I used to think people were very radical and extreme when they chose for their children to not believe in Santa. I can even remember joking with my friend Julie, "Well, can you just make sure your kid doesn't tell my kid the truth?".
So it would only be fitting, or humbling, that I find myself struggling with the same thing.
I had been thinking about it for a while starting a few months ago when Amelia was asking me these crazy deep questions about Jesus. I was so amazed by the things she thought to ask me about and even more so with how easily she believed me when I answered her. I wondered then, in the mind of a four year old, what is the difference between Santa and Jesus. I mean, they are both these things you have to believe in without seeing, and at age four rely mostly on the what your parents tell you.
As the holidays approached, I just quit thinking about it, deciding to cross that bridge when we got there.
On Sunday in the line waiting for Santa, Amelia informed the people ahead of us that, "There is only one Jesus and there is only one Santa!" At this confident exclamation, I began wondering about the whole thing again.
Of course I have both voices in my head. I believed in Santa Clause. I never felt betrayed when discovering the truth. I never felt my parents were awful liars. Never once in my seven year old world did I ever have the thought, "Well if Santa isn't real than I guess Jesus must not be either". I mean, what seven year old would even do that? I'm sure this isn't something that regularly happens. So, why do I feel so torn about painting this facade for my children? Bizarre.
Lately, my response to Amelia's every Santa question has been, "Yes, that's what the storybooks say!" Somehow, that feels like my solution at this point.
What about you guys, Santa or No Santa? Chime in!
5 comments:
Santa.
How about this Beverly...having Santa teaches kids to believe in something greater than ourselves, all-knowing, and powerful, and as kids we believe with abandon. When my kids find out that Santa isn't real, I plan to tell them that Jesus gave us Santa (I know there's pagan roots or something but I'm ignoring that) to teach us as children, how to believe in something we don't see and to show us how it feels to believe in something so great and how fervently he wants us to believe in Him, etc....i.e. like we did in Santa as children. Bottom line - Jesus gave us Santa as children to teach us the concept of faith!
This may be totally whack, but thats my story, and I'm sticking to it. Hehe -Sara
Hey Bev,
I'm with you in the struggle. Our son is almost three, and we aren't teaching Santa. When he asks about the cultural Christmas traditions, we're doing the same thing about storybook, pretend, make-believe. They are so trusting, and he really does seem to believe there's something magical about this man even though we don't push that at home. I think it's even more troubling to mix the cultural traditions with the Christian tradition because it's setting up a deep problem that American evangelicalism is suffering from. The Church in America is too wed to the dominant culture, and the story of Santa really does begin all of that.
That being said, will we just let him believe if the culture teaches him to??? We'll just have to see what next year brings. But we know we won't pretend and push it as questions are asked and our children grow. Good questions to ask.
Oh, just saw that the name came up as my blog. This is Elizabeth Lott, by the way.
Beverly! I'm so glad Amelia enjoyed the clips!
I'm really enjoying your blog. You have such funny little things that happen to you and your family. It makes me look forward to when Hazel is talking and discovering the world in new ways. Have a wonderful Christmas! Oh...and I think Santa is harmless when he is presented in a home that has a stronger and primary emphasis on Jesus Christ...such as yours!
I think imagination and fantasy are important aspects of being a child; there is plenty of time for the realities of this world to hit them!
love, anna
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