RISK! Holiday Blues #3
Jan 6, 2026
Michael J Bennett, a financial analyst and storyteller, shares a whimsical tale of his experience as a mall Santa, where he promises a young boy an extravagant gift that tests his limits. Meanwhile, Jessica Piscitelli Robinson, an author and storytelling producer, opens up about a heartfelt Christmas spent in a rehab center with her mother following a stroke, reflecting on the magic of family and community. Their stories blend humor and poignant moments, capturing the essence of the holiday blues.
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Rituals Create Authority
- Michael shows how small rituals (a candy cane, a stern look) create authority and change child behavior.
- Those ritualized interactions let the mall Santa manage expectations without committing parents to burdensome promises.
Santa Payback In A Red Suit
- Michael J Bennett recounts working as a mall Santa and using gentle reprimands to steer kids' behavior.
- When his old high-school coach visited, Michael deliberately lavished promises on the coach's son as quiet payback.
Caregiving Ends Childhood Fast
- Jessica reveals that caregiving can abruptly end childhood and force young people into adult responsibilities.
- That role shift brings emotional panic even during mundane tasks like grocery shopping.
