“Hey John” Advice Column – Volume 2

Hey John, How do we dissolve the problem of an egregiously growing population of non-violent Texans serving lengthy prison terms in Texas prisons? – Marky Mark 

First off, to answer this question it would require a couple of beers and a lot of cashews. Secondly, this is “Hey John”, not “Hey Plato”. We’re going to have to pass to the next question. However, thanks for asking, as it’s a pretty good question.

Hey John,

Christmas is not always the best time of year for my family. Our two kids want a lot of stuff, and I always feel guilty if I don’t get it for them. My husband, the kid’s step-dad is a good man who provides for us, but all the holiday work is for me to do. So I have cookies and candies to make, meals to prepare, the house to decorate, and gifts to buy. How do I make this holiday happy again? – Feeling Like Scrooge

You don’t say how old the kids are, so some of the activities to get them involved change according to their age. The reality of gift giving is always present (no pun intended). Asking friends and teachers for age-appropriate ideas for the kids can be a big help. Adding traditional Christmas celebrations may help to warm your heart. Lyrics to Christmas songs are easy to find online. Playing and singing songs is good for our loving hearts. There are also Christmas stories available at any library. If yours is not a generic Christmas (“we celebrate the day Santa Claus was born”), teaching even an abbreviated story of the birth of Jesus helps the kids to strike a balance between the excitement of getting presents, and the religious celebration of Christmas. Additionally, creating some new traditions that may pass forward through your kids, such as marshmallows sitting atop of excellent hot chocolate on Christmas Eve is invigorating. I wish you energy, creativity and love for your Christmas.

Hey John,

I know this is a silly reason to write, but how do you keep your kids from eating a lot of junk during the holiday season? – Not A Health Nut

Dear Not Nut, 

The long answer is: try feeding them healthy snacks like fruit, veggies (carrot sticks with ranch dressing),  nuts, etc. in between their constant meals of candies, cookies and chocolate. Also, being a pro-active activities director may help to dissipate a little extra sugar high. The short answer is: you can’t. Merry Christmas.