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Kids Confide In Santa

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The Associated Press

Published: November 28, 2008

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Some of the children crawling onto Santa Joe's lap this year have more than stuffed animals and video games on their most-wanted lists. Several times already this season, Joe Jackson has been asked to get Daddy a job or Mommy money to buy the house back.

"You see things behind the beard that nobody else will ever see or hear. I've had children just literally tear my heart out," said Jackson, who is pulling on his red suit for a 19th season of playing Santa at private parties and festivals in the northern part of the state.

The slumping economy has families across the nation facing one of their toughest Christmases in years. That means Santa Claus, the jolly confidante for so many younger than 10, is hearing more than simple requests for a new Nintendo Wii or Elmo Live.

"Children are very trusting of Santa. They are very open with him. They tell him things they normally wouldn't discuss with other people. And they usually ask Santa to fix things. They know he is someone who can grant wishes," said Timothy Connaghan, of Riverside, Calif., who has played Santa for 40 years and trained more than 1,500 other Santas across the country through his "School 4 Santas."

He coaches aspiring Kris Kringles to remember that a good Santa can't promise a new job or money to make everyone's Christmas dreams come true, "but he can tell them things are always going to get better," Connaghan said.

At Columbia Place Mall in South Carolina, the traditionally harried shopping season had yet to arrive last week, but even that mall's Santa had noticed fewer people making purchases.

Lakicha Mansfield strolled past stores without buying anything. As 4-year-old daughter Mahoganie Whitaker told Santa her wishes, Mansfield said Christmas will be tough because she's been looking for work for nine months.

"I'm going to try to get her what she wants, some way, somehow," the 30-year-old said. "I just hope some money comes in soon. I haven't got her anything yet. I hope someone calls soon."

Connaghan, the Santa trainer, said Santas always want children to leave their laps happier than when they came.

Jackson said his years around children have given him a sense of when children have something depressing on their minds. He said a bellowed "Ho, ho, ho!" a compliment and patter of questions helps get their minds off darker thoughts.

"Every time a child goes away with a smile, I know I've done something good," he said.

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