Sometimes it is good for children to believe in magical ideas such as Santa or good old Saint Nick. I believe it not only helps their imagination, but creates good will making them act maybe a little better believing Santa is watching them. After all, there really was a Saint Nicholas who was a rich kind man and was known to be very generous. If you research more about him, you will find many stories and at that point you have to decide what is true and what is not.
Last year, my daughter came home almost in tears because a classmate had argued with her and said that Santa was not real. I asked her what she thought and she replied that she KNEW he was real. I felt a sigh of relief and I let her to continue to believe having just as much enjoyment in waiting for Santa and leaving him cookies as she did that Christmas Eve.
But this year it has already been a different story, I blew it. My daughter said I can’t wait until Santa brings me a guitar for Christmas. “A Guitar?” I asked, “I’m not too sure about that”.
“Well he brought me a flat screen TV at Daddy’s house for my bedroom last year so this year I am asking for a guitar for home.
Without thinking I blurted out, “I really don’t think Santa can afford a guitar this year sweetheart.”
“What?” she shrieked, “what are you trying to say? Are you Santa?”
“Why would you ask me that?” I stammered, caught completely off guard for a conversation like this in October.
She said,” because Santa MAKES his toys and you said Afford which is something you tell me when something costs too much money.” Wow I was caught and felt a little set up I must admit.
In a gentle voice I said, “Well what do you think?” I secretly hoped she would answer as she did the year before with a yes, but this time she screamed, “YOU ARE SANTA! I knew it”. She seemed so disappointed to learn the truth that I had to remind her that Christmas is not really about Santa, let’s remember what Christmas is about and Santa is just a good part of the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
Part of me wanted her to know the truth because she is about to turn 10 and I didn’t want her to be embarrassed at school when another friend finally broke the news, but part of me wanted her to stay little and believe in the magic.
As she went to bed, she told me how sad she was and then said, “please tell me you don’t have anything to do with moving the Elf on the Shelf… do you?” I said without hesitation, “of course not, he has a mind of his own!”
I have decided that I am going to make her make a Santa list anyway and I am going to make one too just to have fun. It is the magic of Christmas anything can be real if you believe enough.
