”Oh, all right, I`m going. But not without my mommy.” It`s a typical reaction this time of year for dozens of tots skittish over approaching and being picked up, then plopped down on the rotund lap of Santa Claus, a jolly old legend of a man who dresses differently.
Although William Johnson of Barrington had to be cajoled to the lap of the official Barrington Santa at the Barrington Area Historical Society`s annual Children`s Christmas Party-Open House last weekend at the museum, it didn`t take long for the 4-year-old to blurt out his Christmas wish list.
”I want a singing Rudolph. You know, Santa, that sings `had a very shiny nose,”` William said.
For a while, William`s mother, Ellen, said she ”was afraid I`d be sitting on Santa`s lap.”
Dolled up in their Christmas finery, one by one youngsters were ushered into where the Big Man was waiting by two adult-size and rather precocious elves. There the kids would let Santa in on what they wanted.
”It`s a perfect place to go where kids aren`t intimidated. This is the closest she has ever gotten,” said Karin Comyn of Barrington, referring to her 3 1/2-year-old daughter, Kelly, who sat curled up on a nearby chair, cautiously watching other children go up to Santa.
Despite that, Kelly wanted no part of Santa`s lap.
”It beats Woodfield. It`s a personal and homier way to do Santa,” said Priscilla Rose of Barrington.
”I love seeing the kids,” Santa said. ”What has been the most unusual request? We`ve heard a Batman, baseball gloves, but perhaps the most unusual was a live cat to go with the turtles and a dog. I`m surprised that kids aren`t asking for more, just one or two things.”
This annual piece of ”living history in the spirit of Christmas” was held in conjunction with the museum and the Barrington Junior Women`s Club.
