JD and I have been discussing a certain issue recently. Basically, whether or not to "do Santa" with Jaxon. I personally have no use for Santa. Shocking, I know! A few reasons:
1) I never believed in Santa growing up, and still ADORE everything about Christmas. Not having Santa didn't change my feelings about (or enjoyment of) Christmas one bit.
2) I work hard and long for the money I make that's used to buy things for Jax. I don't want some fat fake guy and his funny-looking fake little people getting the credit for MY awesome present-giving skills!
3) This one's my main reason. If we decide to tell Jaxon there is a Santa, I'm going to have a really hard time repeatedly telling him something that I know is just setting him up for a disappointment later. I've heard people argue that it's not lying to your children, but can someone please explain to me HOW it's not lying? You're basically tricking them into believing, loving, and trusting in something that's not true! I heard of one family a co-worker knows whose child, when she found out about Santa, said something along the lines of, "Well if you've been lying to me about Santa, how do I know you're not lying to me about Jesus?" I just don't know if I can in good conscience take that risk with my children. Even if it's something that can eventually be explained, I don't want to be responsible for planting even a seed of doubt in their little heads about God.
So. Having gone off on that rant (and ducking from the tomatoes that I'm sure are being thrown), I'm asking for your input. Did you believe in Santa growing up (probably, because I realize I'm in the minority, having not believed in him)? Were you upset when you realized he's not real? Do you honestly believe that Santa had any kind of major impact on your Christmas experience? And am I a bad Mama to not really want to "do Santa" with my children?
I'd love to hear your thoughts! (And I hope we're still friends after I said I don't give a flip about the big jolly fat man.)
(Picture is the first one I found on Google. Sorry, that's the only credit I have time for at the moment.)
12 comments:
I grew up with Santa and loved the idea of him as a little girl, and I still love the idea now. I never felt "lied" to by my parents, instead I had fun playing along with my parents as I got older because I had a brother 11 years younger than me.
With all that said, I don't think you're a bad mom for not wanting to do Santa with Jaxon, I honestly think it's something that's up to you and your family. It's your family and you get to make those choices.
My family did Santa/tree/presents for New Years.
My parents tried everything they possibly could to get me to believe in Santa. I wouldn't. I never understood why an old man who never met me and had no personal ties with me would want to spend his time and money getting me presents. Didn't he have children/grandchildren of his own to buy for? It just wasn't rational to me. 5 year old Masha was all about being rational. My parents' friends would ask me what Santa brought me for New Year and I would reply with "Santa didn't bring me anything. My parents brought me a doll."
Then we moved to America and I was amazed at how deep the conspiracy went. Then when I was in elementary school, I lost a tooth and a classmate told me that the tooth fairy was going to come visit me that night. I had never heard of it so she told me the story of the tooth fairy and I thought to myself "oh what a load of crock" (not in those exact words, granted). I really wanted to get money from my parents though, so I excitedly raced home and told my mother all about this beautiful fairy who flies around with glitter and a wand, etc. and sure enough, the next morning, there was money underneath my pillow.
But yea, don't do Santa. Just my $0.02.
I can't really give you an opinion either way I guess. I grew up believing in Santa but was definitely not the main part of our Christmas- Christ being born was. So I say either way you decide will be great for your family. No tomato throwing here and we're definitely still friends :)
I grew up with Santa and never knew that it was something parents debated celebrating until having a daughter of my own. I understand your reasoning for being skeptical. In our family, we will celebrate Santa. Because even though he is not real, it is part of what makes Christmas fun for kids. I have never heard of a child being angry or bitter against their parents for being mislead as a child or question the existence of other real things/people in the long run, even if they may be disappointed at first. Anyway, that's my opinion! :)
Yea, I grew up with Santa and love the idea of it:) But I know a lot of young moms that are really into it, and that's cool too because y'all have good points. I just think it's fun & exciting imagination!
when i found out santa wasn't real, i was crushed. that was the best part about christmas was waiting for santa to come.
i do agree with you though on this subject. it's hard to want to do the santa bit but on the flip side, do you not want your child to have that experience? i dunno, it's a tough choice either way!
good luck on deciding. xoxo
I grew up with Santa and somehow (though I don't know how), my parents were able to separate the "magic and fun" of Christmas (Santa) from the "reason for the season" (Jesus). That, to me, is the best of both worlds. I want to see Thatcher's face light up in amazement as he sees what Santa has brought, but I ALSO want to see his spirit and soul light up with amazement as he grows to know the Lord. I don't know that it has to be either/or -- I think it can be both. I just think we, as parents, have to be very intentional with what we do and why and if we feel Santa taking over, we intentionally dial it down. I think it'd be hard to raise a child without Santa, not to say that's a reason not to do what your heart tells you is best for your family, but I feel like you'd have to say "Santa is not really, other parents lie to their kids but we don't" or something - that just seems almost more complicated!
I didn't grow up believing in Santa either.
I didn't grow up believing in Santa- I knew that my daddy was my santa. I don't know if I will tell my kids that he is real, but I don't know that I will pretend he isn't a part of Christmas. I can totally see how hard of a decision this is. I don't agree with putting presents under the tree from "santa"- kids need to know that they are being blessed by their parents. Santa should be a messenger for the kids- someone who tells their parents what they want for Christmas.
I grew up with the Santa tradition and enjoyed it. I don't really remember the time I stopped believing in Santa (around age 7-8 I'd guess), but I know I wasn't traumatized or anything weird. The focus was always more on the very serious issue of Jesus and midnight mass than the fun and lighthearted "magic" of Santa. Then once I knew for sure (age 7-8), I had fun still pretending about Santa for my 4 years younger brother until he was around 8. And in my family, we all obviously still pretend for all the younger cousins and second cousins when they're young.
To this day, my family and I address our presents to each other for Christmas morning as from Santa. It's fun. ?
The only thing I might worry about from actively saying there isn't a Santa is if your child starts very directly arguing with his peers, and then there could be angry children/parents. And I think I just heard on the news the other day about a teacher who told her 1st grade class there's no Santa and got in trouble for ruining for other kids. Also generally daycare, preschool, elementary school parties are centered around a Santa theme, and Jaxon might be "missing out" on that lighthearted fun or again might "spoil it" for the other kids. Just some thoughts.
I'm sure you'll make the best decision for y'all.
Hmm this is a tough one. I grew up with Santa but he wasn't a core element in our home. I knew that Christmas was a time to celebrate the love of Christ and Santa was just a magical belief of sorts. Deep inside I always knew that Santa didn't exist, but I still enjoyed that my parents did the "santa gift" and stocking presents each year. I think my parents had fun with the Santa mentality simply because it gave them the opportunity to spoil my brother and I a little bit more.
I think I personally will have Santa presents in my home because it's part of the magic of Christmas for me. But this will NOT take away from celebrating what the true meaning of Christmas was, and that is of course Jesus.
That's interesting that a friend had a problem with their children associating that with not believing in Jesus. I personally think that one has nothing to do with the other and that I have a feeling that child was already doubting their faith in God to begin with.
Whatever you decide do what is best for your family, xoxo!
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