We had an interesting conversation at our dinner table the night before last.
Matthew started talking to Graham about Santa. Graham has heard a lot about Santa from trusted sources, such as Dora and Diego. Matthew started saying how Santa was going to fly in his sleigh with the reindeer, and land on our roof. How he was going to come down our chimney and bring presents. That we would leave milk and cookies out for him. Graham piped up, “And we’re going to eat the cookies too ?!?”
So cute.
While we were talking about Santa, I felt kind of weird. Like a BIG FAT LIAR. Santa’s not real. I know it’s fun for kids and all, but it felt so strange to look Graham right in the eye and tell him that the guy in the red suit was going to come into our house and deliver presents.
Growing up, we knew the real meaning of Christmas (Jesus) and also had the Santa aspect to it. It was fun, it was magical, it was, well, part of the whole Christmas scene.
It just felt odd to be the one telling the stories about Santa, instead of the one hearing those stories. Another phase of parenthood, I guess. I don’t think it’s bad to tell the Santa story…I just pray my kids can differentiate the truth of Jesus from the farce of Santa as they get older. And not just Santa, but the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy…
Any wisdom on this topic, folks?
I’m sure the kids will be fine once they discover all the lies that we’ve told them in the name of FUN. Right? If not, they can send me their therapy bills when they get older. And I’ll send them mine.
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Yesterday morning I had Christy (and ther three munchkins) and Tianna (and her one munchkin) over for a visit. Tianna had called last week and wanted to get together since she hadn’t seen much of Emily. She still hasn’t seen much of Emily. Emily went down for a nap just before Tianna got here, and slept the entire 2 hours she was here. And then an hour beyond that.
I’ve started calling her “Sleeping Beauty”. Shhhhh. Don’t tell Mr. Murphy. I don’t want his Law to kick in.
Graham and Nathan had a fun time with Ben and Megan, per usual. Did you know that for each preschooler you add to a room, the volume increases TENFOLD? Just so you know.
At one point it got very quiet. I looked over the back of the couch and the kids were no longer there. I could hear them murmuring, but could not see them anywhere. I followed the whispers, and discovered that they had crawled into the bottom compartment of my corner workstartion. All four of them.
Yes, my boys are wearing their Incredibles jammies. They like to be super-heroes, and since we weren’t going anywhere…
Some days (such as today) they are dressed as Batmen. We also have Superman and Spiderman jammies for those other days. I have become one of those Moms who let their kids stay in their jammies. I can’t blame them – I live in yoga pants when I’m at home. I wonder what jammies Emily will want to wear as she gets bigger?
Anyhow, about an hour after Christy and Tianna left, a horrible headache kicked in. I was on the couch for the rest of the day. Tylenol didn’t eliminate the pain, but it helped. As did earplugs. I can’t blame the kids and their noise for my headache; they’re noisy every day. All. Day. Long.
I felt like I should be posting something. I think NaBloPoMo created a monster. I feel weird if I don’t post for a day, but it wasn’t going to happen yesterday. I went to bed at 8 o’clock…and got up at eight o’clock, save for one 20-minute feeding at 5 am. I told you Emily was Sleeping Beauty.
I’m feeling much better today, and tonight we are having Matthew’s parents over for dinner. After dinner, we are doing our annual Decorate Sugar Cookies Night. It’s where we try to get more icing and sprinkles (and Smarties!) on the cookies than in our mouths. Pictures to follow, I’m sure.
This year is the first year I have had trouble with the whole Santa thing. I didn’t know Jesus as a kid so the Santa story was great. I too have been talking alot to the girls about the real reason for Christmas, Jesus’ birth, and they hear about Santa at school and such. I just tend not to play the Santa part up too much. Delaney has never really believed in Santa but does on occaison get caught up in the commercialism of the season. As long as they know the real reason I am ok with them pretending with santa. You sound like you have a dream baby who sleeps. How lucky. Blessings at Christmas!
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Call me old fashioned but we told them upfront that santa was not real and people made that up so they have ‘someone’ to celebrate at Chistmas. Not sure what i will do if the future in-laws insist on telling the grandkids there is a santa…i quess we wil cross that bridge when we come to it. But i don’t think it will scar the munchkins that are told differently.
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Hi Angie,
We struggled 15 years ago with the Santa thing, and decided that since we were going to ask our kids to believe some amazing things: (Jonah/whale, Samson/temple, Moses/plagues
that we would tell them that Santa was a fun story, but make-believe, and the Jesus story was the real deal. We were pretty much all satisfied.
Heidi F.
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Christmas is a toughie. How to share in the magic of Christmas but yet not take it too far. Our daughter Aliah learned last year that Santa isnt real. She was 11. I know. She has believed for a long time. Aidan is probably going to figure things out sooner. It is tough ecause if we deliberately lie about a mythical figure like santa, then kids (like Aliah) may start asking why we believe in God when no one sees him etc… like Santa. We know santa is made up. What about God? If kids are conned into waiting for that magical time when santa comes, what about us all waiting for God? These are questions posed to me from Aliah. So tough to answer.
We went through the historical Saint Nicholas and how parents carry on his tradition. That seemed fine with her. It IS hard because around Christmas, even Christians alike, including us, can get caught up and find ourselves talking more about santa than Jesus. Some run to malls hoping to get a photo with santa. We spend hours stressing over what presents santa should bring. Have the kids written letters to santa. What will we leave out for santa when he comes. It does seem a touch deceitful, but I am guilty of some of these things as well. I find the balance is hard. I find myself asking if there should even be a balance. being a parent is tough! But then this morning Aidan says, “hey I know! Is Christmas called ‘Christmas’ because the word Christ is in it?”
yes. It is.
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My boyfriend and I just talked about the santa thing yesterday! I’d find it hard too, I know… but it seems like your priority is on the real meaning of Christmas. If they know that, seems like santa’s kinda separate, just a different aspect to it. But then again I am YOUNG, and NOT a parent!! Just starting to think about it. I don’t think your kids will resent you for keeping up the story
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I never believed in Santa, my parents told me from the beginning that Santa was pretend and Jesus was real. We still had Santa fun though, pictures, relatives who signed Santa on their gifts to us etc. I’m telling my kids the truth too. I’m fine with us “pretending” Santa, but I want my kids to know I tell them the truth.
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I have pondered that too but then I read an article that Santa is a precursor to believing in God and Jesus… it’s really practice since you can’t see or touch God either.
I believed in Santa and when I finally stopped I just felt nothing but love for my parents who went through all that trouble to make Christmas magic. The important Christmas is also very important but you can have both. I did
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I found this too!! Thats why we tell the story of Bishop Nicholas or St Nicholas because that is a true story and it shows the children how to take gifts of food to people who had little. Its such a personal thing and luckily for us we have young children so we can experiment a little and find what suits our family. Santa focus is very small for us as we had St Nich day on the 6th he filled the childrens shoes with nuts and berries and also we have the advent calendar who is bringing Baby Jesus so it’s keeping the focus there for the girls.
Merry Xmas to your family,many blessings to you all. xxx
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We’ve had a few discussions in my mom’s group about the whole Santa thing.
I have absolutely no problem telling the kids about Santa…but I’ve also made it clear that the reason for the season is Jesus’ birthday. That’s why Zachary wants to name the baby, Baby Jesus. I never resented my parents for telling me about Santa…Because Santa is real. The meaning behind Santa (or St. Nick) is giving to others…just as Jesus gave to us. As long as they understand that Christmas is about giving, and NOT receiving, I think you’ll be doing them right.
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Growing up I was never “told” about Santa, I knew the story but my parents never told us that he would bring us gift if we were good etc, etc. I don’t feel like I missed out at all. My hubby and I don’t plan on “telling” our kids about Santa.
Hope that doesn’t sound harsh, I don’t disagree with it and I don’t think it will harm a child I just don’t think we’ll do it. We’ll see though it’s not set in stone… I am starting to ramble, I have had too much Christmas baking.
Merry Christmas! Hope you and your lovely family have a GREAT day!!
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I feel exactly the same way about the whole Santa thing. I grew up able to distinguish between the fun Santa story and the true Jesus story. I hope my kids will also be able to do the same.
I have also struggled with the “lies” that I’ve had to tell my kids. I think to myself “I hope they don’t hate me when they find out the truth” … but then again I don’t remember being upset or hating my parents when I found out, I was about 8. I just remember thinking “hey, no biggie, Jesus is the real reason for Christmas anyway, so it’s all good!” … I can only hope my boys feel the same way.
We do take a lot of care to read them the Christmas story and talk about baby Jesus being the reason that we celebrate. I tell my boys that Santa gives presents because the Wise Men gave presents to baby Jesus. That way I can almost connect the two!!
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On the whole Santa Claus thing – you and I were brought up believing in Jesus and Santa we as adults we are a o.k. and understand what was real and what wasn’t. I’m sure our kids will do the same.
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We told our kids it is magic. I think our kids will figure it all out one day just like we did. Part of being a kid in our house is believing in the magic of Christmas, I still do. Santa still brings me presents. Christmas is different for everyone. We have family traditions that others might not.
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