One Last Thought of the Season (a.k.a The Great Santa Debate)

Christmas for a 3-year-old is not an easy task. There are questions to answered and more questions to be answered. And in case I didn't remember the first round of questions, they need to be asked again. Santa, and Jesus, and Snow, and Rudolph, and the fire place, the three kings, and presents, and how many cookies, and the candy canes - "When can I eat the candy canes!?"

As Harrison watched Super Why on PBS one morning last week, the story centered on 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, at the end of the show Harrison turned and yelled, "Mommy! Santa like cookies! We need to make Christmas cookies for Santa!" That sealed the deal.

Until...

We stayed out way too late to leave cookies under the tree. Luckily, Harrison forgot about that well-known fact, and fortunately it never came up again.

But there's always next year...

In fact, Christmas morning came and Harrison stood next to the tree in a tired daze as his daddy cried, "Harrison look! Santa came! Look Santa brought presents!" After a moment the haze lifted and Harrison started opening.

And now, after chewing on the thought awhile, he thinks EVERY gift under the tree came from Santa - all our gifts. AND that Santa is responsible for his birthday gifts as well. We'll work on that later.

We kept the focus on what is important to our family about this holiday - the birth of Christ Jesus. We talked about how Santa is a man who loved Jesus and wanted to show his love by giving to others. Remember, Santa is also known as Saint Nicolas.We focused on the giving to others. Then on Christmas morning we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. Just like Harrison wanted to, just like his daddy always did as a child. That's our tradition.

We went through the Great Santa Debate this year, to Santa or not to Santa, that is the question for so many. Bottom line for us, why not.  Really people, none of us have ended up in therapy over finding out that Santa wasn't real. I don't have any deep-set scars from believing in and finding out the truth about Santa. And ss much as some feel we "shouldn't lie to our children - about Santa" I believe my child doesn't need to know the cold hard truth about this messed up world at three-years-old. Call me what you want. I let Harrison be the guide on believing in Santa. He has decided that he believes in the magic. We'll see what next year holds...wanna come along for the ride?

For us it all goes back to that fact that childhood magic is childhood magic. Santa is part of the magic of childhood, the magic of what Santa represented continued in my house long after I knew he wasn't real. In fact, I probably thought he wasn't real for a long time before it was confirmed... but my mom didn't let the magic die with the knowledge of his existence (or lack there of).  During this season when we give to others, whether it be our time, resources or money; when we feed the homeless; when we put money in a parking meter that is about to expire; when we spontaneously buy a cup of coffee for the person behind us in line at Starbucks - we are spreading the magic that Santa (St. Nicholas) started so many centuries before. I know it was because of his great faith. And an act of goodwill is magic.
Matthew 25:34-40
Hebrews 13:2

Whether you're a Chirstain or not, this year don't let the spirit of giving stop with Santa or Christmas - stretch yourself and Pay it Forward.

Or let it become a Magnificent Obsession.
But that's a story I'll share another time.