So ... Santa.
What are your thoughts on the whole Santa thing? I'm personally having a hard time with it. To be perfectly honest it's not a "lying to my kids" sort of thing. I think (selfishly) that it's more of a "take credit for the fun" sort of thing. Plus, I have no idea how to broach the idea of a fat man in a red coat wedging himself down the chimney with toys.
Spencer knows who Santa is, more along the lines of "part of Christmas decor" ... he visited Santa in the mall one morning (where he was awesome and sat on the guy's lap and said he wanted something weird, got his candy cane and went on his merry way. When he sees a giant blow-up Santa in front of someone's house he says "Look, it's Santa!" but he doesn't seem to care about how he relates to getting presents.
By not hyping Santa, am I robbing my kids of some of the magic of Christmas? I know that I have a bias because I was told there was no Santa when I was very young because my parents split up and my mom didn't want me to think I wasn't good enough and that's why I didn't get as much that year.
I try to not go overboard (a little more than some, and not as much as others). I hope to never be the parents that get caught up in the presents and forget about the joy. I really don't want to threaten my kids that they better be good or santa won't bring presents. I want to just enjoy the holiday with my family. But does that take away from my children's enjoyment of Christmas?
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Here's a funny one - C was fussing the other day at Target and an old man told her he'd seen Santa there earlier and she wouldn't want Santa to catch her being bad, would she? and she got all distraught at the thought, but i had never told her that santa brings presents. i think she thinks he's part of the celebration, but not the focus (her Sunday School class is working on the story of Jesus's birth and I've focused more on that part, though she knows there are presents involved.)
We were planning to only have the stockings as gifts "from Santa" originally because I want her to show gratitude to those who deserve it, but my mom went a little nuts this year and so now she's getting a big present from Santa after all.
When anyone mentions "being good" for Santa, Spencer looks at them like they have a third eye. I'm still on the fence. I don't put a lot in stockings - Spencer's getting Yo Gabba underwear, a couple cars, a foam plane that flies and some monster socks. I think Henry's getting a rattle. Stockings in our house traditionally get a little candy, nuts and an apple and orange. Anything else is icing.
Mike put so much into Santa as a child, and was so disappointed when his wishes didn't come true. And he felt that he was so materialistic because of it, and lost sight of what Christmas is really about.
So... we have some Santas around the house, but our focus is like Mama Fuss said, Jesus' birthday. A friend shared with me their tradition a few years ago. Brady is going to get 3 presents from us, because Jesus received 3 gifts on his birthday. Anything extra from family is the "icing". Because, while Jesus' birthday is most important, it is also a holiday to cherish family. And it's twofold... we (hopefully) will keep the focus in the right place, and also prevent going overboard. I mean come on... you go look for one gift and have suddenly rationalized 2 more that MUST be purchased :)
So that's what we are doing.
We will deal with "who is Santa" when it comes. I love what the historic figure stood for, and I would love to start a tradition where we pass on some things before we get new stuff on Christmas. Giving to those who won't get much... And I think that is where joy can be found without getting caught up in what the holiday has become. There is so much we have lost in the figure of Santa Claus and commercialization of Christmas.
And that's my rant. :)
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