Santa Wants Cocktails, Not Cookies. Right?

“What Santa really wants are cocktails, not cookies.” That’s what I told my daughter when she woke up Christmas morning in 2003. She was devastated when she discovered Santa did NOT eat a single cookie she had left for him. The night before, on Christmas Eve, sweet little five year old Zoe Rene’ excitedly put some cookies on a plate for Santa. She knew she had been a “Good Girl” all year and was excited for what Christmas Day would bring. All little Zoe Rene’ wanted to do was show her love and appreciation for Santa.

It was an epic fail!

Santa, aka Mommy, forgot to eat the cookies! When Zoe Rene’ woke up that Christmas morning, she was in tears. She didn’t understand why Santa did not eat his cookies.

When she made the discovery she immediately ran to me completely heartbroken. The kid was crushed, and I had to think of something quick to make things right. So I told her: “What Santa really wants are cocktails, not cookies. He said so when he dropped off your gifts”

Little Zoe Rene’ wiped her tears, looked up at me and said “Really Mommy? Santa wants cocktails?”

“That’s what he said. He also said you were a very good girl and he hopes you like all of your presents.” She looked at me, smiled, then ran off to play with her toys.

I have to be honest, I felt terrible I forgot to eat the cookies. I felt even worse for telling her a lie. However… that lie started a new tradition in our household. Every Christmas going forward she would leave a cocktail for Santa- with my help of course. Santa never ever forgot to drink his cocktails. As for little Zoe Rene’, she always smiled when she would find the empty martini glass Santa left behind.

Happy Holidays!