Sadly, this is it for a card. I was going to have pictures printed and send out cards this year, but I think I've waited way too long to do it in a timely manner. So I'm going to give it a positive spin and say that we're saving trees by not using all that paper. Yeah.
We've been listening to lots of Christmas music at our house lately because Julian is obsessed with it, and I think tomorrow we'll be making sugar cookies. I bought some Wilton meringue powder today so we could make royal icing without using raw egg whites. We also bought a nutcracker because Julian is hardcore obsessed with those too. And pretty much anything pertaining to Christmas. He's asking lots of questions about Santa lately, like how he knows what everyone wants, and how do moms and dads have Santa's cell phone number? I told him that when he was born, they gave us that information at the hospital before we left. It's just something all new parents get.
The more I think about it though, the more I don't know if I like the whole notion of Santa. It's fun and everything, and the idea of him is definitely exciting (and kind of creepy...he sees you when you're sleeping?!). But I feel like kind of a jerk for lying to my kid. Do you remember when you found out that Santa wasn't real? Were you devastated? Because I was. I was 5 years old and in kindergarten, and an older boy on the school bus broke it to me. And I remember thinking, that's just not possible. Of course Santa is real....right? And I feel like by lying to Julian about these fictitious holiday characters (Santa, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy), I'm setting him up for disappointment. Part of me feels like kids need to know how hard their parents work to get their presents. Daily, Julian will rattle off a list of crazy expensive things that he wants Santa to bring him, because why not? Santa is magic and he brings free toys to all good girls and boys. And saying things like, "Whoa, buddy. That's pretty expensive...I don't know if Santa can afford that one this year." makes me sound like such a debbie downer. Julian's logic always trumps that too, because he says, "Santa doesn't pay for toys. The elves build them. So he can bring me everything on my list!" Which leads me to yet another lie of, "Santa has to pay the elves an hourly wage though, because they work very hard. And overall, that ends up costing Santa a lot of cash." Also, how the heck do you explain poor kids who get basically nothing for Christmas? Is Santa just that much of an a-hole that he overlooks poor kids? No fair.
I mean seriously, what the hell? It feels crazy to me. But the other part of me that loves fun and everything Christmas wants to keep him believing in Santa for as long as possible. For him to keep his sense of wonderment about all things magical.
What do you think? Do you think parents should tell their kids that Santa is just pretend and still enjoy the holidays, or do you think we should just feed them this lie because that's what everyone does? I just don't know.
13 comments:
i think, don't lie to him. i don't remember ever hearing that santa wasn't real, like i don't remember hearing about where babies come from. neither was ever a secret. but i understand the magic alive idea. and 'twas hilarious to read your thoughts. indeed, does santa overlook the poor kids' wishes? great response from julian, how santa doesn't have to pay for toys anyway. i never would have thought of that!
and... thank you for saving all those trees by not sending cards. very econscious :)
we do the whole Santa thing and so far so good. i wasn't too upset when i found out. i just shrugged, like hey! and then that was it.
i LOVE christmas music. and your card is gorgeous!
I wasn't too upset when I found out either. I didn't look at it like they were lying, I looked at it like they did a magical thing, and now the extra presents are gone.
I have to tell you, your response that you got the info at the hospital is awesome! I don't think I would have thought of that!
I don't ever remember finding out Santa wasn't real. I think I just at some point got old enough that I KNEW he wasn't real and it made all of those memories of stuff "magically" appearing under the tree even better.
As for the elves, GOOD LIE! LOL Victoria asked me that same question last year when she wanted one of those Spike walking dinosaur things and I said it was too expensive for Santa. She was just like Julian, "No, the elves make it!" My lie was that if it was on TV, that Santa's elves weren't allowed to make it and Santa had to buy it. So, you want a puzzle, or a baseball bat or new pajamas, the elves can make it. But you want a Nintendo Wii and Santa's buying. Sort of a dumbed down Santa can't infringe on copyright.
I remember the year that I noticed the note from Santa was written in my mom's handwriting. That tipped me off but I didn't want to say anything to my parents because, obviously, they were enjoying playing santa so I just let them have their fun by pretending that I believed in Santa.
They never told us Santa didn't exist...we still get a stocking filled with edible treats from Santa every year. We're just all in on the joke now.
My cousin, on the other hand, cried when his mom told him there was no Santa.
So, I don't know what you should do. It's tricky.
Nice photo, by the way! Everyone is quite beautiful/handsome!
I can remember finding out Santa wasn't real... from another kid at school. And personally, I knew our family wasn't well off and then I felt like crap because I realized my parents paid for it and they weren't even paying for stuff that they NEEDED. Kinda wished I had heard it from them... and a little bit sooner.
aw yall are so perrrrrdy!
today julian told me that you would bake me 57 brownies, but only if i pay for them. that kid cracks me up!
With Noah him about Santa but i also let things slip n the fly.....i think in the back of his head he knows but he still likes to pretend to believe...we all win
As a non parent, I'm not sure how much I can offer here... but you brought up some good points that actually got the 'if we ever have kids I'll never..' discussion going in my house!
Personally, I think I always knew Santa wasn't real. I don't remember being upset or figuring it out. I just knew.
I totally get what you are saying though, about feeling like you are lying to your kid. And to what end? Especially when there is potential for the drama when said child does find out.
For the record, I argued the 'don't perpetuate the Santa myth' side and the soon-to-be husband argued the 'magic of Christmas' side. Since there are no little ones, we agreed to disagree :)
The approach we're taking right now is to tell him that Santa is responsible for the bulk of his toys. He knows we're getting him some stuff, but the really good things come from Santa. He asks almost daily if he's on the good list, which is cute and also kind of breaks my heart because he doesn't know how very good he is.
So far, he's only asked a couple of times if Santa is real, and our answer is to flip it back on him and say, "What do YOU think?" He always says yes, so we just let him think it for now.
Hi I found you on comments from GGC. Your card is super cute! I still have to print mine - UGH! I am not hand addressing this year though - relief!
My 3 year old - through no faut of my own - does not believe in Santa. So I think I am spared this particular parental lie. It's a tough one though - I think, like Christine said - it will just come out one day. When the lies get to be really creative - it may be time.
I've always said I would NEVER play the Santa game. That was the story I stuck to up, and through, my pregnancy. Not really sure what I'll do now.
I know some people that, when asked if he's real, will ask their kids "do you believe?", and depending on their answer...that's what they go with.
Some people say that he's a mascot of the holiday season...or something like...he represents the spirit of Christmas/giving.
I know Peter's family so wants us to play Santa...I still don't really.
I found out when I was in kindergarten. My mother told me because we were having a horrible year and didn't want me to hate Santa when I didn't get any presents. She would rather I hate her I suppose. I went and turned around in school and announced to the class "Santa isn't real...my mommy said so!". Oppsies :P Turned out, I got a ton of stuff from family friends anyway. Bad call on my mom's part? I don't know. I just know it didn't really make me feel any better.
So yeah, I'm torn :-/
Of course Santa's real! Haven't you seen Elf?
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