One of my favorite parts of the holiday season are our visits to Santa. It’s that little reminder that magic really *does* exist, and that the innocence of children is right there in front of us. The above is a compilation, in order, of our Santa visits from 2012 (taken yesterday) back to 2005. The only year that is missing is 2008, which still pains me. Madeline didn’t appear in the 2009 shot because after my third attempt to get a picture of her with Santa (you can read more about it here), she was not having it, so it ended up being just Nick by himself. I’m going to have to dig up the 2002-2004 pictures and scan them (I know they don’t exist online yet since I didn’t start blogging until 2005), so I can have everything in one place and add to the collage easier.
For some reason, Nick is wavering on his non-belief of Santa this year. I don’t know why, and, of course, have to be careful how I question it, but I’ll take it. The year before last, he asked a ton of questions about Santa, so I was suspecting that last year would have been the last year that he believed. Then, one day during school last December, another Mom was in his classroom helping the teacher with an activity. And in the midst of a full room of fourth graders she announced, “You guys don’t still believe in Santa, do you?”
He came home, questioned the dickens out of me, and I came clean. As he gets older, I know there is a fine line between letting your kid still believe in magic (as much as I want them to) and them being too old to believe and being made fun of because none of their friends do. So while I was prepared for last year to be the last year anyway because of all the questioning, I wasn’t prepared for the news to come from a careless remark from another mother. There were a lot of parents answering a lot of questions that afternoon, and I was disappointed to say the least.
Whether he believes or not, his sister certainly does. This Santa, and the one that calls our house during the holidays, has long since been designated as “the real Santa,” and all the other ones are “helpers.” We try to go to this Santa every year because I like the consistency in the pictures. And also because it’s run by the Rotary Club, so is a fundraiser for them and very inexpensive for me (as in a $5 donation versus the outrageous prices that mall Santas charge).
Madeline kept peeking in the glass door, while we were waiting for our turn. Once it was, we went into the small, cozy Santa house, and Santa asked them how they had been behaving and what they wanted for Christmas. Nick went first, followed by Madeline. Each of them had clearly practiced their wish list requests, as they carefully recited things one by one. Although very specific, the lists are short. Our visit ended with candy canes, a quick picture, and promises from the kids of an early bedtime on Christmas Eve so Santa could get down to business.
(Christmas Lists coming soon…).
Tomorrow? A review on a new grilled cheese restaurant!
And tomorrow? (Double post!) A new craft box option.
Thursday? A new recipe for Gazpacho Salad!
Friday? A review on a new art exhibit!
Saturday? Christmas Lists 2012!
Sunday? I might skip the Weekend Photos in Review in lieu of the kitchen Christmas tree post. New tree this year! And a few fun new additions to the tree as well.
I can’t believe that other mother did that!!! I mean, seriously?
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This year Dan stood away from Santa who had Nick on his lap. Dan was headed towards Santa’s lap but the Santa staff picked the moment we walked up to be distracted by something else for just long enough for Dan to think about what was about to happen. Dan was chewing on his fingers. We tried to get another picture without his fingers in his mouth but he wasn’t having it. I was just thrilled he was in the picture.
But, I probably mentioned this before, I am not a fan of the whole Santa thing. Fantasy is fine but keeping up the Santa myth requires too much blatant lying for my tastes. And, as your post illustrates, I am not only required to keep up the myth for my child, I have to keep it up for every other child, until what ever age their parents deem appropriate, which can be 3 or 30.
Agree on the blatant lying. Not a fan of it, but as a long-time reader, you know I like the fact that kids can believe in magic. Harsh reality of the real world will hit them soon enough! Heck, as adults, we could use a little belief in magic too! I think deep down he knows Santa isn’t real anymore, but is afraid to not believe.