Apparently, Christmas is right around the corner. I know this because people keep asking me if I am ready for it. No, I am not. So please stop asking.
I also know Christmas is coming because we are doing things like going to Christmas parties and eating breakfast with Santa.
Ainsley refused to even look at Santa. She was excited before she saw him. She thought it was going to be the man we bought our Christmas tree from who had a long white beard. It was not. She cried. And then asked for the pirate bear. And then she was happy.
There was an elf. Ainsley noticed her shoes first (of course). She wanted a picture with ‘the little lady’. And she smiled for that.
Natalie enjoyed the entire morning…. eating, coloring, picture taking…. and singing Jingle Bells with Santa and the other kids.
Incidentally, we’ve never, I repeat, never told our kids that Santa brings them presents. Henry did not grow up with Santa. I did. We never had a game plan when it came to having kids and what we would tell them. Natalie learned about Santa from Mickey Mouse Playhouse and preschool. Last year was the first year she really got Christmas. She woke up Christmas morning took one look in the living room and yelled to Ainsley, “Look, Santa came!”
This year, they talk a lot about Santa. Do your kids believe in Santa?
(c) 2016 Leighann Marquiss
Comments (13)
ummm…as aforementioned. No. 🙂 I got to see my sweet grandson yesterday. That makes my Christmas perfect!!
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5 year old Jonathan doesn’t believe in Santa. He knows it’s a fun story, and we enjoy it. And hopefully he knows not to tell other kids that “Santa isn’t real.” I believed in Santa. David’s parents never made a big deal about it either way, kind of what we’re trying. David’s mom writes some gifts To: so and so From: Santa, and everyone “knows” but enjoys it.
I guess I decided that I didn’t want to risk his feeling betrayed that we lied to him.
My funny story (which I remember) was figuring out the Easter Bunny, and my mother questioning me about Santa. I remember replying, “Oh, no, you couldn’t be Santa, because you don’t have enough money!” I believed in Santa for another year.
My mother “poormouthed” a lot, but in her favor, having us in Christian school and starting a new business, they probably didn’t have much back then.
When my kids were young I told them “Santa iss someone who loves you very, very much!” True statement. Many years ago, a friend’s daughter was trying to reconcile God and Santa. After much thought, she said she knew how Santa knows just what to bring her for Christmas… God tells him because every good and perfect gift is from above. Sounds right to me. Although my kids are 28 and 26, I hope they still believe.
Our kids don’t believe in santa. Or should I say our 3 older kids don’t. The other night, 3 yr old buddy told his daddy that he liked christmas and santa — Ho Ho Ho.
I loved believing in Santa! When I found out the truth, I wasn’t upset since I was a little older and had started thinking he wasn’t real. Heidi
i don’t know if i should post this publically, because i had forgotten to already tell you but here goes. Natalie told Adyn in the car that “Santa Clause was not real” (I have been trying to calmly let him believe in Santa without overdueing it. i decided to just stay quiet instead of interrupt). Adyn, being quite astute, asked Natalie: Then where do all the presents come from?? to which she replied: People. People bring the presents. Will you guess what Adyn’s constant refrain has turned to since then?? Instead of “hey mom, tell Santa i want….” He know says, ” hey mom, tell the people i want ….
We love Santa here; we tell our children that Santa is one way we remember the great gift that God gave us when He sent baby Jesus to earth. Santa brings three presents – one to represent each gift the Magi brought for Jesus. My daughter’s favorite Christmas globe is santa kneeling at the manger.
As for later & feeling betrayed, I think as children get older, they start to question “is Santa real” – but the magic & the joy surrounding him is real and that’s enough.
I’m 30 years old and still believe in the magic of Santa. J.K. is still a bit young to get it, but we relate Santa to the story of Jesus and the Magi. I never felt betrayed when I figured out the truth. Although, I do remember being very protective of my little sister. I wanted to make sure that she believed as long as possible. But like I said, I’m 30 and she’s 27 and we both still believe. 🙂
I grew up not believing in Santa and never felt robbed of any of the joy of Christmas. So my kids don’t believe in Santa, but they know that he used to be a real person who loved Jesus and brought gifts to the poor. We watch Santa movies and talk about him, but my four year old knows that it’s just a “game.” I am however very, very worried that he’ll say something to a kid at preschool. We’ve talked about it and talked about it, but you know how four year olds can be. But so far, so good!
Warn Henry that his costume is not going to be nearly that awesome.
Although we have old fashioned Santas as decoration in our home. And I have told the kids where the whole Santa story came from and how it has turned into the worlds way of celebrating Christmas. We make Christmas a Birthday Party that Jesus shares with everyone. Isn’t he so selfless to share his special day with all of us. Our kids get just as excited as others not believing in that fat man in the red suite. And this way they are taught the true meaning of Christmas with nothing to take away from Jesus, which is very hard to do in our society of commercialized Holidays. 🙁 After all there is only one person who knows wether you’ve been good or bad and can be everywhere at the same time and that’s God. Merry Christmas!
Santa is real: http://www.iCaughtSanta.com
We are Praying for Ryan.
Merry Christmas!