Yesterday, I shared about how we told our kids about Santa.
I used to think there were only two options when it came to having Santa as a part of a Christmas celebration:
1. Either you do it
2. Or you don’t
It turns out, there are more options than that. As a family we have decided to share the truth about Santa, not take part of his festivities, but to talk about it, laugh about it, and have open conversation. Santa does not have to be a banned word in our house, as I used to think. Here is the framework of our truthful conversation about Santa.
1. Like Buzz and Woddy, Cinderella, or Snow White, Santa Clause is a pretend character. We can enjoy books and songs about Santa, but we know that it is for fun.
2. Some people call Santa, “St. Nick.” This is because a long time ago there was a man named St. Nicholas who gave gifts in secret to families who were in need. That was very nice of him and we also have the opportunity to give and serve others
3. You will probably hear your classmates talk about Santa. You don’t have to get in an argument if he is real or not, you can simply know that their mom and dad have not told them that it is make believe. You can also share that Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas.
We celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus. That is very exciting because he is God, coming to earth, to get to know you personally. Let this be the resounding message you share with your kids.
Question: How do you handle Santa in your family? Click here to comment.
It’s interesting you mention this, as my wife and I are discussing how we should handle this as a family. Our oldest is now 3, so we’re in the prime Santa years of our lives.
When my Dad told me Santa wasn’t real, he also told me about the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. The pillars of my world were shaken all at once. I asked him if Jesus was real. He laughed and answered yes. I was happy in a way that at least that was true, but I was confused at the same time.
I think that has my wife really worried about us going overboard with our kids about Santa. But to be honest, I don’t think it’s a big deal. I’d be concerned about telling them before they were socially responsible enough to not ruin it for other kids.
Yea, it’s crazy when Santa, the Tooth Fairy, and Easter Bunny all come crashing down. I hear your concern about the social responsibility in ruining it for others, but I do not want that to get in the way of me sharing truth with my kids. Their classmates will believe what they’re going to believe is the way I see it.
The more truth, the merrier.