I can just imagine Santa landing his sleigh in the middle of the prison yard.

"Are you John Smith?!"

"I...uh..yeah?"

gunshots

"NO TIME TO EXPLAIN, GET THE FUCK IN THE SACK".

One day I had a long line of kids all upset and crying. A company was having their xmas party in another part of the mall and had their own Santa who was handing out presents to the children of the employees. Problem was that this was in full view of the public, so it was clear that there were TWO SANTAS at the mall. And only one was handing out presents.

Reminds me of:

One thing kids like is to be tricked. For instance, I was going to take my nephew to Disneyland, but instead I drove him to an old burned-out warehouse. 'Oh no,' I said, 'Disneyland burned down.' "He cried and cried, but I think that deep down he thought it was a pretty good joke. 'I started to drive over to the real Disneyland, but it was getting pretty late." --Jack Handy

Holy shit, that's fucked up

that was a shitty call on their part. I'm surprised they didn't think it through.

That's really dumb of them. I don't envy you for having to deal with that.

so it was clear that there were TWO SANTAS at the mall.

Oh man, this reminds me of the one time I was Santa. Wasn't at a mall though. I was working in a Bar/Restaurant at the time, and there was going to be a huge Santa Parade down the main street so the boss wanted someone to dress up as Santa and hand out drinks vouchers to all the parents just to drum up some business. I got volunteered.

So there I was in the main square, dressed as Santa, doing my best ho-ho-ho and handing out booze vouchers to bewildered parents and lollies to the kids. I probably looked a little... snowed-under, if you catch my drift, seeing as I was a hospo worker and this was about 3pm on a Sunday - dark circles under my eyes and all that, probably a mild case of the shakes.

Anyway I don't think my Santa disguise was exactly perfect - there were some older kids, maybe young teenagers who were hanging around me asking for lollies and stuff and they kept going to shake my hand and stuff, so I was habitually giving them gangster shakes - Michael Weston I am not (I'm also as white as triangular sandwhiches but again, worked in hospo). Young kids and parents were loving it though.

Eventually some sour-faced old bitch rolls up to me on a Segway. She was seriously pissed off - I guess her Christmas Spirit had washed out in the douche that morning - anyway, she's livid that there is an unauthorised Santa in the square and decides to confront me about it. "What are you doing here?". In front of all the kids.

"Ohhhh... (ho ho) I'm just here to give all these good boys and girls some lollies... before the parade... (hohoho)."

"Well you have to clear out. The parade will be here any minute and you can't be here when the other Santa gets here, otherwise the kids will..." and then she realised that she'd fucked up, but also that it was still my fault somehow. The clincher was that some adorable little kid with the sweetest little voice just pipes up over the silence: "The uvver Santa? Wh... who's the weal Santa?"

Bitchface McSegwayCunt just glares daggers at me and I threw all the remaining lollies and drink vouchers in the air like some kind of Festive Batman and gapped it back to the bar for a Christmas Guiness.

And that's the story of the time I was Santa. Thanks for reminding me!

Crime doesn't pay, imposter santa!

LOL Christmas jailbreak magic!

The Christmas miracle that unites families for the holidays, gets you an additional felony charge, and ruins your chances for parole or early release.

TWO SANTAS at the mall

Clearly, they're from different timelines.

You'd think that they'd have put the company's Santa somewhere more private so as not to A) make the other children sad that they're not getting gifts and B) ruin the magic for the kids who really think that the mall Santa is the real Santa. This just seems like a small compromise that could easily have been made if it was explained this way. Very sad.

Awww wtf

and that's when you recruited a black little person to be your elf and started knocking off department stores while completely ossified and possibly urinating in your santa pants.

Kid was a baller.

Oh man. Ive never been a mall Santa but in high school I had a Santa costume. Decked out, head to toe. I still dont remember how I got it.

Anyway, one year I went to school in my Santa outfit and then went to the mall after. I got kicked out of the mall for disturbing the peace... Apparently having two Santa clauses was too confusing for some of the kids.

Tl;Dr I got kicked out of a mall for dressing up like santa

Username relevance? ._.

What did you do about that? Did you tell the kids you're the real Santa?

Are you the ex-santa Tim Allen "killed?" I know you might have faked your death but that guy went through a life changing hell because of you.

Relevant username

[deleted]

Gaddamned, I love people like this "Paul" character

Made my eyes damp reading this right now.

I'd love to buy Paul a beer, or a keg,

That sounds like a really impressive charity event. Hidden mics so Santa knows each child's name, and specially selected gifts from a magic bag? I bet you really gave a Christmas thrill to some kids who needed one.

Jesus Christ reddit, stop making me cry. I'm having a mild breakdown here in my office.

Just to clarify for other people, "skinhead" doesn't always mean racist.

any news on Patrick?

Created an account just to say that this a heartwarming story and got me teary eyed thinking how much kids love this time of year how much I'd like to be a part of something like this.

I thought I could survive this thread. "Cuddly duck" made me cry.

You fucking perfect dick asshole fuck that was the best story ever.

So us Kentish people have Cockney accents? Jeebus, and I thought we sounded proper posh :P

So of all the heartbreaking posts on this thread, this one is the one that got to me.

Guys like Paul are the best. He was reluctant to be Santa, but when it came to it, he was the best goddamn Santa you could ask for.

These all make me cry.

i was really hoping that this was going to end up with you banging santa paul because he kept his composure and all the details we got about him lol

I'm now crying.

i know plenty of skinheads who aren't white supremists. most of em are just bald punks. still menacing looking dudes.

Thanks for the explanation, cause I pictured a Neo-Nazi

That made me cry

never once have i cried in a movie, but i have tears, and goosebumps, thats sad and adorable, and that kid should never have to deal with those things...

These types of edits are welcome. You see how this edit was made for spelling, and then for further clarification? Well done sir. This wasn't some pansy, bitch ass, "THANKS FOR THE GOLD, THIS IS MY TOP COMMENT?? REALLY" edit.

Paul, a 6ft 2in, muscle bound skinhead, east-ender from London,

Thread hijack, sorry. As an American, I thought you would use meters?

I played Santa for 2 years for a special needs program in my area. I also played Santa for regular kids in the community as well at a different event. The special needs kids are the best, hands down the most thankful, sweetest kids ever.

We had a similar setup, with the mics so I could say their name, and give them a custom present. The Santa suit was insanely hot, and there were lights all around so the staff and parents could take photos. I sweated out about 5 gallons those nights, and after the meet and greet with Santa was over, I would stay in the suit and hang out with all the kids.

One of the most fulfilling experiences of my life, providing that joy to the special needs kids... I refer to them as kids but there were some in attendance that were 30+ in age. There was a kid I swear was going to break my leg when he sat on it, but I held my breath and toughed it out. Some of the disabilities were heart breaking, and any respite I could provide for them for even a little bit of time was amazing. Every single one of them "believed" and wasn't skeptical at all.

All "regular" kids that came in when I played Santa for the community were complete assholes. I wanted to give them all coal.

I love how elaborate this charity's plan was to make such an enjoyable Christmas for the children. It's great to hear how much time and thought these people put into making sure these special needs kids have a great Christmas. I've never heard of using a false wall or an earpiece to make Santa seem so real before but it is a great idea.

Crying in the library at school. Tyvm.

Thank you, take this gold.

A hard-ass with a heart of gold.

Cool story. I also think you hace The hots for this Paul guy.

Made it this far. Cried at the child carrying the duck part. Paul is a good man

TIL that I can refer to the staging area with the elves and the presents and the large candy canes as 'Santa's Grotto.' FTW

I went this whole thread without crying.

I just want to be at home

Moist eyes and a solitary tear. Damn you Santa.

^{damn you.}

Here you have me crying at the lunch table in work while my coworker has no fucking clue qhy. Oh my god Paul.

Of all the stories, this one really made me lose it.

For people asking, in N.Ireland sometimes the term Skinhead is used as a generic term for anyone who may have a shaved head and is one scary looking guy. Paul was very well built and had a shaved head but was NOT a white supremacist. Sorry for any confusion, I should be more careful using N.I. slang.

Skinhead ≠ white supremacist.

Skinheads are a subculture, in the early 70s some skinheads aligned themselves with a white supremacist group, and of course the media reports on that, and the whole thing blew up. Wikipedia

Sorry, some chimney soot just got in my eye.

fuckin hell ;_;

Manliest tears for Paul, makes me want to just run to the nearest children's hospital with a bag full of ducks to give out :)

Something got In my eyes while I was reading that.

Well...did someone comfort him?

As an American calling Paul a skin head, I understood what you meant, but for a little while I was picturing Santa with swastika tattoos.

Man. I checked this thread a couple of days ago. I really think I'm allergic to these Santa stories. They are all very touching.

[deleted]

That's awesome though, "skinhead?" Does that mean something very different where you are? In my area, that's a term used in reference to violent white supremacists.

When you said skinhead, I thought Santa was going to flip shit at the black kid on his lap.

That's a great story. Just one thing, does skinhead mean the same thing in Europe that it means in the US?

In my area (California) we call the non-racist skinheads "sharps"

Just wanted to give a little info on the term "skinhead." It refers to a subculture that was influenced by (black) jamaican immigrants in england in the 1960's. Take a look over at /r/skinhead for more info.

Shanta I weunt ugh powtado for chwishtmess!!!

That is such a cool idea, having the present and Santa knowing the kids name!

It just sounds so well thought out, and I love the effort you guys put into it. Good job.

Thank you for sharing. My son is 9, but looks 4 or 5, is on oxygen, has glasses, sounds just like this little boy. He has spent a lot of time in the hospital, but he is home. I know what his parents are going through and what he did for that little boy probably meant even more to his parents.

That's an awesome story :-) Which charity was it, if you don't mind me asking? Just that I live in Belfast and my cousin has downs syndrome, was interested if it was the same charity!

So Santa's real name is Paul?!

Before the second edit as a Canadian I was REALLY confused there. Why the hell would you get a skinhead!! Are you insane?!

I knew SHARP skinheads in high school. SHARP stood for Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice. They still liked to fight, but they were more into fighting neo-nazis.

It bothers me slightly that you have to explain "Skinhead."

Someone give this man some gold!

Skinhead is just a style like punk or goth that neo-nazis made their own. As we all know, The real nazis like my grandpa werent skinheads

Wait, skinhead as in neonazi?

TL:DR read it.

Wow I imagined that whole story with a white supremacist. So many mixed emotions

You got the real Santa!

Edit: My most upvoted comment ever yipee!

Oh fuck, THIS is what I lose my shit over. I work in a bullpen and just sobbed. Everybody. Is. Looking.

After I read that last line I felt my cheeks flood with blood, and my eyes got teary. So happy for your gain.

The feels!!

and this is why I shouldn't read these sorts of things in a business meeting!

My emotions progressing through this story:

|: D: ): (:!

That's absolutely adorable

Real Santa felt like an ass and used magic. This is the only logical answer, given the facts.

Hah, I love child-logic when it accepts things as 'just the way they are' and moves on like that. You know, had an adult been told "Santa's specialty is toys, not eyeballs", they'd respond with "bitch please, if you can fit down chimneys, and get to every house in the world in one night, surely you at least know a good doctor", but a kid? "Oh, fair enough; in that case, Ninja Turtles would be pretty awesome too". I always find that very endearing.

Your speciality is cutting onions I see.

This gave me goosebumps! So cute!! (and amazing that her eyesight started coming back.) I love it...definitely hit me in the feels.

I wish you could find that mall Santa and tell him. I bet he'd be happy

this is awesome. go you, and go katherine! my whole mood changed reading this post

Will vision get better with hydrocephalus? my niece is about 6, and she has a shunt in her head to help with the fluid. I don't know much about it, but she looks like a 3 year old with full speaking capability (she was premature), and she does this turn-y thing with her head to focus, and so far glasses hasn't helped much. Just a question, Thanks :)

This made me tear up. I'm glad you have happy children.

Felt like crying after this. What a wonderful story!

Done. I'm done. I'm gonna go cry in the bathroom now

Kids are still into ninja turtles?

now my eyes are leaking

I think my eyes are raining.

The feels, have som gold. All my wishes to your family.

Your son will be confused when he finds out santa isn't real.

I need to know if he got his ninja turtles

I love kids for their ability to just deal with bad news and get back to the things that really matter. Like TMNT.

I think santa just used his magic to put something in my eye...

Your children are beautiful! I hope my little ones are best friends as they grow. :)

Lik dis ef u crie every tim

That Santa's name?

Albert Einstein.

Asshole... Santa knew where you lived, why couldn't he just give you a lift.

Santa was busy beating up an abusive Dad and didn't hear you.

I'm picturing a really unreasonable dad getting pissed Santa didn't help. "That son of a bitch!!!!"

I asked Santa for help and he wouldn't help me.

Most santaologists accept that Santa's powers are charged by his throne of power and the chair given to him in the mall is a poor substitute. The longer Santa spends away from his throne, the weaker his powers get. By the time that kid asked him that, Santa probably couldn't even tell you the child's name, let alone his home location. This is also why Santa never looks like himself at the mall. He's practically a frail mortal after a few days away from his source of power.

For some reason I read this as you getting lost in the mail. I was completely baffled as to how the postage service could mess up that bad.

thats coal

I read this as "I got lost in the mail" and was so confused...

You were on the naughty list that's why he didn't help you.

Dear Santa,

You a bitch nigga You a bitch ass nigga...

...wtf...what a douche.

That's because /u/Xealaz wasn't the Santa there.

Did he give you an Xmas leer?

Oh thank god,something not horribly depressing.

God damn, that's a cold ass Santa.

I read the first sentence three times; I kept reading it as: "When I was little, I got lost in the mail". I was confused about why your parents would be mailing you somewhere (too cheap to spring for an airline ticket?)

Fuck, even if this were a lie, it made my icy heart melt.

This is the best thing here. You are a wonderful friend, and were a spectacular kid. There's nothing better for a parent than seeing that their kid has a good friend like you. hug

I 'm crying my eyes out here. I'll just take a bath and let this story sink in before I go on with this topic.

Thank you for this story.

I cant even.... you're amazing!

Awesome.

After reading a dozen posts about quick witted santa's with comforting words, your "Uhhh, okay!" waws nicely refreshing.

[removed]

you missed out on a ton of milfs!

Santa's candy cane will make it all better

I hate when old people do that. I asked my Grandma how she was and she said "I'm 81 I feel like shit." What am I supposed to say to that? At least you will be dead soon? Anybody have a good response for that?

The alcohol is on aisle seven.

While I was never a santa, I worked a counter in high school at a local bowling alley when I was 16-17. I too was hit on by older women several times (by older I mean 20's and 30's), and quite good looking. I find it funny how women easily get away with hitting on underage boys like that. I was a very ignorant young man back then, and remember feeling awkward about it. Oh, if only I could go back knowing what I know now.

Clearly the women was in pain because of the illness she had to deal with everyday.... oh and she probably wanted sex.

I was hoping the old woman would have a different request.. So, how many numbers did you get?

On a serious note, did any of the kids question that you looked rather young?

You REALLY need to read "SantaLand Diaries" by David Sedaris if you haven't already.

HO HOE HOE, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Aspirin. Aisle 3.

I think I know what I'm going to sign up for this Christmas...

BEST SANTA EVER!

Where do you live and how did you become santa?

SECURITY!! This crazy bitch wants to be put out of her misery.

As someone who likes this, I would more than be okay with single mothers hitting on me.

"I just want the pain to go away, Santa."

"The alcohol aisle is that way."

Why are kids scared of Santa? They think you give them toys!

damn son, you must've had a quite the jolly tummy to be santa at 17!

Oxycotinclause

Post it!

Frame it!

That's so precious. I hope her mother is healthy, now

That is such a great idea! I bet that was a lot of fun because you could make up whatever you wanted to say about being a trainee Santa!

You're awesome dude!

Can you post a picture of it?

Mind if you the post the picture?

Is there crying in Santa Claus? I would have lost it.

Frame it, then post it!

Wow. Much tears

Follow up with her in 10 years and see where her life is at. Would be a heart wrenching reunion.

you are quite the protagonist.

Post it for karma!

nice story

Years later, she'll realize she told a total stranger.

When little kids have big problems, hardly anyone takes them seriously. The gift of someone to listen doesn't seem like enough sometimes, but it can be the best thing in the world for some one who needs it.

She is going to be pissed when she finds out there is no santa and poured her heart out to some stranger with a red beard

Some say my heart grew three sizes this day....

Oh man. Jesus that was so heartwarming it brought tears to my eyes. That is just so precious!

Damn you for making this ginger beard man cry before work.

Post that note please!

Twist: ProtagonistAgonist is Tim Allen

Bop it!

Bullshit artist

Dad sounds like an arsehole, remarrying while his wife is sick in hospital. He could at least wait till she checked out.

The real question is: did you become the best Santa ever?

Don't post it! It's not a note between you and the world and this girl, it's between you and the girl. Plus it's not like it's some grand eloquent speech, no one is missing the literary work of the century by not seeing it.

Nice story and all, but this annoys me a lot. It's like when that cunt turned vampires into fairies with super powers who drink deer blood. You can't just CHANGE the story.

Santa is forever. stoppit

God Damn I cry easily nowadays...

all the feels

This story is best story

Reading this thread at work was a bad idea. THE FEELS MAN. The dam nearly failed...

If you can give us a picture, our hearts will completely melt, and you've done a really good job already. :)

That's 4Chan, reddit is the second drain

Good story, guy. However, you mock us with not posting the crayon note. For that, you're a cunt.

Take a picture of it and put it on reddit so we can see it!

Technologic!

You poked me right in the eye with that one, mate.

Oh my fucking god, just take the gold and don't make your stupid fucking edit. "OH MY GAWWD GUYS MY FIRST GOLD", just shut the fuck up about it.

God dammit...

Edit: FUCK YOU

Bop it! No! Twist it! Pull it!

Eat it!

Let the note become one with you. Your body will absorb all of its nutrients and feels. You will transcend into your planar form and will forgo the need of the carnal pleasures of life.

I imagine her, a grown woman, throwing all of her things on the ground to do what must have been the most embarrassing display of fake karate ever without a care as to what anyone else might think, all so her son could enjoy Christmas that much more.

Moms are awesome.

... I'm stunned. I would have choked and destroyed that child's hope. You must be amazing at charades!!!

god damnit that's a good mom.

Dude, that's awesome. Good on you and that mother, too.

Who hires teenagers to play Santa? You're like the third one I've seen in this thread already.

I was not Santa, but I was Santa's Helper at the mall (I took the picture, did crowd control and whatnot.) I always listened in to conversations between moms and their kids while they waited in line, and any time the mom happened to mention the kid's name I made sure to introduce the kid by name when I walked him up to Santa - "Santa, Jada's here to see you!" So many times kids would come up to me afterward to ask how I knew their name and I'd always reply, "Santa told me you were coming, of course!" The looks on their faces were priceless. :-)

I never would have thought the mother was trying to tell you what he wanted. When I first read it I thought she was becoming so infuriated with the situation she just wanted to kill somebody.

Fucking A man you extended a kids childhood

When I was a kid I tried to hide a missing tooth from my parents. If the tooth fairy was real, I figured, she would take my tooth without my parents knowing.

Unfortunately I forgot to clean the blood off of my face.

You are the coolest Santa ever

My guess was punching bag . . . I guess I am not cut out to be a mall Santa.

Props, man, props

This is the one that started to make me tear up and it's not even sad.

slow clap This deserves more points. Well done.

Oh my God Mum, good on you. XD

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

...and here comes the tears...

Respect, man!

I'm impressed!

I read the childs line in Eric Cartmans voice....

awwwwwwwwwwwwww

Nice thinking.

I would have probably tried to mind game him with some shit like "well, I can't know what you want unless you know for sure, and it seems like you're still deciding between a few things" and convinced him he wasn't sure he wanted Power Rangers.

Aaaaah....so many mommy tears! We do shit like that 'till some little bastard in the shcoolyard ruins it! Good job getting the clue! good karma on ya'

HOLY SHIT YOU ARE SANTA

10/10 would cry again...

Do not let anyone steal this and turn it into a commercial...

That's funny I had to do similar things when my son was little to keep him believing. One Christmas I had a friend dress as Santa and come in the window in the middle of the night making a lot of noise. The kiddo caught him and I was safe for another year.

The next year I asked him if he wanted me to mail his letter to Santa. He said "no thanks Dad I already mailed it. You don't need to know what's in it". Luckily I was friends with the mailman.

He is 18 now and he still knows not to deny Santa's existence. I tell him if he doesn't believe in Santa then he will get nothing for Christmas.

This is awful, reinforcing the lie of santa.

If you hadn't been able to respond like that, he would have ended up on /r/atheism. Well done.

Those gifts just didn't appear out of nothing. They were intelligently designed!

Plot twist: the mother was actually having an epileptic seizure.

Ah dang, this one made me a bit misty-eyed. Thanks for the story. :)

it's amazing she was able to do that without attracting his attention

You son of a bitch.

This happened to me as a kid, but I was younger, about 4-5. I didn't go sit on his lap, but I walked up to the Santa and said something like, "I know you're not the real Santa."

He just looked at my coldly and replied, "Than how do I know you didn't brush your teeth this morning like you told your Mom you did?"

It freaked me out and made me a Christmas FIEND! I'd go to my friend's houses and help put up Christmas lights. I'd bake cookies that for Santa and leave plates and bowls of lettuce outside for the deer. My parents played all along with it for a long time.

Then came the Summer after 3rd grade. I was sat down and told there wasn't Santa.

Hated Christmas ever since.

this is the only happy story in this entire thread, the rest of this thread is about children losing their innocence. This story is the only one where you were the savior of ones!

When I read this I thought the Mom was losing it and was threatening you that if you didn't know what her kid wanted she would beat the crap out of you.

When I was a little girl, I decided to ask Santa Claus for a bell off of his sleigh (yes this was before the Polar Express). I figured if I received an ornate, worn bell, he was real; and if I got a shiny new one, he wasn't.

Sure enough, Christmas morning I unwrapped a gorgeous, old, brass bell that sounded just like Christmas. I was DELIGHTED. I was six. I showed everyone, brought it for four consecutive show and tells.

The mall Santa pulled my mom aside and gave her a bell off of the display. :3 thank you for making his Christmas the way my Santa made mine!

I wanna hug that mother. And you as well.

If you're real, then aren't you supposed to know?

Checkmate santa.

You could have said "world peace" if he had said "no" you could have responded that you only know the wish of good boys.

I don't get this story...

That's not heart wrenching at all.

I was very confused for a moment......

Yea, good job teaching that child to ignore his instincts.

I never understood the extremes people will go to fool children who should be rewarded for their critical thinking skills. This is what's wrong with society. This is why people are willing to discriminate against others. We reward delusion and punish critical thinkers, causing them to constantly doubt themselves.

You fucked that kid up, don't take joy in this story.

Sounds like an amazing mom. :) this makes me happy

I am not sure if this is old enough for you to see at this point but I am curious. As a Santa are you a "mandated reporter"?

My wife, a teacher, is a mandated reporter and it came up in conversation this past weekend. I figured I would just ask a few of the identified Santa's on this thread.

Thanks

I hate to be *that guy*, but does it weird anyone else out that there's a giant nationwide (worldwide?), commercialized conspiracy to lie to children? And, in general, people find the whole thing charming? I have nothing against "holiday cheer" in general, and nobody really seems to be hurt by it (and people who never believed in santa are doing fine as well), but the whole thing leaves a funny taste in my mouth. A mix of paternalism and projection wrapped up in conspiracy and lies (to be overly dramatic).

8-9 year olds still believe? Damn, I was done after I turned 4

No such thing as being "just a nurse!" :)

|He was four years old.

Shit, how did you keep it together? I think i'd walk out and have a mental break-down.

Instant tears.

I am not a Mall Santa, just a nurse on peds ICU.

You, sir, are not "just" anything. Thank you for the important work that you do.

I am crying in the middle of class. Fuck this thread.

Just a nurse on peds ICU

No such thing. You are Santa but all year long.

Edit: content

there's no going south from here. That's by far the toughest one of these I've read. If I was asked to take care of a kids animals in that kind of situation, I would NOT have been able to handle it.

Thank you, from a mom with a sick child who has spent Christmas in the hospital.

jesus.. ;(

I would never be able to do your job.

I also like to dress up, mainly as a super-hero but thats not the point here.

Go on...

I..I think I got something in my eye...

Thank you, take this gold.

I didn't want to get depressed before 12pm.

God dammit....

Those aren't tears, it's just dusty in here, thats all.

Why would you share that? I am so sad. Children can be either the meanest people you ever meet, or that. The epitome of kindness.

thats intense.........

Yeah, I'll continue reading this thread when I get home... Can't cry in public.

I did not come here to cry. I did not come here to cry. I did not come here to cry.

Only the second post I've read and my heart is aching. :(

I knew after the second sentence that this would pull at the strings.

...this thread is so sad.

Is there any way to follow up and make sure that the family members and pets get what he suggested as gifts? Please PM me, if I can possibly chip in or help out.

Emotions: activated.

Y u do dis

Ya know, my eyes are sweating....

friggin dust in this room..

I'm out of this thread after the first comment. I can't handle these feels.

(;_;) damn onions

I spent two weeks in the ICU fighting pneumonia and chickenpox. During my stay I met a lot of terminally ill patience my age and younger that knew they'd never leave the hospital alive. These kids changed my life forever and taught me to live with purpose, to not squander my time, to be something, to do something with myself. Life is a gift taken from many before they've even really had a chance to live.

TL:DR Thanks for being awesome.

You're a nurse, you save and help people. You are a superhero, you don't need to dress up.

Fuck man...

peds ICU

Yeah... Pretty sure I would cry myself to sleep every night if I had a job like that.

Not a lot of men in your profession, are there, Greg?

I'm not even mad.

Male nursing student here, I totally want to do this if I ever work peds.

Korev?

That's it. I can't take anymore of this damn thread. Fuck you all and your onions.

I also like to dress up, mainly as a super-hero

My inner 9 year old is begging me to make a pun.

Thank you for what you do. I don't know how you guys manage to do it. The success stories are great, but the losses are hard. My oldest died six days after birth from trisomy 18. We didn't know she had it until after she was born (my first doctor wasn't concerned about anything, and by the time I was sent to high risk it was hard to test for things). Everyone in the NICU was amazing, but the nurses were saints. They were so wonderful with my daughter. I always knew she was well taken care of when they sent me to go rest. When we found out it was the worst, they stayed with us, hugged us, cried with us, helped make sure our families were comfortable. They were just amazing. I admire anyone who can do such a difficult and important job. Really. Thank you.

Just going to say you don't have to dress up to be a super-hero. You are one.

Were there ever any children asking for Santa to keep them alive? I feel like that would be awkward.

Who on earth is chopping onions near me?

[deleted]

Amazing! I never know the protocol for donating in that way, like I know how to donate to the local thrift store and stuff like that but I always feel like I am going to get turned down if I just show up at the hospital with stuff. I really would like to do what you suggested. Do you know of any other ways we could help the kids in these situations? Are bringing pets in a huge no no due to infection and stuff? I assume they are, I just have an adorable small dog that kids seem to flock to everytime I take him outside.

I had no idea I could drop off small presents at the hospital. Is this a real thing that they won't look at me weird for?

Yessir, I work in IS (well we'll see how long as layoffs were announced and a couple of weeks before x-mas my present may be the unemployment line and possible homelessness...yay me) and a few weeks ago before the crappy news I bought my girlfriend a stuffed penguin as a "holiday" stuffed animal which is a tradition I guess.

The jewlery store inside the Krogers that I bought it from also did charges you for two of them as one of them gets donated to the Pediatrics section of the hospital I work at.

The moral of the story is to be willing to give when you can, because not all of us can and any help when needed is appreciated.

mainly as a superhero

>implying Santa isn't a superhero

As a Student Nurse, doing my pediatric rotation, I'm becoming mroe and more convinced that I MUST be a pediatric nurse. I am so amazed at their overall strength and wisdom -- things that I am not even sure I have in my 27 years.

I am 17 and found out three years ago that I had cancer. My first year of treatment, I was inpatient with complications for the week leading up to, and week after Christmas. When Santa came to visit me in my hospital room, I cried. It was only a simple gift: scented lotion in which brand I have seen before at a dollar store chain.. but it was one of the most treasured gifts I received that year. Small acts of kindness go further than you could ever imagine. This year, my first year cancer-free, I plan to dress up as an elf a long with my highschool keyclub and bring joy to those in whose positions I was in just a year ago. Thank you. Thank you /u/URPerfect .

Replying so as to remember to do this tomorrow

I am not a Mall Santa, just a nurse on peds ICU.

Just a god damned fucking hero. On behalf of all the families you have touched, thank you for everything.

regarding your shamless plug, can you just go up to a charge nurse and ask them to do that, or should you actually call in first?

Can I really just show up to a children's hospital with toys for kids I don't know? They won't call security?

Oh my fucking god that is the saddest thing I have ever heard.

Christ that's awful, no more reddit for today

This is literally the one thing I'm dreading about working christmas day. (Uk ambulance). I'd hate to have to ruin someone's Christmas for the rest of their lives because their family member died on christmas :/

Holy crap, this is even more depressing than the previous story.

No...for the love of god why ;_; I don't know if i feel for these kids who lose parents early on in life because I lost my mom at 14 and my brother was only 6 or what... but I'm about to start crying at work.

Shouldn't have read that. Should not have read that.

Wow...this is the most heartbreaking one I've seen so far. Not only do they see their dad die, which is awful enough, but they will probably never be able to look at anything Christmas related in the same way. Talk about scarred for life...I've gotta step away from this thread for a while.

Welp I'm done.

Geeeezez fuck man. I'm not sure if I can take much more of this thread. Those poor kids losing their dad on Christmas. That's gotta be the worst feeling in the world.

I wish it was a lie. At first I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I can't remember ever, to that point, trying so hard to work a code. All of us had tears in our eyes.

I wish I could say that is the worst thing I've seen, but it doesn't even make my top 20. That is the worst part.

I don't ever share my top 5, if people ask, I start with this story, and work into #6, a boy qho got run over with a riding lawn mower by his drunk grandma.

Yah, shit gets real in a hurry in big city fire departments.

My papa also died on christmas eve, 2001. I was 7. Luckily, we (me and my younger cousins) were outside sledding beside the house at the time. I saw the ambulance come raring in the driveway, and I asked my aunt what was happening but she just said I wasn't allowed back inside til they were gone.

I saw footage recently of the christmas day after, it was pretty heartbreaking to see the look on all the adults faces. Even I looked pretty down. They couldn't just cancel christmas, at the time there was my cousins and I all in my grandparents house up north. Kids ranged from 1-14 years old. No way they could just call it off, so my nan went with the ambulance to the hospital, an hour away, while my parents, aunts and uncles stayed behind with the kids.

I remember 2001 was the year Santa died to me. He looked just like him.

Jesus Christ, I'm so sorry....

I'm sitting in a coffee shop and that's the closest reddit has ever come to making me cry. WHY DIDN'T YOU WAIT FOR ME TO GET HOME TO POST THIS

Stories like this one are the reason I didn't want to open this thread

Ho ho holy shit.

So yeah um, this is a frontrunner for the darkest fucking thing I think I've ever read.

Jesus. My day is ruined. I hope you're lying.

I can't think about how such a joyful moment turned into a tragedy for the kids.

That's... almost the exact backstory of the love interest in Gremlins...

This is by far the saddest story I have ever heard. :(

The title is no lie! This whole thread is full of "disturbing, heart-wrenching or weird things a child has asked [Santa] for." But this... I mean this? I'm sorry. Thought you ought to know you are genuinely appreciated for the risks and grim situations you undertake in your line of work. I can't do anymore of this thread.

ho ho holy crap! :|

Fiiiine. You win this round.

Out of every fucked up story on the internet, this is by far the saddest/most depressing. Holy shit.

Welp, I'm off to /r/aww to fend off the depression.

That's awful. Reminds me of the story in Gremlins.

A part of me just died reading this. Oh my God...

This reminds me of someone who did this, only they went through the chimney and got stuck instead (family found him dead the next morning). It was a special on t.v. and I was about ten years old.

THIS is what this thread was made for! Separately, this is awful and I'm so sorry you had this experience. So gutted.

That's as bad as the scene from Gremlins where someone's father had dressed as Santa then fallen down the fireplace and died and rotted.

You win. I'm out of here,

it's like the plot of a Tim Allen Christmas movie gone horribly wrong

http://thenicestplaceontheinter.net/ Here. Hope this helps.

Wow... I think you just broke my sad emotion.

Whelp that just took the cake for saddest post. Good night everybody.

Jesus Fucking Christ, man.

This is probably the most depressing thing I've read on Reddit. :(

Oh no.... I'm sorry... Thank you for being a first responder....

that's the saddest thing ever. actually crying at work :(

Ho-Ho-Holy Shit

Talk about bad luck, losing Santa and your Dad in the same night.

This wins the thread

Thanks for doing what you do man.

Was the dad a panda bear?

Probably a good call, but do remember that kids can misinterpret things sometimes. Recently, my daughter was in the car in her car seat and I was leaning in the driver's window kissing my wife goodby. I said something about her chest (she's nursing now, she's HUGE) and my daughter said "Daddy - don't be mean to mommy!" Her mother and I said I wasn't being mean. She insisted that I was. We asked her why she thought I was being mean. She says:

"DON'T YOU CALL MY MOMMA A MOW-BO-BOAT"

You're a great man. For one, you didn't freak out on the dad. You kept the "Santa" character in play. And secondly, for caring enough to talk to the resource officer.

Commend you for following through. I shared an abuse report a child told me while I was volunteering at an elementary school once. I told the teacher. (He had talked while watching a pro baseball game, and his father had kicked him in the stomach, repeatedly, after they got home.) I went into the classroom, asked to borrow a computer, and typed it up, gave to teacher.

The next thing I knew, police were interviewing the child in the office. My heart sank thinking he'd really get beaten after the cops talked to his father. I'm still certain of it. I saw his mom at a school event a year or two later, a very mousy, shy woman. I talked to her, and she was separated or divorced, with custody of her son. I like to think that, no matter what her son, and/or both mom & son, endured the night I reported, having the school and the cops care, and say kicking the child was wrong, gave her support towards the idea of getting out. And thus helped save abuse of that child in the long run.

...The next time I volunteered, I apologized to the child, telling him I had no idea telling the teacher would lead to him having to talk to the cops. Couldn't stop his beatdown, could apologize.

Good on you! Very smart.

I did let the community resource officer at his school know, and he's been keeping a keen eye on the kid.

Then you gave the young man exactly what he asked for. Merry Christmas and God Bless you.

I applaud you, sir. Well done.

If you glared half as hard as you wanted then that boy and his mom had a very not nice night.

Ho, ho, ho.... :(

who are you to judge the dad off a remark a little kid made..

Yeah, i think glaring at a father because a young child says he wants dad to be nicer is inappropriate behavior on your part. Sorry but you just did not have enough information to judge and get hostile with the father. You can have no definite idea from that one statement from a child what is going on in that house. Glaring didn't do anything to improve things for anyone. If anything it ruined a nice moment for the dad and might have even made things worse for the child.

I am not and have never been a Santa. But once I did have a little girl in my family/friends circle come up to me at a Christmas party and ask me if she thought that she could have her little dead cat back as a Christmas miracle.

"Do you think God or Jesus or Santa will let me have my kitty back?" It broke my heart. I just said "Sweetie, your kitty has been taken from our world, and she cannot come back, but I will bet, if you hope really hard and love your kitty, she will send you a special present on Christmas. Your kitty loves you and wants you to be happy."

I later held her parents and the rest of her family almost at knife-point and said "You fuckers better have a nice pic of her with that kitty and know of a toy or something that she really wants for Christmas."

I sent her a nice card with the pic of her and her kitty that said "XXXXXX, I miss you too, so I send you this present, please don't cry for me anymore."