Kimberley Klaver about the Sinterklaas party: ‘Rarely are the plates so well eaten’

It is that time again. Pakjesavond is approaching and that means: making wish lists, shopping, packing, scoring banquet letters and shopping. After all, we get a high visit from Saint Nicholas and his Piet, so you must be able to offer something decent.

Gift hidden in cake

All in all plenty to do. I even had the honor of helping my bonus son with his poetry. He really had to do the tinkering with daddy, because I’m lousy at it and my surprises are usually ugly. I used to always go for ‘gift hidden in cake’. Not very creative or visually challenging, but it does make you laugh.

nerves

Anyway, the Sinterklaas madness has broken out at our house and the children are very nervous about his arrival. Not surprising, because it is still exciting: Sint and his Pieten who keep an eye on you and cheat which child is sweet. Rarely are the plates so well eaten and the children go to bed so well. Eyes on the price.

on edge

Now of course we encourage that it should always be this way, regardless of a reward in the form of candy or a gift. After all, you have to want to be a sweet child for yourself and not just for a Saint or Piet. Now my bonus children and son are real treasures with the heart in the right place and the right portion of boldness, yet extra performances are delivered in times of Sinterklaas and Christmas. Of course, that reward is an attractive thought, but the fact that a stranger is watching whether you are good or naughty, that puts everyone on edge. It is no different with adults: many people like to behave a lot more exemplary when an ‘authority’ is watching.

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Bullying

It is actually a shame that when we grow up we lose faith in a Saint or Santa Claus. Not only because of the magical effect, but also because of the thought that wanting to be a nice and good person pays off. You should embrace that thought for the rest of your life. Now take the school yard. As parents you teach your child not to bully – then you are not nice and you may hurt other children. But nowadays the same parents point out, criticize and yes, also online bullying. The bullies of the past happily continue there, but now without parents to watch or believe in a Sinterklaas who will take them in the sack to Spain.

Pointed out, sneered and condemned

Pointing, sneering and condemning is done rather quickly through the false safety of a screen without any knowledge of the subject or a person. Fortunately, above all, I have positive followers, but I also sometimes have to deal with nasty comments from strange people, based entirely on gossip and backbiting. And when I look at colleagues or other mothers, I am sometimes shocked by what they have to deal with. Where you used to start a conversation, now poison is spewed on the net without regard for consequences. I can tell you: it wouldn’t be a bad thing if some of those online bullies got a one-way ticket to Spain – or at least an online schoolyard or laptop ban.

Example

That’s why I wonder: wouldn’t it be much better if we set an example for children? That we do believe in the magic of Sinterklaas? That we – just like in real life now – are our own Saint? In short, that we are kind to others and thus also indirectly to ourselves?

Anyway. Time is running out and I have to run, because shoes have to be filled. And although I emphasize that it is not about the reward, but about being a nice person, it must be a damn smart saintly man to explain that to the children with an empty shoe. So run to the shops.

Happy Sinterklaas, dear people!

Kimberley Klaver (34) is mother of Julius Laurens Alexander (2). She studied from the age of 5 to 15 at the dance academy of Lucia Marthas and later HBO Communicatie. She is known for Spangas, Vechtershart 1&2, co-host afternoon show Q-Music and as program maker of Badgasten and Known Baasjes at LINDA. TV. She lives with Michel, who has three children from a previous relationship.