The Great Santa Debate

My 11 year old son came to my husband and I the other day, and announced that he knew there was no such thing as Santa Clause.  And further, that he knew it was just us, acting like Santa.  To which, my husband chuckled, saying that “Us” was not completely accurate—since it’s generally just myself.

Most people I talk to remember how they found out this disturbing truth.  Personally, I was 6 years old, and came home crying to my mother, asking if it was true.  My parents had gone out of their way to keep the dream alive for as long as possible. They had special paper that only came from Santa’s Workshop.  No matter how late I stayed up, or early I got up, I never caught them putting out the gifts.  The cookies and milk were always nibbled and sipped. And there was always a present or two that I hadn’t told them about—only written in my letter to Santa Clause.

I was devastated for weeks!  For some reason this realization was very traumatic to me, and I never forgave the neighbor boy who had the audacity to share such depressing news with me.

I carried on the same farce with my own son for many years.  I even added the tidbit of having “Santa” write a thank you note to Brandon for the cookies and milk!  He had a blast, and loved to get up every Christmas morning and run around to check that the cookies and milk had been consumed, and see what Santa had written, even before checking out his stocking or the presents.  When he first came to me a few years back, asking if Santa Clause was real, I wrote a children’s story for him, discussing how “Santa” had more to do with the Giving Spirit, than the physical manifestation of St. Nicholas.  He didn’t ask again for a couple of years…until now.

I was personally saddened to see his innocence end, but at least he was able to come by it more naturally.  But the poor boy has been sworn to secrecy, not to tell any one else, and ruin their fun.  Plus he’ll have to keep up the party-line with a younger sibling on the way, including writing letters to Santa Clause and acting surprised and excited on Christmas morning.  And truth be told, I’ll miss being the Jolly Ol’ Elf for him—it’s always been fun for me to offer him that little pleasure.

For everyone who learned the hard truth too early, and all of us who love to keep the story going for our children, I say again, that St. Nicholas is alive in the Giving Spirit that we are willing to share with others!  Merry Santa-ing to all!