This year is my first SS, and I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I’ve seen everything from Bill Gates mega-gifts to scavenger hunts spanning a whole city, to beautiful handmade gifts of every material imaginable. What I didn’t expect was a Santa to so perfectly capture what I love through a careful reading of my bio. I (very briefly) mentioned that I’m a dad with a wonderful son and we love to do things like bike riding and cooking, along with the usual pop culture references that make up the simplest gifts to give someone. But when my first box arrived, it had one simple, beautiful gift inside. It was a little child’s chef hat. (I’m tearing up writing this now) It was such an affirmation of why I wanted to participate in SS, to remind myself and everyone else that there are people whose simple acts of kindness can really make a big impact on others. But then the next gift arrived and it was perfect. A cooking kit for parents and kids to cook along together. Such a simple gift with such a profound meaning behind it. Here’s an opportunity for my son and I to read together, cook together and eat together. As an ECE who knows how valuable this is for children, it is a perfect gift. Thank you Santa, and Merry Christmas!