Ho Ho Ho

Shannon MacElvaine was the one who told me about Santa.  She was older and an object of  fascination for us younger kids , and one day when we were playing in her backyard (she had a great jungle gym), she gathered us up and told us: there was no Santa.

I was in third grade at the time and was pretty devastated.  My mother assured me that Shannon was wrong, told me (and maybe I made this part up) that  Shannon didn't believe in Santa because she  hadn't been very good and didn't get any presents that year.   I still had my doubts, but  I wanted  to believe and so I did.*

At two, The Boy is just starting to be aware of Santa.  We read How the Grinch Stole Christmas and The Polar Express and The Night Before Christmas, and he is Santa curious--if wary.  Since I avoided malls this holiday season, I haven't succeeded in getting him onto Santa's lap for the obligatory photo op, but he's seen Santa around--once at his dad's holiday party at work and once going into our neighborhood bar (!).   

Some of the hipper parents I know have quashed the Santa myth from the beginning.  It's just a story, they say, and of course they're right.  But I still remember what it was like to believe in something as silly as Santa, and I don't have it in me to deny him this small pleasure.

Wishing you all full stockings and warm hearts.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

*Ironically, it was my mother who confirmed Shannon's Santa story a year later when she and I were out shopping, and she commented on the fact that my younger brother "still" believed in Santa,  and I was devastated all over again, not only that Santa wasn't real but also that she'd lied to me about it.

Comments

[Toni/Taquita]

Ah, the great Santa debate.... In my home I have LOST. We never believed in Santa, he was kinda like Mickey Mouse, great fun, but not real. DH, however, was a true believer.

I worry that Thomas will think we have lied to him. And it is true, we have. But, still it is difficult to imagine denying him the obvious joy he gets from believing.

[May]

We saw Santa this year at our local mall's Starbucks. Now, when asked where Santa lives, my 2-year-old replies, "Outlet Mall."

[Toni]

We saw Santa for the first time tonight at a party. (We're Jewish so it's not something we talk about) - both the girls were questioning why someone would come into your house that you didn't invite :) Muffin (4.5 yrs old) told me that it wasn't the real Santa - he looked fake.

No matter what your belief - have a wonderful holiday.

[Sara]

I found out Santa wasn't real in the midst of the 1980s "Feed the World" campaign. I asked my parents why Santa just didn't go to Ethiopia and feed the hungry children. I guess they had no other way out than to just explain it to me.

Merry Christmas!

[caramama]

That sucks that you had to find out twice that he wasn't real.

We are still debating what to do, but since the Pumpkin is only 9 months, we have time. I'd like to treat Santa the same way I do Frosty the Snowman. It's a story with magic. Hubby initially wanted to do up Santa, but isn't completely gung-ho. We'll see what happens.

Santa or no, I wish you and yours happy holidays!

[Amy]

I have an acquaintance who decided with her husband that they were going to be honest, tell their child that there was no Santa from the beginning, and move on their merry way. Their son then went to daycare and told ALL the kids that there was no Santa, and thus these folks became the most hated parents of the whole daycare.

Makes me laugh a wee bit!

[midlife mommy]

Ah, the lie. I worry about that too. I am trying to figure out a way to let my daughter have fun with the myth but to hold onto the real reason for Christmas. It's hard to know what the right thing is to do. When you figure out the answer, please let me know (smile).

Merry Christmas to you, too.

[cat]

We've decided that no one can either prove or disprove the existence of Santa in our home. So, when the boy's ready we will go on an investigation into Santa's origin. I figure instead of telling him he's real or not, let the kid decide on his own, in his own time. So when the questions come. I'm prepared with "I have no idea, let's investigate shall we?"

Because, at least then if he wants Santa to be real. I didn't steal it from him. Plus, uncovering the history of Santa Claus just might be kind of interesting.

[cat]

PS: I was THAT kid at day care who ruined it for everyone... (my mother told us there is no Santa only a Jesus Christ.)

and was then mocked for a very long time after. The kids believed in Santa more than Jesus...