesmerized by the sight and ...