Motherhood comes with a host of choices to make about what is best for you, your family, and your child. We at Alamo City Moms Blog have a variety of moms who want to embrace these choices instead of feeling guilty or judged for them! We are continuing our series, Perspectives on Parenting, with a look at Santa Claus.
Make sure you check out out other perspectives on this topic from Inga, who has never pretended Santa was real, and Katy, who struggles with the “Santa Conundrum”.
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I. Love. Christmas.
I love that there are certain songs, movies, stories, and food we save for this special time of the year. Jessica Simpson’s ReJoyce: The Christmas Album is usually the first in my CD player (don’t judge), and Pandora is set to the Straight No Chaser Holiday station as we pull out the Christmas decorations. We watch Elf at least five times in December (“Buddy the Elf, what’s your favorite color?”) and always wrap up Christmas night with The Muppet Christmas Carol. I look forward to singing Christmas carols at church and special candlelight services as we honor the birth of our Savior. And did I mention all the cookies?! We travel to see family and friends across the country, and I can even handle the snow in Iowa for a few days at Christmas, as it adds a little magic of its own.
It’s going to be hard to top last year when we brought our baby girl home on Christmas Day! Even though this isn’t technically Audrey’s first Christmas, it’s the first time she’ll get to really enjoy the magic of it. I’m excited to watch her tear open gifts…and then play with the wrapping paper and boxes. I look forward to her playing with cousins she doesn’t see often and reading The Christmas Story with Papa. She’s too young this year, but soon she’ll make cookies for Santa, leave an apple for Rudolph, and wake up extra early Christmas morning and rush to the tree to see what Santa Claus left for her during the night.
The decision whether or not to “do Santa” in our home has been really more of a given for us. Hubby and I both grew up with wonderful Christmas memories involving Santa Claus, so including Santa in our Christmas traditions with Audrey was never in question. Actually, when I started thinking about writing this post I asked my husband something along the lines of “where do you stand on the whole Santa thing for Audrey?” His response was a blank stare, so when I explained why I was asking he simply said, “Go, Santa!”
Some choose not to include Santa Claus in their Christmas celebrations for a number of reasons, and there really is no wrong or right answer when it comes to your own family’s traditions. I do sometimes worry that Santa could detract from the real reason we celebrate Christmas, but I also strongly believe that Santa adds magic and excitement to Christmas without diminishing our celebration of Jesus’ birth. Celebrating Audrey’s birthday just before Christmas will always be a reminder of the true reason for the season.
Consider what Santa Claus, or Saint Nicholas at his origin, has historically represented: generosity. Taking care of the poor. Kindness. Helping others. Fellowship with family, friends, and neighbors. Aren’t these the teachings of Jesus, too? In the third century Saint Nicholas acted on Jesus’ words to “sell what you own and give to the poor,” using all of his parents’ inheritance to help others. He asked for no recognition but to give thanks to God and help others in need. Now, don’t misquote me here: I’m in no way suggesting that St. Nick = Jesus. I’m just saying that Santa is on the same team, promoting the same selfless generosity and good will towards others. Although the original Saint Nicholas has seen quite the transformation into the fat jolly guy in the red suit we know today, with the right focus Santa Claus can help kids celebrate Jesus’ birthday by giving them a tangible, relatable way to grasp the spirit of Christmas: giving, not getting.
Santa Claus can play as big or small a role in your family’s Christmas traditions as you wish. For my family, Santa will be the bearer of good things. Although I love the classic song about Santa “making a list, checking it twice, gonna find out who’s naughty or nice,” I’m not sure I want to teach Audrey that Christmas gifts must be earned. Maybe Santa will bring the thrilling, jumping-up-and-down-screaming-with-excitement gift, or maybe he will come and fill the stockings with small surprises. Either way, our Santa Claus will give out of love, just as Saint Nicholas gave selflessly, expecting nothing in return. I don’t want her to think of Santa as some all-seeing man who keeps a list of her faults and good deeds. And, let’s be honest: the whole notion of “he sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake” is a little creepy if you ask me!
How will I answer inevitable questions about coming down the chimney and getting to every kid in the world in one night thing? Simple: magic. Magic can accomplish a lot, and as long as Audrey wants to believe in magic Santa will be real to her. Is it a lie? I believe it’s a tradition passed from one generation to the next. At some point every child will begin to question magic from stories, movies, and their imaginations. Then his or her belief in Santa Claus will transition from “Santa at the North Pole” to “Santa as a symbol of generosity and kindness.” To impress upon older children the importance of generosity, consider taking part in local charities such as Elf Louise, Adopt a Hero, or SAMM ministries by donating toys, money, or better yet, your time. A concrete experience of wrapping toys, organizing clothes, or serving food makes a more permanent impression than choosing a few old toys to drop off.
I am reminded of Frances Church’s famous 1897 editorial in the New York Sun, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.” (If you’ve never read it in its entirety, find it here.) Church so movingly captured the spirit of Santa Claus, saying, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.”
However you celebrate this Christmas season, may your days be filled with love, generosity, a little bit of magic, and the highest beauty and joy!
Well thought out, Katie! Well written!