Our Santa Claus Woes

 

Last year I wrote this post:

Memories of Kate

In January 2003, when Kate was a mere 3 years old (a little younger than Rachel is now), I had a very surprising conversation with her. Ruth, Kate and I were painting pictures at the table. Ruth asked about what she should paint and we started talking about magic. I sang some of an old song "do you believe in magic in a young girls heart" Ruth really liked the idea of magic in her heart, but Kate very solemnly declared, "I do not believe in magic." I asked her why, and she continued, "I do not believe in magic because I can see it in my movies, but I never see it in life. So I think magic is not real." Ruth mentioned that fairies are real and Kate said, "I do not believe in fairies because I cannot see them and they are magic. I do not believe in Santa Claus because he is magic and magic is not real. I do not believe in Heavenly Father because I cannot see Him. But I think Jesus is real because he is in my movies." (I know that her logic is a bit skewed, but she was only 3). I felt rather astonished, and secretly pleased with her three year old reasoning skills. I told her that Heavenly Father and Jesus were indeed real and true, but that she was right about magic not happening in real life. (Ruth disagreed on the no-magic point.) That was the end of things for a while.

The Christmas that Kate was 4, almost a year later, Kate asked if Santa Claus was real. Because I wanted to keep Santa Claus alive a little longer I avoided the question mainly by telling her that she could believe in whatever she wanted to.  I think Kate agonized a little over this answer, but with being at Grandma Pardon's house and all of the goodies and presents, she let the topic go and enjoyed Christmas.

The following year, we had moved to Wichita, and Kate was 5 and in Kindergarten. As it got toward Christmas, Kate started asking me if Santa was real again. The same trick that I tried the year before was clearly not going to satisfy a 5 year old Kate. After a few times of the answer, "you can believe what you want," Kate came to me and stated, "Mom, I need to know the truth. Is Heavenly Father real? Is Jesus real? Is Santa Claus real?" Well, given the introduction I told her the truth. I also told her that other little kids believe in Santa Claus and that is a fun thing so she could not tell other people. But the next day Kate brought Ruth to me. Ruth complained that Kate said Santa was not true. Before I could respond, Kate looked me in the eyes and said, "Mom you have to tell the truth." Now Ruth no longer believed in Santa Claus. Then Kate brought Johnny to me and said the same thing. So Santa Claus was all over for us very early  on.

Not too long after this, John came to me and said he was so glad that we were being honest with our kids and that he was glad not to be lying to them about Santa Claus anymore. I was totally shocked because John's family holds Santa Claus in very high reguard. It turns out that John as a 10 year old fifth grader had an argument with his entire class about Santa Claus. He believed still, and the clincher of his reasoning was, "I know that Santa Claus is real because my mom and dad told me he is, and they do not tell lies." Poor John. I guess he still felt a little upset about this whole thing.

Kate did not stop her crusade. She told her entire kindergarten class that Santa is not real. No one believed her, though. That following summer, John and I were confronted with an angry sister Mary because Kate told her 7 year old cousin, Elizabeth, that Santa was not real. I do not know if Lizzy believed Kate or not. Last year when I said to Adam, "Santa Claus is coming to town." Kate said, "Mom!!! You cannot tell lies. Now tell Adam the truth." I said, "Okay, Adam Santa Claus is just pretend." But for a boy who very thoroughly believes in monsters and talking dogs (Scooby Doo), no Santa Claus did not fly for him. Adam very solemnly declared, "Santa Claus is real and so is SCooby Doo." So that is where we are at. I think Kate has calmed down a bit on her crusade to rid the children of the "Santa Claus lie", and no matter what we tell Adam he believes that Santa Claus, monsters, and Scooby Doo are completely real and true.

Now fast forward to 2010  Kate wrote a letter to St. Nicholas stating, "I am sorry you are dead. What is heaven like?" Kate and Johnny have both had discussions about the historical figure, St. Nicholas. But then talk about how he never had magic and how he has been dead for a very long time.And how the current Santa Claus figure is pretty silly.

Now, Adam has declared that Santa Claus is not real. He knows this is true because Johnny told him. (I guess Johnny is held in high esteem with Adam.) Of course, Adam told Rachel that Santa Claus is not real. Rachel asked me if Santa was real, and I said sure. Adam said, "MOM--UM, Santa is NOT real." I said, Rachel, "Do you think Santa is real?" Rachel said she did. I told her that that was good.

I then had the conversation with Adam about how it is fun for little kids to believe in Santa Claus. I told him NOT to tell his kindergarten class. Of course, being my child, Adam has declared to his kindergarten class, his teacher, the lady at the grocery store and whoever else will listen to him at all, that Santa is not true. Then he will loudly declare that " the truth about Santa Claus is a secret, huh?" (I think we have trouble keeping secrets over here).

Rachel is just confused at this point, and I really doubt she will make it to next Christmas believing in the jolly fat guy. In fact, I expect to be posting in a year from now that Kate, Johnny, Adam, and Rachel have all told their kindergarten classes that Santa Claus is not real. Fortunately, no one believes them.

We put up our Christmas tree yesterday and since we can, we are all still wearing our pajamas. I am thankful for Thanksgiving break :)!