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It was the eighth Christmas of my life. I won’t tell you how long ago that was! The only item on my wish list was for a red wagon. We lived comfortably, but I knew I didn’t get everything I asked for. I was an only child… but not a spoiled one as people often assume about us are lies.
We always got up at 5 a.m. on Christmas morning to open presents at our house before packing the car and driving an hour north to visit both sets of my grandparents. I was sleepy-eyed but wide-awake enough to notice that there didn’t appear to be a red wagon under our tree. I opened some lovely gifts… but no wagon was to be found. So we loaded up the car with presents, my dog Pudgie, my parakeet Pepper, Mother, Daddy and me and off we went.
 See side bar for information on Sharon's wonderful books for elementary-age children. There is a discounted price on the 5-book series that even includes a darling Nicholas puppet.
These books are "co-authored" by Sharon's beloved cocker spaniel Nicholas who shares true antics by him and his animal buddies to gently and lovingly present important living skills. Each book is filled with problem-solving exercises, delightful illustrations and easy-to-follow suggestions. His inquisitive childlike qualities make him the perfect guide on difficult and important subjects. See "The Nicholas Collection" at www.hrdpress.com/SharonScott .
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I was sure that I would get the red wagon at Mama and Granddaddy’s… but I didn’t. I continued to smile while worrying inside that Santa Claus had forgotten my request. We then moved on to Nanny and and Papa’s house where I was amazed and excited that indeed he had remembered me as there was the red wagon under their tree.
Unfortunately, I don’t know where that red wagon is now (perhaps in Mother’s attic?), but I can tell you it got a lot of use. When I was little, I hauled things in it, including my dog. When I was older, we had moved to a street that dead ended in a circle. We lived at the top of the hill. I can’t tell you how many times my friends and I, now teenagers, rode that wagon down the hill—screaming the whole way!
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So… think about gifts for your children that will bring delight, cause involvement with others and not be just mindless technology that isolates them. Don’t go as much for the “flash” as for the true, old-fashioned fun gifts can bring. Wishing you joy-filled holidays!
Copyright 2008. Sharon Scott. No reproduction without written permission from author.
P.S. Please see my other column, The Counselor’s Corner
Sharon Scott, LPC, LMFT, has been making a difference in peoples’ lives for 30 years though her international keynotes and workshops, her eight award-winning books, and her private counseling services. Five of her books are a charming series for elementary-age children that she “co-authored” with her savvy cocker spaniel Nicholas. Each beautifully illustrated book teaches a valuable living skill such as managing emotions in Life’s Not Always Fair, building character in Nicholas’ Values, and making wise choices in Too Smart for Trouble. Sharon’s best-seller for teens is How to Say No and Keep Your Friends, 2nd Ed. Her books are available from HRD Press, 800-822-2801 or www.hrdpress.com/SharonScott . For more information on Sharon’s many workshop topics that she can bring to your child’s school or community, please see her website at www.SharonScott.com.
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Listen to
Families Online Radio Interview with Sharon Scott
Books That Work!
By Sharon Scott
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Family counselor Sharon Scott is the author of 8 books including this delightful series for children that is "co-authored" by her savvy cocker spaniel Nicholas who makes learning valuable life skills fun.
 Too Smart for Trouble, a best-selling, award-winning book, teaches children to think on their own and how to say no when asked to do something wrong.
 Not Better... Not Worse... Just Different is must reading for children to learn to be more sensitive to others, avoid bullying and know how to handle teasing.
 Life's Not Always Fair is a child's guide for managing emotions and learning to soothe oneself when mad, sad, scared or confused.
Nicholas' Values is a delightful guide helping children develop good character traits such as honesty, confidence, sharing and so much more!
Too Cool for Drugs helps children learn why and how to say no to drugs--drug education must begin in the home at an early age!
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