It's Beginning to Feel Alot Like Christmas...

Well, not really.  One of the perks living in the south is fairly moderate, but unpredictable weather.  We rarely have days below freezing and the thought of snow is almost laughable.  Today's high temperature will be in the 70's and that is just not Christmas weather.  It makes it so hard to get into the Christmas spirit.  It just doesn't feel like Christmas. 

Thanksgiving day we put up our Christmas tree.  It was fake, of course, and it is a pain in the butt to put up.  It's been in my family close to 20 years, but it is still a Christmas tree.  We used to have a real tree for Christmas.  My wife and I would spend hours looking for the "perfect" tree.  That used to start putting us in the mood for Christmas.  Ever since we moved back to where I grew up though, it's been a fake tree every year.  There's just something about a fake tree that doesn't do it for me.  It took us another three weeks to actually put lights on the tree an decorate it.  Again, another message that it just doesn't feel like Christmas.  We actually don't even have any presents under our tree because we are scared the kids are going to get into them.  It's actually kind of sad.  It's just not Christmas in our house yet. 

So, how do you get into the Christmas spirit when your walking around in shorts and a T-shirt, complaining about the heat, hating the tree that you see everyday, and not wanting to wrap presents?  I say you remember why we celebrate Christmas, be thankful that you're not dealing with three feet of snow, and just try to enjoy this special time of year with your family.  There will always be next year to get fully engulfed in the Christmas mood and it will be here soon enough.  So, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to everyone out there.  Remember the reason for the season and be thankful we've had another year. 

Santa Clause is Coming To Town or is He?

So, for several years now I have been dreading the time when my oldest would be subject to peoples cruel attempts to destroy her hope.  You see, I believe that hope and dreams in a child will grow and inspire them to do great things.  One of these dreams that I so desperately cling to and hope that she does as well, is the idea of Santa Clause.  Now, if you read me correctly, I said the idea of Santa Clause, not the actual person.  I believe in Santa Clause, what's wrong with that?

So, the other day, Random Girl tells me that one of the girls in her class told her that Santa Clause was fake.  What, she's in first grade.  I asked how she felt about that and what she said.  She told the other little girl that Santa Clause was real and she believed in him.  Whew!  My sigh of relief could have blown down the doors.  We got past the big one, this time. The seed of doubt has been planted though.  The part I have to figure out now, is how to keep the dream alive.

 

The question I have is why do parents feel the need to tell their children that Santa Clause doesn't exist.  I agree it's your child, tell them what you want, but they also need to know not to spread the word.  Don't crush my child's imagination and hope just because you don't believe.  If you take the idea of Santa Clause, it is about dreaming and hoping and pure innocence.  It's about random, selfless acts of kindness.  It's magical, not only to the kids, but to the parents that believe as well.  If you choose to twist it to be a strange man sneaking in your house in the middle of the night with magical reindeer, then that's your version.  Don't spread it around.  (By the way, his name is Santa, he lives at the North Pole, and you should expect him the same night every year.) 

To go right along with that, go ahead and tell your kids that all the Disney characters are fake, including the princesses and Mickey.  Tell them that all the cartoons they watch are a useless waste of their time, and that their blanket or stuffed animal that makes them feel safe, really won't do anything if someone comes to get them.  Make them understand reality as soon as possible.   Go ahead and get them a job, so they can start the 9-5 grind and be productive humans.  Stop all this foolish child stuff.

Sorry for the rant, but it is a touchy, and very personal subject for me.  I believe the root of a childs development and oppurtunity to thrive begins with dreams, hope, and imagination.  I grew up believing in Santa Clause and at no time did my parents feel the need to take that dream away from me.  I think I turned out pretty good and want to share that magic with my family.  It's all about perspective, I believe in Santa Clause, do you?