Santa's Helpers

                        

One of my Mother's clever tools of disciplining, my four brothers and I as children, was telling us that the birds that sat on the telephone wires were Santa's helpers. During the year (not just in December,) she would point up to them and say, "They are watching you! You better behave, or they will fly back and tell Santa!" If we did something devious, she would look out the window and say, "Oh, I see one of the birds flying away, look, there it goes to the North pole!"

I believed her. I remember seeing hundreds of birds lined on the telephone wires and wondering why soooooooooooooooo many of them were by our house?

Being Catholic had nothing to do with guilt compared to those damn birds!

Photo: A collage sheet of my vintage papers, were Santa's helpers are singing praise to clever children named: Marty, Mathew, Mark, Zane and Corey!

Comments

[susanna]

My mother used to tell my sister that we should clean our room 'cause the Queen might drop by for a visit. And we actually believed her! Beautiful images of the birds, Corey. I just read that starlings and sparrows were brought to America in 1850 and 1890. There weren't any here before that. Hmmm.

[Amber]

LOL! I am SOOO going to use this one!!

:)

[alma]

Corey, it is Christmas Eve and Morgan and I were just sitting and reading your blogs. I never had heard this story of the birds, Santa’s little watchers. Merry Christmas to you and your family. We miss you.

[Toni Mason]

Corey, Every time you write of your Mom I love her even more! With Christmas Peace and Love to you and your family in France Toni

[Brother Mathew]

Those damn birds are still following me.

[MB]

So, Corey.... have you been a good girl? ;-)

You certainly have been good to me!

[Mrs.Staggs]

This story made me smile. I would love to know your mother.
A happy Christmas to you and your wonderful family Corey!

[snowsparkle]

i love this creative story spun by a clever mother for her equally clever and mischievous children. this made me smile and chuckle inside. thank you!

[sarala]

Great story. Your mom is/was pretty devious. I'll never look at birds on a wire in the same way again. Happy holidays, Joyeux Noel et Bonne Annee.

[simple me]

This is another jewel of yours. I'm happy you exist!

ps: love, love those birds in the collage and that cute one from ann's

[susan]

wonderful mothers stories...
wonder filled holidays for us!

[Tara Larsen Chang]

Chuckle - what a good idea! Santa spies - everywhere!!

Have a fabulous holiday weekend - and Merry Christmas to you and your family.

[Jann]

Have a wonderful Holiday ,Corey. It has been wonderful to read your posts throughout the year! Cheers!

[naturegirl]

Taking time to pop in and wish you and your loved ones a
~* Very Merry Chritmas*~ and peace and love throughout the coming year. Thank you for all the inspirational posts I have come in and enjoyed here and for taking the time to comment at nature-trail. hugs NG

I always wonder why there are so many birds on a wire

[mary ann]

ta mere, she is one smart cookie, n'est ce pas?

loved catching up with you on all your posts this week!

so glad that my goodies arrived safely...

happiest of holidays to you & your loely family corey!

xo, mary ann

[sheila]

And tell us Corey, how many times have Chelsea and Sacha been told...
the birds are watching...?
;-)

[Marie-Noëlle]

When you mention those "so many birds gathering by your house", I had a vision: all the birds perched on wires and roofs ... in Hitchcok's film "les oiseaux".
Fortunately your swallows look much different!
Mind you, "une hirondelle ne fait pas le printemps"! (=one swallow doesn't make a spring... I know, in French , we say "spring"!?)

[gracia]

Hello Corey,
Luckily I love birds so I'm sure I would have been able to sweet talk them into putting in a good word on my behalf with the big Man in Red.
Have a wonderful holiday... and a brilliant start to 2007. May many good things (continue) to come your way.
take care, g

[berrie]

CLEVER LADY! Would your mother mind if I used her birds? I have just posted a sign on my closet door it reads "I know you wanna open the door" But be warned, the birds are watching! signed santa and your mom:) Joyous`Noel to you and yours sweet Corey! xo

[wendy]

Oh wow, this is so precious! And I love the "coincidence" (not!) of you posting this before getting the bird card. These "coincidences" are so precious since they really do help us know God is HERE with us... and as you said in your e mail, that He has a nice sense of humor too : )

A Very Very Blessed Christmas : ) Wendy

[constance]

I like the rememberence of your childhood. Your mom sounds very clever and creative. Also the links. I agree that spoken word is so powerful. I've heard a person could cause a forest fire with their tounge.

[annieelf]

What a clever way to keep order. Your mom is great. Wonderful links to explore too.

[sage]

lovely remembrances...

sage

[Britt-Arnhild]

.....and what did the birds tell Santa?

[stephanie s]

oh, what a wonderful woman your mother must be! so clever to know those helpers would be out there every single day... i am surprised you like birds.

[Lorene]

Corey,

That is too funny! I think I am going to have to try that one on my Daughter. Ha! You never know it just might work. LOL!! You're Mom is so clever I would never have thought of that.

[Lisa]

Ha! This post made me smile a big smile, inside and out. Thank you.

[Teresa Sheeley]

I love this story!! Your mom is awesome! :)

[Star]

How very clever of her ;-)

I love birds. On rare occasions when life slows down, we sit and watch the birds near the feeders and bird bath.

[tut-tut]

I love those birds, and the linked bird. What a saucy lady!

[Jeanette]

What a clever trick I will have to ask your Mom where she thought that one up...I might have to try it on my 2 daughters. Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. My Mom did the same thing for my birthday (12/31) she made sure it was my day and not a New Year Eve party. Cheers to the Mothers who make their daughters day special no matter when it is.

[Ulla]

Clever Mother! What a marvelous story, and beautiful image!!!

[JanePoe (aka Deborah)]

Wonderful collage of papers! What a charming story, Corey ... your mother was a devious genius!! JP

[Acey]

Ha! I see your mother was as resourceful in child-rearing as she is in the garden.

[carolyn]

I adore those swallows and what a lovely story to go with the beautiful picture. Merry Christmas.

[Anna]

Ah, yes, never underestimate the power of guilt.
Wish I'd had the birds in my bag of guilt-inducing tricks when my boys were little!

[Marie-Noëlle]

Hence the English expression:
"A little bird told me..."!

I love your picture and that of "the one flying away" !!!
So delicate, so exquisite !!!

[cruststation]

Your mother is so adorable with her teachings, how sweet of you to believe in Santa's helpers. I bet Santa never failed to bring you gifts under the tree at Christmas time (good little children you were)...:) I love learning of your passion for antiques, the love and joy from watching mother with her trumpet.

[patpaulk]

Now we know where you get your creativity. Mine just said wait til your Dad gets home. I would've much rather had the birds.

[Cat]

I'm laughing at your guilt inflicting birds! Do they still watch you???

[miss*R]

we had santa's elves in our key holes. I used them just today, with my grandson :)

[Pauline Clarke]

Ah, Catholic guilt! My own Maman told us God was watching, and his scribe was writing. No wonder I hid...

[Shannon]

What parents come up with to get their kids to behave at Christmas time! I must take notes, LOL.

On Christmas Eve night when the kids are too excited to go to sleep, we point out a flashing red light out in the distance over a mountain range that we can see from our windows. We tell them that Santa is coming and there is Rudolph leading the way.

The light is in fact a beacon light for airplanes!

They jump up and down cheering then run right up to bed.

[louise]

What a clever mum you have, I guess with 5 motorbike crazy kids she had to be creative with her discipline techniques.
Hope you have a fantastic Christmas.
Best Wishes,
Louise

[nel]

lol...I will think of you every time I see one of those 'damn birds' on a wire! Hope they have reported well for you this year ;-)

[Jeanne]

Your stories make me laugh.
I made a Christmas tree full of beautiful birds and butterflies.........
WE both love nature and fur angels so much.
Love you Sugar Plum
Thanks for another giggle and lovely story.
God bless you and yours real
good
Merry Christmas
Love Jeanne ^j^