This week I have been thinking of our Christmas season and how glorious it would be to be able to view it once again through the eyes of a child. A child that still believes that a kiss will make a boo boo better, that snow is magical, and that mama and/or daddy can make every thing okay again.
Visiting with some friends this week about Santa, they each had different opinions on what to tell their kids, based on their different upbringings. One thought they needed to know from the git-go how life is…and that a creepy fat man in a red suit cannot be real. His spouse wanted traditions and magic. Another friend said his parents claimed as long as he believed, it was true. And he is still believing and at his age and still getting gifts! Smart!
Myself? I grew up staying up late on Christmas Eve with big sister, trying to “catch” Santa. I still recall hearing the jingle bells and the reindeer clomping around on the roof. We left out cookies and milk, and wondered how Santa would manage to get in with no fireplace. Christmas morning was absolutely magical in our eyes. My parents never told me any different…so maybe that’s why I believe in miracles, even today.
Our youngest son was a different story. When he was only four or so, he went to Sunday School where some blessed kid decided to ruin it for the entire class. He approached me after class declaring what he’d been told, and then demanded the answer. I have always been brutally honest with my boys….so I answered his question. His next words I will never forget. You lied to me. How could you lie to me. Ummm…..but all the parents are doing it, son? Really. What could I say? He then went on to cover the Easter Bunny, the tooth fairy, Barney, and the Watergate scandal.
Santa continued to come, but with a different understanding, after that year. Regrets? Only that I didn’t smack the little kid who ruined it for my babies.
Kids don’t get to be kids for any length of time these days. So when I witness that innocence, I pause. I ponder. I for one am glad my parents let me hold that secret forever.
At the grocery store this week, I came around the corner to the produce section, purse on my shoulder. A little girl, along with her mom’s purse, were sitting in a cart in front of the strawberries. Her mom instructed her not to let anyone get her purse. As I made eye contact with the little one, she turned to her mom and said, “It’s okay, Mom, everyone already has a purse. Except for the boys, and they would be silly to want a purse.” Let her believe for a little while longer.
♥Remember to be nice to others. Everyday. You never know what they may be dealing with in their lives. ♥ Sending out December hugs!
P.S. And to end this little post on a real giggle….. My husband approached a little one in his store this week. Sitting in the buggy, he leaned down and asked, “And how are you doing today?” To which she answered, “I NEED TO GO POOP”. Nuff said.
stuff i tell my sister 
Lovely post in every way, including the PS haha!
🙂 The PS is just a hoot, right?
loved your post and pictures.. my son was probably too young on his first trip to santa and he cried too.. next year he was all smiles sue
womenlivinglifeafter50.com
We have several crying pics of the youngest and Santa….and clowns were also terrorizing! 🙂
Great post. December hugs back at ya!
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Lovely post on the childhood joys of Christmas
Thank you, Elizabeth.
Hahaha. Trust a kid to give you an honest answer. 😀 I can’t remember exactly when I stopped believing in Santa, but I do know it was quite a while before my parents realised it. 🙂
I. Still. Believe! 😉
It’s funny. ..or not, but I can’t remember ever believing in Santa:) Maybe just one more thing I’ve forgotten! Loved the post and especially the P.S. Hang on to the memories as long as we can;-)
Hubby may just say “hello” from now on! 🙂
♥ Merry merry!
I believed longer than any other kids in the neighbourhood and argued with great conviction about it.
My parents never allowed any belief about Santa in our house. We knew the few gifts we got, came from mom & dad. They thought it was more important to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Later when raising our 3 kids, we let them enjoy the Santa fable while we honored Jesus at the same time. I agree…kids have so little magic in their young lives why not let them have fun for a while. How about the tooth fairy? How about the Easter Bunny? A little imagination and excitement is important.
Me too. I let my daughter believe in Santa and we had birthday cake for Jesus. 🙂
perfect ♥
We did Santa, but of course we also learned about the manger and our baby Jesus birth. Agree….let them be little..
Awww yes…..Santa it seems is a political subject!
The PS is just a classic.. I love it, must have given Hubby a good laugh… I still think the fantasy of Father Christmas is good, and kids should be told the truth when doubt seems to be present…
He’s still laughing about it. 🙂 And yes, agree…if they ask…tell them.
Wonderful post, Paula! I’m still laughing. My parents made sure we believed for a long time – because they used Santa as a threat! “Be good or Santa won’t bring you anything.” From Halloween to Christmas Day, we were all on our best behavior. I was terrified of the man. 🙂
Funny, Maddie! Making that mental note of how to coerce you…..from Halloween to Christmas, at least!
I love love love this post PSB! Just perfect in so many ways! I’ve got a ten year old who is on the believing side of the fence and I don’t think it’s going to be long before he is on the other side, so this year will be savored!! The ps….priceless and I laughed out loud!! ♥ Merry Merry!!
Oh I hope you and B enjoy this year of his believing. (And be prepared to smack the kid/adult who ruins it for you both.) 🙂
Merry Merry to You and B!!
I so agree with Bonnie above. The real life stories you bring us are positively perfect. There’s no one left to spoil in our household nor midnight scrambles putting toys together. The innocents of a child being allowed to hold their first lighted candle at Christmas Eve service is more than enough to get my tears going.
Sheri….I am picturing that night before service right now….thank you. ♥
Why do so many kids cry when they sit on Santa’s knee?
Good question!:)
No one in particular spoiled things for us. I think we all figured it out and just played along until my folks gave up the chirade.
And I think that’s the way it should be. 🙂
🙂
Loved the post! And so true…we have to allow the believe in miracles…because they truly do happen everyday 🙂
Yes they do 🙂
What a great post! You sure popped my bubble. I thought Santa was real, and I actually saw the Easter Bunny hump off our porch when he delivered our baskets, and so did my parents! Loved your thoughts, Paula. Have a great holiday season. God bless!
I should have put a spoiler alert at the top of the post!!! 🙂
Thank you, my dear ♥
hehehe Have a great Christmas. I sure have loved getting to know you this year. It’s been almost a year and a half now! 🙂
I’ve loved every second! Here’s to MORE! ♥
Yes! 🙂
Lovely. I grew up in a tenement flat in NYC where Santa came down the fire escape! 🙂 —Chagall
A fire escape….awesome 🙂 Thanks for the visit! 🙂 paula ♥
I dropped in hoping to read a good Christmas post and sure enough…
I loved believing in Santa and still do, even if he doesn’t have a red suit, white beard or sleigh. There have always been presents under our tree and in my opinion, that’s all Santa Claus.
xx
🙂 Yes indeedy! Merry Christmas ! ♥
Great post, Paula! Really interesting! My sister is from a mixed marriage–her grew up believing in Santa Claus and wanted the kids to also, and she did not. I’m not even sure what they decided to do about it as they live in Australia and we never spent Christmas together. I never told the kids he was real, and I never told the kids he wasn’t. I said, “The story goes…” And “Some people believe…” One time I asked my son if he believed in Santa Claus, and he said, “No.” “How do you know?” I asked. “He said, “I figured it out for myself.” I did counsel him that it was better to quietly believe what you believe and not ruin anyone else’s fun. The good news is that my kids still believe in miracles, and with you for a mom, I bet your son does too! I hope you had a Merry Christmas, and I wish you a very Happy New Year!
Thanks for sharing this, Naomi. I love your wording…”The story goes….Some people believe”…a very wise way to handle this in my opinion. I look at the photos of your children and I see joy and believing and miracles in their faces. You guys have done an outstanding job! Merry Christmas to all! ♥
🙂
I’ve always wondered what other parents tell their kids. I appreciated this.
Big laugh at the end though 🙂
It is so hard to know what to do, isn’t it? But I do love how children “tell it like it is!” 🙂 paula