From my daughter’s very first Christmas, we have always told our children the truth about Santa Claus. This personal decision was based upon my own experiences and reaction to finding out the reality of this icon’s existence, which also symbolized the end of my idyllic childhood. My neighbor has warned me to be prepared for my daughter to tell me I have ruined her childhood by not making her believe in Santa, as her daughter did when she reached adulthood, and there are times we are confronted with this reality in our culture.
We live in a very small county with one weekly newspaper. It is tradition for the newspaper to print primary children’s letters to Santa. When this time of year comes around, I know what is going to happen at school with the Santa letters, and I have to prep my daughter not to tell other children what she knows about Jolly Saint Nick. I’ve debated opting her out of this assignment to write a letter asking for material possessions to be published in the paper, but this year, she surprised me. Here is the text of her letter:
Dear Santa,
First of all I have some things I want, so may I please have a Chincoteague pony. Then I would like a Japanese marbling kit. For my brother, I would like a ride-on backhoe trailer. For the planet, I would like people to drive cars that run off something that is not gasoline.
Your friend,
M******
I wonder how many other children will be asking Santa for gas-free cars…Perhaps we have a future Gas 2.O writer in our home.
You must be so proud! I hope Santa grants her wish.
Janelle, I hope so too!
We do believe in Santa in our house, I explain to my 8yo son and daughter that he is part of the magic of Christmas and that some families don’t believe, but ours does. They are figuring out how things work but at the same time keeping the fun for our younger ones. I adore Santa so I couldn’t do it any other way.
Your little ones letter is AMAZING. What a smart little bug you have. I’m sad to say my five kids (one of which is 16 now) didn’t ask for anything even remotely humanitarian or eco friendly. Well, a couple did request Organic Candy Canes, but that’s because they know nothing else will enter our house. 🙂
Good for you Mama, raising your child with a conscience.
What you have there is a very intelligent and feeling little girl who has expressed her understanding that, even if there really is not a person who is Santa Claus, it is a good thing to be able to express what you want and wish for in life. She also knows where that direct line to the North Pole really goes ;). May this special season of hope and good will bring joy to you and your family.
What an awesome kid!
Oh, man, my family about reported me to DCS when I told them we weren’t lying to our kid about Santa! Our strategy is to explain to our girls (4 and 2) that Santa is a pretend game that many adults like to play, too, and that on Christmas morning Momma and Dadda will have put out gifts for them and we’re all going to pretend that they came from Santa Claus.
We also role-play with our four-year-old, who’s in a half-day preschool, that because a lot of people like to pretend about Santa, it’s fun to talk about him to others as if he’s real–if someone asks her if Santa’s coming to her house on Christmas Eve, she should say yes, because we’re going to pretend that he is, and if someone asks her if she believes in Santa, she should say yes, because Santa is a game we play in our house.
Weird, I know, but I think it’s cool for kids to know that adults like to pretend, too, and Santa can be such a fun, imaginative game when you don’t have to worry about being sneaky about it.
Ha ha, that’s awesome Jen! You can send her on over to Gas 2.0 any day! We’re always looking for informed writers and it looks like she’s got more sense than most. Actually, now that I’m thinking about it, you think I could repost her letter on Gas 2.0? It might do really well over there 🙂
Nick,
Editor Gas 2.0
What a sweet letter! You must be proud of her. We also faced the “to tell or not to tell” issue around Santa… we have opted to promote the belief in Santa for our 2 young kids (while it lasts!). However, I commend you for setting up a more honest approach…I see good arguments both ways!
i hope santa grants her wish. but i think you’re pretty heartless for not letting your kid believe in santa.