So if you didn’t know, Christmas is in 11 days. (Crazy how fast this year has gone by! ) Before Jesalyn was born, Jarrod and I had discussions on whether we were going to introduce Santa Clause into her life. I grew up, like I’m sure most of you did, thinking that on Christmas morning the big present under the tree was from a man who snuck into my house at night and ate the cookies we left for him (I'm still not sure why this didn't freak me out.) My parents always got us gifts too. They were wrapped all nice and pretty under the tree. But the big one, the one that wasn’t wrapped because it was way too good for pity paper was from the jolly, big guy! And then the year came, the year I saw the box that my mini trampoline came in, sitting outside for the trash man. Surely Santa didn’t take it out of the box and sit it with the trash. This meant only one thing! I don’t remember being totally crushed because at this point, I had had doubts but I would be lying if I wasn’t let down just a tad.Jarrod, on the other hand, grew up without a Santa Clause. When I asked him if he thought this lessened his childhood at Christmas any he said, I quote "heck no!!" It’s really the only thing he knew. Sure, he knew who Santa Clause (S.C.) was but he also knew who he wasn’t. So that leaves us with the decision. She’s still at an age where she doesn’t understand it all yet, but within the next couple of years we are going to have to “do it” or not. Jarrod says absolutely not. Here’s my thoughts, for and against:
Thought 1: I want Jesalyn to know the true meaning of Christmas. As in the birth of Jesus. Celebrating his birth and life. Enjoying time together as a family and being thankful. Yes, you can do this and S.C. still be in the picture but my feelings are that I don’t want her to get caught up in the receiving of gifts like I know I was. We all know that Christmas has been so commercialized that it’s all about shopping until you drop and spending too much money and going into debt so that so-and-so can have this or that.
Thought 2: I don’t know that I want to lie to her. I know in most people’s minds this is one of those “white lies” that doesn’t really hurt anyone so it’s okay, but I really want to be as honest with her as possible. I want her to feel like she can always trust me to tell her the truth.
Thought 3: There is something fun about the idea of Santa Clause and having those memories. I don’t want her to feel like she missed out on anything as a child.
Thought 4: No picture with Santa. Okay, this one isn’t that big of a deal, and I guess technically she could still take the picture but the smile wouldn’t be because she is seeing Santa, it would be because she knows the “truth.
These are just my thoughts. We haven’t made any official decisions. What do y’all think? Thoughts? Also, being that we are a new family, I want to have some kind of Christmas tradition. Do you have any I can steal? =)
1 comment:
That's a tough one--one I have discussed with Skyler back in the early days of our marriage when we had the "one of these days when we have kids" discussions.
When I was a kid, I didn't get why Santa gave some kids more presents than others. Why did I only get a couple of things on my list (along with the stuff from my parents) while other kids got lots and lots of stuff from him? I still don't get it.
I don't want my kids to have the attitude that I had about Christmas when I was a kid (and even a teenager). I was a spoiled brat and threw a fit if I didn't get what I wanted. If one of my kids ever does that, I will make them give all their presents away to someone who really needs them.
That being said, in my baby fantasy, I imagine what a good little boy and girl Gabriel and Tater Tot would be and how I would give them whatever they want and never tell them no. Of course, they're angels, so what can you expect?
Why not have your own Santa tradition? It started many, many years ago with someone giving to the poor, right? Maybe your family can be Santa for someone Jesalyn's age each year, and she can help.
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