The Truth, Santa, and other stories

It is that time of year ... it is almost Christmastime (as well as Winter Solstice, Chanukka, etc.) and all kinds of images and dressed up Santa Clauses are appearing in storefronts, magazines, TV, etc.  But, oh my ... what if my child asks me if Santa is real? What will happen if I tell the truth (which I want my child to do) and say, "No."  Will she be upset? Will he be mad at me for lying (one of many ways we parents do lie to our children)? Will my child ever forgive me for misleading him or her?  I was attempting to remember how our now adult girls reacted when they found out "the truth."  (I suspect they actually had figured it out before we told them, and maybe if they let on that they knew, then the presents wouldn't come.)  And I do recall Carolyn and I talking about what to say. What we came up with was something like this:

    "There is, and has been for a long time, a story about Santa Claus that parents have been telling their children for a long, long time.  Grandma Lotte and Grandpa Ben told the story to me and my brothers, and Grandma Becky and Grandpa Tom told the story of Santa to Carolyn, Uncle Alan, and Aunt Sue, when they were children, and their mommies and daddies told them about Santa when they were little, too. Can you imagine Grandma Lotte's daddy telling her about Santa Claus and reading "The Night Before Christmas?" to her?  Children have enjoyed this story about a jolly, friendly, roly-poly man who lives at the North Pole, and has elves making toys for children. And so, when you were little, we didn't say, 'Oh, it's just a story ... there isn't really any Santa Claus' - because we like the story too, and we, just like you, like to pretend, too.  So we give you presents and say that someone else did it.  It is fun for us, and we like Santa, too."  And then, with a twinkle in my eye, I could say, "And, if you didn't like a present, then we could always blame Santa!"

And they were totally satisfied (as I remember).  But they still pretended along with us.  Even today it's not uncommon for one of us to say, "Oh, that's from SANTA!"

 

So I'd say to you, parents: enjoy the all stories of life with your children, and don't get too serious, even about the ones you still believe!  Stories are the best way we have to relate to each other, to use our imaginations, and enjoy and share our history as well as create our future - together.  Read this for another story submitted by a reader.

Happy Holidays!!   Marty