A recent Christmas conversation with the five-year-old at my house went something like this:
Kevin: “Dad, do we get to go to Gram-Gram and Papa’s for Christmas?”
Me: “Not this year. We were there last year.”
Kevin: “Can they come here?”
Me: “I don’t think so. It’s too far to drive.”
Kevin: “Maybe Santa could pick them up on his way here! They just need to wait on their roof for him!”
Me: “I don’t think so. Gram-gram’s afraid of heights. Plus she’s on the naughty list.”
Kevin: ” It’s okay. I’ll tell Santa to not go high. And Papa isn’t naughty, so he can get Papa and Gram-Gram can just hide in the sleigh.”
(Me smiling)
Kevin: “Okay, dad, write Santa a letter and tell him it’s from me.”
There you have it, Gram-Gram. The only way to get off the naughty list is to sneak onto the big red sleigh when your nice husband gets picked up to fulfill a 5-year-old’s Christmas wish…
…or you could just drive up.