'May all their dreams come true'
Christmas is a natural time for reflection. With another year over and a new one yet to begin we ask parents and children what they hope for
Monday December 14 2009
For children, the world is full of possibilities. Their imagination knows no limits and when they dream, they tend to dream big, an ability, unfortunately, that we tend to lose as we get older.
Seeing as it's the end of a year, with a new one optimistically peeping out from around the corner, we thought it might be timely to find out what, if there were no limits at all, children would wish for this Christmas.
Hand in hand with that, we've also asked the parents -- if they had one wish for their children, what would it be?
What children want for themselves and what we, as parents, want for them are rarely compatible. While they may crave play and a chance to meet their heroes, we adults are focused on ensuring that they reach adulthood safely and that they have all the resources necessary to make their own way in the world.
Confidence
"When the time comes for my pupils to leave, my wish for them is that they will have self-confidence and positive self-esteem which will inform their personalities into the future," says Mary Mitchell O'Connor, principal of the Harold Primary School in Glasthule, south Dublin. "I want them to aim high, grab every opportunity and try hard to achieve their potential."
The parents of her little charges were equally philosophical when asked to share their deepest hope for Christmas.
"My sincere wish would be for a strong leader of our country, someone along the lines of Barack Obama, who would inspire us in these difficult times and lead us out of this recession," says Glenageary mum Helen Stephenson.
Her neighbour, Brian Comiskey, says that if he had just one wish this Christmas, it would be that people everywhere would have a better appreciation of others, regardless of who they are, what they do or the backgrounds they come from.
"There isn't as much care and respect for others as there should be, so I'd wish for that to change," he says.
"If I had one wish for Christmas it would be that my daughter, Caoileann, will grow up healthy and happy and that all of her dreams will come true," says John Divilly, from Killiney.
"I have realised all of my dreams, so all of my wishes would be for her. If she is as fortunate in her life as I have been, I will be happy enough."
"My one deepest wish is for my kids to be happy, content and successful," says Glenageary mum Ellen O'Carroll. "I wouldn't wish for loads of money because that isn't important."
Dalkey mum Suzanne Doyle's Christmas wish was heavily influenced by a recent trip. "I've just come back from a visit to Calcutta," she says. "I went for 10 days with the Hope Foundation and I was inspired and humbled by the work they do; it blew my mind. Because of all I saw and experienced while I was there, my wish is for an end to poverty.
"If I'd been asked what my wish for Christmas was before I took that trip, I would have wished for peace. Since my return, I realise that even if we had peace, we could still have poverty in the world.
Beneficial
"Given the terrible sights I saw in the slums there, with kids being chained to railings all day long by parents who had nobody to mind them, I feel that a wish for an end to poverty would be the most beneficial to all."
While we're trying to move mountains to ensure our children are safe and thriving, their thoughts are more likely to be on the simple pleasures of life. Research carried out earlier this year by Disney/Pixar found that what children aged between three and eight wanted most was for their parents to spend more time reading to them before bed. That was more important than television or video games.
Here at home, we asked pupils of the Harold Primary School to tell us what they would ask for if they had just one wish for Christmas. What they provided was a fascinating peek into their imaginary worlds, where all their wildest and most endearing dreams come true.
Their replies, in all their honesty and innocence, were heart-warming.
Irish Independent
