Mall Santa

Friday afternoon we took the kids to the mall so Tai could pick out an ornament to buy for the tree. This seems to have become an annual tradition, if doing something twice makes it a "tradition".

Anyway, we were walking through the mall and came across a sad Mall Santa and his elf, sitting all alone with no children anywhere in sight. Obviously anxious for something to do, he vehemently waved Tai over. Naturally, Tai went into shy mode and was almost too scared to even walk past. But when Santa waved a free coloring book around, Tai was convinced to step just a little closer (leaving a good three feet between him and Santa) and reach out and grab the book.

Then, of course, Santa popped the question: "What would you like for Christmas? Popular Option A, Popular Option B, or Popular Option C?"

Are you kidding me? A multiple choice Santa? Talk about a leading interview question. Is it always this way? Having *never* sat on a Santa lap myself and having a child who has also never done it, I'm not sure if this is how it normally goes, but it sure seems lame to me. I was expecting him to mumble under his breath, "Available at Target, Aisle 17, for $29.99." I mean, really, who is paying him to lay out options for these kids?**

I indicated to Santa that we had already sent him a (purposely vague) letter and that he should look for that in the mail. But it was too late. My son had already responded with "Option A." Coincidentally, he will be receiving Option A from his grandparents. Knowing him, he'll remember this interaction and I'll have to field questions Christmas morning about how and why Santa contacted his grandparents and told them that Tai wanted Option A. Ugh.

**And don't even get me started on the fact that the options he laid out were totally gendered. Oh how I wish Tai had said, "Actually, I want more pink Hello Kitty socks." And I'm just glad Quynh is still too young for Mall Santas to ask her if she wants (a) a Barbie or (b) a Bratz Doll.