Every year my department at the hospital puts on an event called Sensitive Santa. I started going to it when my girls were little, and have continued as a volunteer once I started working for the hospital. Think of how families typically visit Santa with their kids — you head off to the mall, get your kids in and make them stand in a long line of squirmy kids, and then you put them on Santa’s lap when it’s their turn and tell them to smile. It’s loud, hot, boring, and overwhelming. Lots of kids can’t handle that.
Sensitive Santa is an opportunity to bring children who need an experience that’s more on their own terms. There are fewer people, Santa doesn’t mind if you don’t want to sit on his lap or talk to him, and elves wait in line while you can do whatever you want. You can take as long as you need, and nobody is going to stare at you because you’re in a wheelchair, or you are non-verbal, or you carry your blanket everywhere. Believe me, if you find yourself losing hope for humanity, find one of these events and you’ll get it back.
This year Margo got to attend as well, dressed in her Mrs. Clause outfit. She was a huge hit. Faith in humanity? Restored.
