There are vast collections of photos online depicting terrified and crying children sitting on Santa’s lap, and we tend to look back on them and giggle years later.
For some children though, it’s no laughing matter, and it takes something truly magical to help them to get over their fear.
This was the case recently for four-year-old Nash Nickerson, a little boy with autism who has always been afraid of the man in the big red suit.
Nash’s mum, Kristy, was expecting the same to happen during this year’s festive visit, but she was pleasantly surprised by what she saw.
Sharing her story with The Mighty, Kristy revealed that this year with Nash was different, and the little boy went running straight over to Santa and jumped into his lap.
While Kristy was not quite prepared for this, it was what happened next that truly amazed and moved her: “Nash couldn’t answer any of Santa’s questions of what he wants for Christmas, but Santa just kept talking to him in a very hushed tone and was so calm and kind.”
“I felt so much relief knowing we weren’t being judged and no one was thinking, ‘What’s wrong with that boy?’ He was simply accepted and seen for who he is…a wonderful little boy,” she added.
And it seems that Nash couldn’t have picked a better location to visit Santa – as he and Kirsty moved to leave, Father Christmas revealed that he knew Nash had autism because his own grandson has the condition too.
It’s these seemingly simple experiences that put the magic in Christmas.
