There has never been a time in my life that I can recall ever thinking or believing that Santa was real. I never had a traumatic moment in my childhood where I found out that he was just a lovable guy in a red suit. Granted I grew up in a christian home and knew the real meaning of Christmas from an early age. I always just thought that Santa was a jolly character. No different from Frosty the snowman or Rudolph the red nosed reindeer. It was fun for us to get our picture taken with him. We would even leave cookies and milk out for him on Christmas Eve, knowing full well that My Dad would be the one eating the cookies and drinking the milk. It was just a fun thing to do around Christmas time. Christmas may be about different things for different people. But for me Christmas has always been and will always be about Jesus.
Brandon and I have been discussing lately how Christmas will be portrayed and celebrated for our children. Since this will be Jackson's first Christmas we want to start now in teaching him what it's really all about. We have both come to an agreement that we will not lie to our son and tell him that Santa is real. For what? Just so he can believe in something that seems lovely and magical for a few years before he's traumatized when he finds out from his friend at a play date that we lied to him. That's just not how we roll in this house.
So because it's Jackson's first Christmas, we bought him a book about the "First Christmas". It's about why we celebrate Christmas in the first place, Jesus' birth. We found it fitting. We will read it to him instead of reading him The Night Before Christmas. This is not to say that he wont have Merry Christmases with stockings and gifts and sugar cookies. He will just know the meaning behind it all from the beginning. Really, what more could a kid ask for!
7 years ago
3 comments:
Kyle and I have had the same conversation. I never believed Santa was real and never really even cared about Santa at all. It is so interesting to realize that we are setting the tone for how Mayah will view each holiday for the rest of her life. It is amazing to discuss how we want our traditions to be as we approach the holidays knowing that what we do will be what she remembers. We are also very excited to teach her the true meaning of Christmas. :)
What? Santa isn't real? I'm crushed! This can't be!
I taught my kids to believe in Jesus Claus. The best of both worlds you know.
JK.
Truth is good, and Jesus is truth. :)
Can you imagine what it's like for me? Having never celebrated Christmas growing up it was a very difficult process for Dylan and I to figure out the Santa thing. We are pretty much on the same page as you guys...getting his family to not push Santa was hard though. Thankfully after 4 yrs. we've gotten mostly figured out. I think it's great what you are doing. Oh, and I love your tree and decorations =)
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