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.
7 Responses to “Santa”
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Yes, Christmas is a blast! My best Christmas present came the year my brother was born, and there was little money. We used to shop for groceries at the same store. I loved going because they had a teenager doll in a beautiful ball gown that my tiny little 8 year old heart lusted for. (Before Barbie dolls!) I knew I would never get it, because we did not have the money. I asked Santa anyway, just in case!
She was under our tree that year, along with a suitcase full of clothes. Mrs Claus must have been busy with her sewing maching many a late night! It was, without a doubt, the best Christmas. A baby brother and a teenager doll!
Merry Christmas!!
Okay, I agree with you on the hatred of the camper itself. On the other hand, I think it’s kind of cool that he picked this gift that is so obviously a replica of his family and their adventures together with camping, boating, campfires, etc. Merry Christmas, you guys!
Laura – that is exactly what my friend Kim said, too! It is pretty cool that he picked it. He found it in a catalogue he was flipping through… it got cut out and put on his Christmas Wish List collage he made with my Mom.
It really is a hard balance, though…
Definitely the camper as a reflection of the camping that you do as a family. And yes a 3 yr old can ask for the same thing over and remember it like every day. They are funny like that.
Best of luck with the markers my kids are banned from them I’m not sure how old they will have to be to be allowed the privilege of markers in the house again. Natalie however recently found one and colored the basement fridge.
Merry Christmas
That camper is awesome! I want one too. Maybe I’m missing the point of your post, but my idea of good Christmas gifts for the kids is lego and fishing rods. Yes, even one for Natalie.
I hope I’m able to recreate the magic of Christmas for Jack as well. That Christmas card is adorable. I wish I would have thought of that, with Santa in the back. That might be the one way I could’ve gotten photos of Jack with Santa this year. Oh well.
That’s also really funny about the camper. Such a cool little guy.
Candi – this Santa is The Best Santa Ever. We initially met him at Swiss Chalet last year on Halloween and he handed us his “card”. Him and his wife work out of a quiet, small mall in Nanaimo and they have a mailbox, and then reply to each letter dropped off individually. They make the letter specific to the kid, too! No form letters!
He is probably the slowest Santa on the planet because he refuses to force any kid to just leap up and take a picture. He lets every kid take as long as they need and if you’re standing in line, you have to suck it up. If you don’t suck it up, he will approach you and tell you that it isn’t about the parents and their timelines, but about the kids and he’s here for the kids. hee! I love it. He never, ever forces a kid to sit on his lap (he has armpads on the chair, because he figures no kid wants to sit on some strange man’s lap) he’ll go to the back to “feed the reindeer”, and the kids can sit in the big red chair. Then he peeks out for the picture.
I’m telling you, this guy and his wife rock. I’ve talked to him quite a lot, he actually claims to remember us and the kids, which is why I know so much.
Strangely, it is never busy when I go and get the kids pictures.