A few weeks ago, I learned that a publication I work on was putting together a story about telling your kids that Santa isn’t real. The other day, I was sitting with friends who were discussing a similar subject. There are blogs about this idea and advice for breaking the news … It just goes on and on.
You know what I think? I don’t think you should break the news to your kids. Ever.
Why? Well, I don’t think Santa is a lie per se. Sure, there might not be a man in a red suit running an elf company at the North Pole. And heck, Santa might not even really travel by sleigh to homes all over the world on December 24.
However, once you get beyond the image (an image that I adore, I might add), what do you have? You have the spirit of the season – the spirit of Santa. It’s about giving. It’s about perpetual hope. It’s about family and caring and doing things because you want to, not because you have to.
Sure, Christmas might be a little commercial these days. The commercials barrage our children into thinking that they need the newest Barbie playset. But it’s not about the stuff. It’s about thinking beyond our selves and teaching our kids to do the same.
So, no, I won’t be telling my kids that there is no Santa. And yes, I still do believe. Santa is as much real for me now as he was when I was a child.
I also believe that at this time of year, I should give back in some way. That’s why I donated my residual earnings from a website that I used to write for to a dog-rescue organization. And that’s also why I happily gave money to buy presents for the family that my son’s class adopted this year. Tonight, I will bake for hours for my husband’s boss and employees. I don’t have to. But I want to.
Do you believe?
December 25th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
I do believe! Merry Christmas! I am in the car on the way to CT, and taking time to visit my favorite bloggy friends and wish them the best this holiday. I think the magic is still alive in the season.