Greetings, readers
Do you know what I adore about the holidays? a custom. I am thus rerunning my regular column that was first published on December 23, 2021, which addresses the topic of Santa Claus, because I am, as required by tradition, off this week. I’ve updated this column since, as a parent of a 5-year-old, I now know a lot more about the topic.
Are you a kid that not only thinks Santa Claus exists, but also has internet connection and is proficient enough in reading to comprehend these terms? For heaven’s sake, stop reading and go find your parents!
Once more. Stop reading, Santa Claus believers. Eat a cookie, sing a Christmas carol, or do something else.
Happy Christmas!
To Lizzy,
Our family is not Santa. We have chosen not to tell our children that Santa gives them gifts on Christmas morning for a number of reasons. Even while we celebrate Christmas, we are not Christians (not that Santa is), and it seems like a weird lie to tell our children that we will have to take back eventually.
While other parents are often shocked that we are robbing our children of this childhood experience, our children could not care less about this. How can we gently let people know that this is our decision?
Apologies, Santa
I apologize, Santa.
Oh, a parent who is really similar to me!
To be completely honest with readers, I have no vested stake in this topic. This question arose after I wrote about my opinions about Santa and recently tweeted about it. I do, therefore, have an opinion.
I’m sorry, Santa. I’m glad you didn’t tell your children falsehoods about Santa Claus.
Getting presents from your parents is miracle enough, and I think the Santa story, that good boys and girls get the best presents from a mystery man, excludes poor kids, non-Christmas-observing kids and, honestly, just kids whose parents can t afford a Tickle-Me-Elmo-Super-Nintendo or whatever.
However, many adults become alarmed when I say this since it seems like a criticism of their decisions, which is unpleasant. I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Parenting is challenging enough.
I decide not to disclose Santa’s existence to my own child. I also fully believe it is a personal choice how people raise their own kids, as long as those kids are safe, and if someone wants to do Santa in their house, that s also totally fine by me.
The problem with being a Santa-isn t-real family is partly that other parents are worried your kids are going to tell their kids that Santa isn t real.
My daughter is 5 now and I recently overheared her talking with some other five-year-olds on the matter and it was an illuminating conversation.
Two of the kids knew the truth about Santa and they rather nonchalantly informed the third (we ve told her not to tell other kids but I don t think she could resist it when another kid brought it up and I chose not to intervene and make it a bigger deal than it already was).
The third kid, when told, said, Wow, that s crazy, and then moved on immediately.
That kid was totally unbothered and probably didn t even believe the other two. After all, these kids all still kind of believe in alicorns, mermaids and Elsa and say outlandish things all the time.
Just this morning my daughter looked me dead in the eye and said, Do you know what? I saw chickens sprouting butts!
The Santa thing was a short part of a longer conversation and they all moved past it quickly.
Previously, I had theories about how this would happen, but witnessing the actual thing gave me a new perspective: A kid can be told Santa isn t real a million times but they will probably still believe in Santa until one day they don t anymore.
And I already kind of knew this! My own daughter has been told the truth since birth but she s always been skeptical. She ll say: I met him though! (a mall Santa who she has been told is an actor) or How could you stay up that late? (good point).
Our culture is a very powerful force.
Still, I recommend not going into all that with stressed-out holiday parents just trying to make magic for their babies. After all, we are all doing our best with what we have, and don t forget climate change!
If someone asks you this, I would say, We don t do Santa but don t worry, my kids know not to spill the beans. Happy holidays!
Whether your kids will or won t is open for interpretation, but no need to go into all that either. Instead, go have a happy, honest holiday yourself.
Good luck!
Lizzy
Have a burning question? Send me an email [email protected] tweet@lizzzyacker! Or, if you want to ask me a question with total anonymity,use this Google form.
Read more Why Tho? here.
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