My December Column

Thanks, but no thanks Santa
This time of year is full of family traditions. In our home some of them have been passed down from our families, like a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas, and pizza on Christmas Eve. My favorite traditions though are the ones we have come up with since we have been married, and in most cases, since we had the kids. Our newer traditions are reading the kids T’was Night Before Christmas before they go to bed Christmas Eve and reading them The Nativity Story before they open presents Christmas morning. One we started last year was my husband and the kids put up the Christmas tree while I am out doing some Black Friday shopping and I decorate it with the kids when he is at work on the Monday after Thanksgiving.
Our strangest tradition though is telling Santa not to visit. Don’t worry his feelings are not hurt. He has many houses to visit any he can skip saves him time and money. This was a decision we made shortly after getting married and years before having the kids. We were pretty sure that people would think we were off our rocker, but surprisingly we have met friends that do the same thing. We were shocked not to be alone in this decision. It was a little harder for Grandparents to get used to, but after a couple years they got on board too.
There were a few factors in making this decision. First, we wanted our children to know that Christmas was about the birth of Jesus and not about toys and candy. Second, I wanted to save them from the traumatizing year that comes to every child when they get too old for Santa. I personally was older than I like to admit and I was still traumatized. Third, it just makes life easier. No waiting in line at the mall, no sending letters, and no figuring out how he gets in our chimneyless house.
Of course, there are some drawbacks. Now that Katie is in preschool we will have to explain to her why Santa is visiting her friends and not her. Right now she doesn’t even know who he is. Last year she called him “Snowman”. We didn’t bother to correct her. Once she has it figured out we will then have to teach her not to tell her little friends. We certainly don’t want her to be the kid that . . . well you know.
We are happy with our decision. Our oldest at only 3 already knows why we celebrate this holiday and that brings great joy to our hearts.