For over a year now my kid has questioned the idea of Santa... from kid's at school to T.V. shows he has watched and has brought it up several times and I feel like I have always had a great come back dodging the truth.... until yesterday. On the way to practice we were discussing how different our school's Cookies and Cocoa with Santa event will have to be and I mentioned having to commission a different Santa (he is usually Santa's helper at the event, passing out Santa gifts, getting Santa water, escorting Santa to the bathroom, etc! ) He already knew Santa has Santa helpers because he can't be lots of places at the same time, I mentioned the new Santa being someone we know! He didn't say anything at first but then when he did I was like, open mouth insert foot here!!! OH NO! He looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "Mom, Santa is fake huh? You and dad are Santa Claus..." My heart broke for him but I just couldn't "lie" or avoid the subject yet again! I haven't even told Steve yet, because he thinks by telling him I will be ruining it... I am just honestly not a good liar! I told him first off that St. Nick was a real person in Europe who took gifts to the needy and became the basis for Santa Claus, that parents and others carried on the tradition of love and sharing and gift giving and it evolved over the years into what is the present day Santa Claus. I also shared my story of how I came to know that Santa wasn't real when I was only in 2nd grade! My friend's father was the local Baptist minsiter and they just never did the Santa Claus thing, I remember going home and saying "Christy Lawrence said there is no such thing as Santa Claus, is this true?!" My mom and dad sat me down and explained the concept! I am actually surprised that my kid made it to the 6th grade, yes with his doubts and reservations but still with that hint of belief, that in times past I wasn't ready to extinguish! I also had to make it part of our discussion that even though Santa isn't real, just the concept of him was that God is fully and completely real and surrounding all of us that Jesus was born and died for our sins and reiterate what the word Christmas really means, and that there are a lot of people who grow up knowing that Santa isn't real and I was able to use some examples. He wondered why these specific examples of kids he knows well never told him. I said because they are your friend and didn't want to ruin what you were taught and believe. Not everyone is taught the same but everyone should respect other people's beliefs and values nonetheless. We also discussed how he shouldn't run to school and profess to others his new findings on this subject as there will still be people who haven't had this discussion with their parents and he will not know who has and who has not! I also suggested that we could "be Santa" for a family in need this Christmas, and he liked the idea.In his sort of he already knew what I would say, to his semi-shock that it really wasn't real, we did not have any conversations regarding the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy or Elf on the Shelf.. he is a smart kid, but until he asks I didn't feel the need to confess to anymore lies at that moment. But seriously, the real person playing Santa Claus isn't real, not sure how you could continue to believe there is a creature in a big fluffy ugly bunny suit that comes to your house and gives you a basket... LOL! We were close to practice and he was trying not to get there with red eyes!
I have been seriously considering his elf on the shelf doing something totally different this year, even prior to yesterdays conversations anyway!
Remember my kid is 11 and I think that we have had elf on the shelf visiting for at least 9 years now... Tutti Fruit Loop who visits everyday after Thanksgiving somewhere different in our home, with a note that rhymes! Yes I am a writer but oh my gosh what was I thinking.... I finally started recyling them or changing them a tad just to not be exactly the same! I also incorportated the true meaing of Christmas into these rhymes to instill why Jesus is the most important part of this celebration every year! Fun to do fun to watch him read the note(especially after he learned to read) and find where the elf was "hiding" with his little gift or funny/cute scene or note about kindnes or gifting joy to others, but definitely exhausting! This year the elf was going to bring ways that Paxton could spread the joy, love and cheer of Christmas! Today a very dear friend gave me the idea to share this elf kindness with others, so stay tuned for Tutti Fruit Loops 24 days of kindness that you can use to instill the idea of kindness and giving with your children this holiday season. Starting Nov 30th I will post one Elf on the Shelf idea per day that your elf can bring to encourage kindness and giving in your children. Feel free to use them all, pick and choose and share your photos or results of your kindess on my IG and or FB pages!
'Tis the Season to remember that kindness matters every day of the year, not just in one Season. Here is to you spreading the magic of Christmas, starting this month and continuing it throughout the year!
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