Holiday wishes

Every Monday morning I help out with library time for my daughter's class…more specifically I monitor the computer lab time and help 25 second graders with their touch-typing skills.

I try to arrive a bit earlier, before the allotted time, in order to set things up, if necessary. Today, the third grade class was still enjoying their time with the librarian. She posed a question to them: "What is your holiday wish?" The 9 year olds eagerly raised their hands and they answered one by one while I stood back and listened. There were toys mentioned, and a couple of kids passed on answering, but some answers floored me.

"An iPad mini!"

"A Microsoft Surface!"

"I want another phone!"

At this point the librarian stopped and asked, "Another phone?"

The little girl responded, "Yup, I only have two phones."

"Two phones?!? Why do you need a third phone?"

"I just want one," said the nine year old.

"Why? Do you want an iPhone 5 or something?"

"No, I already have an iPhone 5."

"Gosh, I don't even have an iPhone 4...Whatever happened for wishing for world peace?" the librarian wondered aloud.

"Why would we wish for that when we already have world peace," a boy from the other side of the class said confidently.

I think all of us parents in the room were trying to listen with understanding, but it was so hard to hear. It was almost painful realizing how our kids are growing up with such different values and desires…many of them requiring lightning pin chargers.

So I asked Chipmunk this afternoon about his Christmas wish.

"I want a happy Christmas."

And then I posed a what-if:

"What if you didn't get any Christmas presents this year?" I asked

"It's fine as long as it's a happy Christmas."

"Is that right? (sniff…sniff)I love you, baby boy. You've restored my faith in the future of humanity."

"I love you, too, momma."