Hey Mom and Dad: An All-Important Holiday Question

Parents, Patch wants to hear from you on the questions that get families talking.

Welcome to Hey Mom and Dad—a weekly feature in which we ask our Facebook fans to share their views on parenting. Every week, we get the conversation started by taking a look back at a question we asked parents the week before on Patch Facebook pages from around the area. This week's question is a little delicate, but no less important or worthy of discussion. Without going into too much detail for those wandering eyes: Take a look at what people had to say and join the conversation in the comments section. Melissa Murphy Thompson: Never. If you don't believe you don't receive. — Batavia Patch Facebook Carly Weese: When they ask about it!! — Elmhurst Patch Facebook Ray Schneider: I was able to wait until 5th grade for my son. — Geneva Patch…

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Lights of Lisle Event This Weekend

Festivities include the Santa Parade, performances by children, cookies and hot chocolate at Village Hall, an ice carving demonstration, the annual tree lighting, and more.

The village's annual Lights of Lisle event is this weekend. Festivities will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday, when the Santa Parade brings Santa downtown. He will then travel to the Museums at Lisle Station Park to visit with children at the North Pole Depot. Winners of the coloring contest will ride the trolley. Enjoy holiday performances by children following the parade in the Board Room of Village Hall where cookies and hot chocolate will be served. The day will also include an ice carving demonstration behind Village Hall along with children's crafts, brick-oven baking, and black-smithing at the Museums. Attendees can travel on a trolley or hay ride and see festive holiday decorations downtown. At dusk, about 2,000 luminarias will line the …

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Santa Claus Visits Tate Woods

The students celebrated the holidays with classroom parties on Monday.

from District 202 Students celebrated their classes' holiday party day at Tate Woods Elementary School on Monday, Dec. 19. The classroom fun was only the beginning.  As students packed up and readied themselves to leave, office staff thought they heard the prancing and pawing of little hooves on the rooftop.  Preschoolers, first graders and second graders streamed out of the building in droves to board buses and minivans.  When what to their wondering eyes did appear… Santa on the roof of Tate Woods School. Cheers and chanting of “Santa, Santa, Santa…” began and students yelled gift suggestions in case Santa needed a few ideas. The magic of the Christmas season is best seen through the eyes of a child… or 250 at Tate Woods.  

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Go Ahead, Pull My Beard

When I wasn’t paying attention, department store Santas evolved from obviously fake to scarily authentic.

The first time I took my daughter to see Santa Claus she was about 20 months old. She hadn’t yet been diagnosed with autism, but she had been diagnosed as a major fussbudget pain-in-my-hump. I knew that she wouldn’t be able to handle big crowds or long lines, so I set out to find the most abandoned mall with the lousiest selection of off-brand stores and the fewest patrons.  I was living in California at the time and was looking for the equivalent of Brementowne Mall, if anyone remembers that gem from Tinley Park circa 1973. (You know, one of those dead malls that are anchored by a Walgreens and a Jo-Ann Fabrics with battery kiosks and sock outlets in between.) That way, if my daughter decided to have an epic meltdown, there would be no …

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Jim Pokin

4:39 pm on Friday, December 23, 2011

It might be OK to pull Santa's beard, but never, ever pull his finger.   more ›

Holidays 2010

Eat, Donate and Be Merry

Join Evviva! Bar and Eatery At Evviva! Gives Back, to Benefit Toys for Tots and Central DuPage Hospital.

Saturday night Evviva! Bar and Eatery patrons can help owner Rob Salerno give back to the Central DuPage Hospital Foundation. Ten percent of profits will go to the CDH Foundation's pediatric fund, which contributes to services, programs and its facilities. This is the first time Salerno's business is working with the charity, but not his first experience with CDH. His son, born last December, was one month old when doctors found a hole in his heart. "He was already in congestive heart failure…. The facilities and staff in the pediatrics units at CDH were exceptional and in our minds what saved our son's life," Salerno said. According to the American Heart Association, one percent of newborns are affected by a heart defect. Salerno …

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@Lisle Online

Four Lakes Is Ready for Ski Season

Winter recreation begins tomorrow, and other interesting Lisle-related items that hit the Internet recently.

It's officially ski season (tomorrow) Tomorrow marks the beginning of the Four Lakes' winter recreation season. In honor of its 50th year, they're offering slope tickets are $15 on Dec. 9 and 10. "Super crayons" and Bingo! According to their Facebook, the Lisle Park District is accepting old crayons at both the Meadows Center and Community Center to make super crayons! They also posted photos of holiday Bingo at the Meadows Center that took place today. Santa comes to Pump It Up! Pump It Up announced that Santa Claus would be visiting their facility from 6-8 p.m. on Dec. 16, which will include a reading of "Twas the Night Before Christmas." Flavin Speculatin' CardinalSports.com debates whether Benet Academy football breakout Pat Flavin …

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Holidays 2010

Photos: Santa Parade, Lights of Lisle, Once Upon a Christmas

Families enjoyed a variety of seasonal activities last night.

We want your photos! Become a user on Patch and add shots of the parade, candy cane hunt, performances or visits with Santa Claus!

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Karlie Baker

3:43 pm on Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Thanks! Be sure to take a look at the new contributions by community members the last two days!   more ›