Best to be realistic about about Christmas pony

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This article was published 18/12/2020 (2071 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: This is in response to Very Upset Daddy. My daughter also wanted a horse when she was young. We got her riding lessons for Christmas instead. Years later, we bought her a horse, but did so with the help of someone who had lots of experience with them.

Lots of young girls are interested in horses and one wise old cowboy, when I asked for advice, asked me, “Do you want your daughter to keep riding, or quit?” He said he had horses for either desire!

My daughter still enjoys her horses, has travelled the world competing with them, made numerous friends with the same interests and it’s been really good for her mental health.

My advice to this father is to work together with his wife and buy some horse toys for their daughter now, but also buy her some riding lessons (when it’s safe to do again).

Do a bit of research, find a good stable near the city and spend time with her and the horses. For me, those are some of my fondest memories. You won’t regret it.

— Grateful Dad, Winnipeg

Dear Grateful Dad: You’re also a reasonable and loving papa, and I’m sure you and your daughter were very close over those years of horse-riding experiences. It is not fair to let young kids believe that everything in their Christmas letter is possible and will happen. As a kid, still believing in Santa Claus, I remember asking Santa for a little record player ($39.95 in the Eaton’s catalogue). It was too expensive in those days for my gift, but Mom let me keep thinking I’d get it, even though I chattered about it endlessly.

I got what my parents thought I should have — because I was often late — a Timex watch ($9.99). To make it worse, it had no battery, and it wouldn’t even tick. Did it leave a mark on me? Nah! Except, to this day, I never wear a watch.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I had an idea for Upset Daddy whose wife made a false promise of a live pony to their daughter for Christmas. I find it very sad that a parent would do that (and have Santa write the note to disappoint her daughter Christmas Day!).

Could the parents find a toy pony (or two) with a note from Santa that it was impossible to get her a real pony as she lives in the city or some other idea like that?

— Wishing Everyone a Happy & Merry Christmas! Winnipeg

Dear Wishing: That would still mean letting mom off the hook and a last-minute shock to the child Christmas morning.

Kids old enough to ride ponies know the difference between a live one in the yard, and a plastic toy under the tree. The daughter needs to be told Santa can’t bring her a live horse right away, because there’s no place for it to live, but he will bring her a play horse.

The parents can explain about boarding horses on other people’s farms and riding lessons and such, but right now she needs the truth about her Santa expectation — not after she’s totally worked up and crying on Christmas morning.

Please send your questions and comments to lovecoach@hotmail.com or Miss Lonelyhearts c/o the Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R2X 3B6.

Miss Lonelyhearts
Advice Columnist

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