‘Tis the season of invoking the wrath of Santa Claus and getting yourself removed from the nice list. At least, that’s the threat parents get to use to remind children to behave themselves for the month of December. After all, Santa “sees you when you’re sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. He knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake!”

It’s only just now that I’m thinking how creepy that sounds. An old man looks in on you all the time and keeps track of good and bad deeds to determine if you’re worthy of a present for Christmas… or not.

This year my chances of using Santa are blown because my 8-year-old spilled the beans to the others that Santa isn’t real. Eh, kids always end up getting presents anyway. Honestly, is there any parent out there who actually gives kids a lump of coal for Christmas?

Politics does. And I feel like I’m definitely getting coal (or a nature rock, depending on which party is giving out gifts) for Christmas this year.

I feel like no matter what I do, I end up on both the Republicans’ and the Democrats’ naughty list. I’m not patriotic enough, not progressive enough. I don’t declare myself an ally, I don’t have American Flag-themed Christmas lights. I’m going to stop there because if I say any more, I’ll end up on more naughty lists.

I feel like everyone is constantly playing Santa Claus with friends and strangers, tallying whether a person deserves to be on the “political nice list” or the “political naughty list”. I don’t know about you, but I feel scrutinized and criticized for whatever I say, and even what I DON’T say. It’s a lose-lose situation and I’m not sure the solution.  All I know is that it seems harder and harder to get on that nice list.

Do you have a political nice/naughty list? Do you expect people to advocate for strong borders or compassionate policy before you’re willing to mark them down as being “nice”? Are they naughty if they disagree with you on a particular issue? You know, the one that’s really close to your heart?

I’m glad my daughter changed the game this year because it gives me an opportunity to take a different approach this Christmas, starting with no more naughty and nice lists….