Why Santa Doesn’t Rate Broke Kids. The Holiday Truth No One Talks About

Story Intro:

It was Christmas morning, and 9-year-old Tobi stared at his socks, hung neatly by the window. They were empty. Again. His neighbor, Seyi, was already outside, parading a brand-new PlayStation like a trophy, the shiny box glinting in the Harmattan sun. Tobi sighed and muttered, “Guess Santa doesn’t do our street.”

But here’s the thing — why doesn’t Santa seem to visit every kid equally?

Santa’s Favorite Kids Seem… Well-Funded

Let’s be real: If Santa’s mission is to spread joy to every child, then why does his sleigh seem to skip neighborhoods where parents are still arguing with their landlord over rent? In the fancy parts of town, kids are unwrapping AirPods, iPhones, and limited-edition sneakers. Meanwhile, down the street, another kid is getting a plastic whistle from the neighborhood party pack.

How come Santa seems to know which houses have working chimneys and credit card bills that are paid on time?

The Myth vs. The Math

The fairy tale says: “If you’re good, Santa brings gifts.” But reality says: “If your parents are good… at earning money, Santa brings the good stuff.” Tobi wasn’t bad. In fact, he was the most behaved kid on the block (even helped his mom wash plates without being told!). Yet his stocking stayed empty, year after year.

The math doesn’t math.

Maybe Santa’s GPS Needs a Software Update

Maybe Santa’s sleigh has Wi-Fi issues and can’t locate streets with unpaved roads or half-finished buildings. Or maybe the elves are outsourcing gift deliveries to lazy logistics companies. Whatever it is, the jolly old man’s route seems a little… biased.

It’s like Santa said, “Sorry, kiddo, your address doesn’t show up on Google Maps. Better luck next year!”

But What If Santa Isn’t the Problem?

Here’s the twist: Maybe Santa isn’t the one calling the shots. Maybe it’s a system where how much joy you get is tied to how much your family can afford. Maybe the real culprit is a world where some kids get PS5s while others get promises.

And every year, we keep this myth alive — telling kids, “Be good, and Santa will come.” When in reality, it should be: “Life isn’t fair, and sometimes, Santa is just your parents in disguise.”

Final Thought: Should We Retire the Santa Story?

What if we stopped pretending? What if we told kids the truth: that gifts don’t measure your worth, and that sometimes, life’s biggest presents are things you can’t wrap in shiny paper?

Because the real magic of Christmas isn’t some old dude in a red suit. It’s kindness, community, and maybe sharing that PS5 with the kid next door who didn’t get anything.