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Lorraine
EricaBeing a parent at Christmas is way more stressful than I’d ever imagined. The thing is, I’m struggling with the whole Santa scam. Before the little ones came along I assumed the most difficult part of it was not getting caught putting the presents out on Christmas Eve when you’ve had a bit too much Christmas cheer. Oh no, it’s way more involved than that. The responsibility of having to keep ‘The Secret’ is weighing on me – imagine the guilt if you slipped up and let the presents out of the bag that Santa was er well …. NOT!
The tangled web of deceit around Santa, woven in the weeks leading up to the big day (and starting far too soon for my liking – Christmas should be under wraps until Dec 1st as far as I’m concerned) is complex and hard to keep up with. Santa’s legend is riddled with holes. I’ve had to think quickly to side step the following potential Santa exposés:
- We encourage the kids to make a Christmas wish list and send it to Santa. With TV ads, store catalogs and the internet to drool over and draw inspiration from the lists are usually L-O-N-G. We then explain at least 3 times per day that they can’t expect everything on their list; Mommy and Daddy don’t have THAT much money. “But they are from Santa, not Mummy and Daddy” retort the kids. “Mommy and daddy still have to pay Santa for the presents” is the only answer I can come up with – and so another magic sparkle is extinguished.
- Things from their wish list get bought by nanny and granddad, their siblings, their auntie. How does this work? Santa tells them what you want and lets them buy some gifts as he can’t carry too much in his sleigh.
- Despite the efforts of the family members to lighten Santa’s load, how can he possibly carry all those gifts for all the children in the world on a sleigh? “It’s magic”. Lame answer, but it suffices.
- We have no chimney, so how will Santa get in? We purchased a special “Santa Key” which allows Santa access to apartments and modern houses without fireplaces. Personally I think this is a safer route of entry for a rotund, elderly gentleman to take and therefore a modern update to the tale I’m happy to adopt.
- Lego City Police Station, the #1 gift on the 5-year-old’s wish list was sold out everywhere. I broke into a sweat. How do we explain this? With Santa’s magical powers, surely he can deliver in such circumstances. I started weaving another deceitful tale that dentist wannabe, reluctant elf Hermey was allocated to make this particular toy and therefore stocks in Santa’s workshop are low. (Meanwhile we contacted a relative in the States to get us one and mail it over at great expense.)
- Why are the presents delivered by Santa wrapped in the same paper as those under our tree? He obviously goes to the same shops and has the same taste in wrapping paper as Mommy.
But why am I having to dodge all these pitfalls and fabricate answers to all these questions? I don’t remember asking such questions when I was a kid – I just accepted the magic. I think perhaps the ubiquitous nature of Santa these days is to blame for us having to dodge and weave our way through the festive season. When he was a mysterious, rarely – if ever – seen, character it was easy to believe in his powers. He was magical and that’s all we needed to know. Now, go to any mall and he’s there; go to any large department store (even in the same mall) and he’s there; go to any school fayre or Christmas party at mommy or daddy’s work and he’s there. After seeing Santa at the Christmas fayre my 5-year-old remarked that he must have been one of Santa’s helpers as he didn’t seem like the real deal. Good idea kid – I quickly noted that one down to use on my 2-year-old when the time comes.
Filed under: Parenting Tagged: | Family, Motherhood, Parenting, Santa
Oh eternal questions, aren’t we glad we are the parents of such children. I have 2 girls, nearly 6 and nearly 2 and like you we have to dodge (make up answers) too.
1. Mummy and Daddy send Santa the money because there is now so many children in the world that Santa can’t afford to make/buy all the toys.
3. Santa can be seen travelling around the world on the Norad website – seems to ensure that cynicism stops
4. Santa has magic that can get him through the smallest chimney and allows him to open any door ( I think it might be like a skeleton lockpick thingy!)
6. Santa has all the wrapping paper in the world at his fingers and obviously he has good choice!
To ensure that my 6 (going on 16 yearold) believed in santa we sent her the portable santa video and she truly believes now!
I’ve been following my mom’s lead on a lot of things, like the wrapping paper (we have one separate roll for Santa presents, and of course, I disguise my handwriting on the tags)
Other than that, I just say that Santa is just magical, and I don’t understand magic either. Must be a secret.
And when it comes to the list, I tell my kids they won’t get everything they want, and to let me and Santa know what they want the most. I never have allowed the expectation of getting everything they want to pervade the household, though they certainly think it sometimes! LOL. But after all, there are many children in the world, and Santa has to provide toys for all of them – he can’t give everyone a huge long list of toys!
[...] The Trouble with Santa [...]
Well our first Christmas with 2 month old baby almost caused divorce! Our FC traditions had been very different. My husbands side had all the family presents delivered to Santa who then brought them. My side Santa brought his own presents which to me and my memories of childhood were more magical.
I won, but it’s not been easy to keep it up with hubby’s side saying different things! 8 year old still believes, but not in the dressed up people he sees at fayres. I too have a separate stash of Santa wrapping paper (cheaper, more gaudy and bright). Hubby thinks its all silly (he was youngest of 3 boys and didn’t believe for long), but the faces of the boys on Christmas morning is magical and worth the pretence (to me!).
Lists – we’ve always been clear that they don’t get what they want “FC has so many children in the world he gets what he can”. FC uses charity shops which helps lots of people. As they tell everyone what’s on their lists they get some of it. FC tends to bring things that they’ve mentioned during year, or taken an interest in, which spreads the costs.
I don’t feel I’m living a lie. Just spreading the magical gift of giving and love at Christmas. Just about to start my special wrapping – sloe gin in hand, what a better start to me feeling festive!
I never even ASKED my mom. I don’t know how I figured it out. Maybe I never did.
Shoot. This post should have been labeled, “Spoiler alert!”
Merry Christmas!
I buy special paper that only santa will use, that solves number 6!
why not just tell them the truth; mom and dad worked hard for their presents because they love them very much.
We jhave always told our kids that Santa does NOT actually bring all the game systems, computers and other expensive electronics.
Santa is a traditionalist and the elves are too- they only make, and Santa only brings – ‘real’ toys.
So he brings 2 gifts per child, and mom and dad each give them a gift as well.
They also get a pair of fun jammies (at 12, 15 and 21 they still want the jammies!) and a book.
The stockings have small toys and ‘neat’ treats.
They know that some years mom and dad can do more than others – but they treasure the gifts from ‘Santa’ – the ‘real’ toys.
Oh, and we use Santa paper too- any paper with Santa on it, lol- our wrapping paper is anything BUT, so that saves me forgetting which paper Santa used last year !
(kids have WAY better memories than we do on that)