Dear Santa
This letter is from a boy in Cork, can you answer his question please.
PercyPostElf
Dear PercyPostElf
Ha, ha. I remember that!
Please tell Michael that one year when his Mummy was a litle girl, the elves decided to have some fun. We made a special surprise present for her.
That little girl’s name was Val and we left just one fairly large parcel under the tree for her. Val was always a very curious little girl and as soon as she saw the present, she wanted to know what Santa had left her. Val’s Mummy said she had to wait till everyone was ready to open presents, but when her mother wasn’t looking Val sneaked a peep to see if there weren’t any more presents in the pile for her. No – there was just this one mysterious rectangular box.
At last it was time to unwrap the presents. She opened the parcel to discover a – red suitcase. That wasn’t what she wanted. She felt really disappointed but her mother smiled across the room at her and said ‘Open it!’
Val opened the suitcase and inside were lots of little gifts. There was even a pretty china piggy bank, that she specially loved. It’s funny how all these years later, now she’s a grown up woman, that surprise package is still the one she especially remembers.
Surprises don’t need to be big or expensive to be fun and special.
And another great thing about surprises is that we have fun planning them and it’s great to watch the surprise. If Parents are feeling despondent – try planning a surprise. You’ll give yourself a serotonin boost – the ‘feel good’ chemical! 
Percy, please ask parents to write to me and tell me what special surprises they remember.
I’d love to share their memories. And maybe thinking about surprises would give them a chance to think about how they could do something special this Christmas.
Love
Santa
P.S. Here are my other letters:
Day 1 What to do with Children’s ‘Great Expectations’?
Day 2 ‘Need’ or ‘Want’
Day 3 Dealing with Disappointment
Day 5 Three Key Questions Regarding Purchases
Day 6 No Money This Christmas
Day 7 Christmas is for Giving
Day 8 When Sad or Bad Things Happen at Christmas
Day 9 When Grown Ups Fight
Day 10 An Attitude of Gratitude
Day 11 Can’t Forgive
Day 12 Christmas – What Really Matters
I remember one year my Dad told me we were dropping his bosses luggage at the train station. We all got there with us kids lugging “the bosses” luggage around and Dad told us to put the luggage in the compartment. We did this and just then the train started going. My brothers and I were very stressed that we were stuck on the train and my Dad explained that we were going on a trip. I will never forget that trip even though it was just a day and night trip away. It was very cool. x
Hi Charmaine
Lovely story. Thanks for sharing.
Love
Santa