Santa

So. This Santa thing? I’d just like to take a moment and give my Mom some serious kudos because I was a believer. I believed in Santa with my whole heart, I had no doubts. I heard bells on Christmas Eve and reindeer on the roof yet my Mom assures me that no one got up on the roof, and no, they didn’t stand outside my window and ring bells, either. That was just wishful thinking on my part, but it was magical. Everything about Santa Claus was magical to me.
In fact, I still believed when my younger sister figured out the whole sham. They told her not to tell me. Of course she told me and yes, I was crushed. However, leprechauns were still fair game and I believed in them for several more years because WE CAUGHT ONE in Kindergarten. heh.
The tooth fairy also used to write me letters and draw pictures of her castle in the sky. My Mom was good. Real good.
I really want to create that magic for my own kids. I know a lot of people can?t tolerate that we lie to our children, or understandably, their connection to Christmas if they have one at all is a spiritual one and not some fat man handing out presents to greedy little children. My own connection is the magic, and it was more than just getting free presents, but the time spent with family, the music, even the once-a-year church going. Yes, we were those church-goers. If I could talk Steve into going to the Christmas Eve service at my grandma?s church, I might still do it. I love all the love and giving.

Unfortunately the problem with me is that I talk, a lot, and um, I?m not exactly a discreet person. I?ll basically tell you anything you want to know. The problem with having me as a mother, and Callum as the son is that he is listening to everything we say, plus he’s clever. This is tricky.
The other problem is that I?m trying really hard to curb the consumerism in our home. I?m trying to reduce our trash, I?m trying to pay attention to what I?m buying, and I didn?t want Christmas to become overwhelmed with useless ?stuff?. When you add all this to my disdain for anything plastic and the weird thing I have with children?s toys, well, it makes finding the right gift difficult.
What is even more difficult is that Santa decided several months ago that he was leaving my kids a toddler piano. Sadly, Callum didn?t ask for a piano. No, he asks for the same thing every_single_time and it is most certainly NOT a piano. He wants this ? a plastic Playmobil camper and markers. That camper makes me want to shot myself in the head. I hate that camper. I hate that it?s mass-produced. I hate that it?s plastic. I hate that it has small pieces that Claire is going to eat and that will inevitably get lost, or even worse, be left lying around and I?ll step on them.
On a positive note, Santa picked up the markers. On sale even.
First of all, what 3-year old consistently asks for the same damn thing? Is that normal? Does anyone know? I swear to God my list was 5 pages long and I never asked for the same thing twice. This, I suppose, is the difference between Callum and I, he being thoughtful and reflective and me leaning more towards air headedness.
Second of all, why? Why the fascination with this camper? Santa hates me?
The other day we had a Children?s Christmas Party at Steve?s office and Santa showed up. Callum was enthralled and was so excited to get a present. He opened his gift from Santa, a set of 4 puzzles, and you could see those gears turning in his little head. He didn?t ask for puzzles. He asked for a marker and a campsite. He promptly turned around and stood in front of Santa, holding out the gift as if to say ?dude, you?ve made a mistake, I didn?t ask for this?.
Eventually he accepted that Santa must have known that he does, in fact, enjoy puzzles. You know, after I told him Santa must have known that he liked puzzles and it was time to suck it up.
Still, there is a magic in watching a 3-year old imagine the wonders of Santa, and I’m getting a real kick out of listening to his questions and ideas. This morning he told me that Papa and him were going to go out to the shop to get some wood, nails and a hammer in order to make our chimney bigger so that Santa would fit. I told him Santa had diamond dust and could magically enlarge the chimney, AND we had a magical key we could leave at the front door. A modern day Santa has options you know, but Callum was undeterred. A bigger chimney was a must so Santa could get down it with that camper he?ll be dropping off.
He also wanted to know if Santa was like a star in the sky, and we’ve spent a considerable amount of time on imaginary trains driving to the North Pole to feed the reindeer apples and carrots. Add to that the constant asking if it’s Christmas yet, and what is Santa doing right now. How about now? Do you think Santa is making my present now?
The magic is in air?
at least it will be right up until Christmas morning comes along and that camper isn?t sitting under the tree.
I?m not all evil, great-Grandma picked up the camper. She?ll be the hero, besides, Callum has already decided that Santa let Grandma know he wanted that camper so his bases are covered.