Christmas thoughts and traditions

Christmas is almost here and I can hardly contain myself! I am really looking forward to decorating for it and I have even allowed Christmas music in the house before Thanksgiving. I love the spirit and the joy that fills the world when we think about the true meaning of the holiday and not the commercialized version. And I am really excited to see my family in a few weeks and spend some quality time with my dear. Anyway, I was talking to my mom on the phone last night and we started talking about Santa Claus. I tried telling her this story I found from another blog {Bringing Lady Back}, but I really didn't do it justice. In case something happens to the other blog, I want this story here so I can remember it when the time comes for me because I love it so much.

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"My husband and I have discussed that we don't want to lie straight out to our kids, but we do want to create special memories for them. Santa Claus, Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, etc, all inclusive. Where do we draw the line?

A friend of ours was so devastated when she learned the truth about Santa Claus, she swore she would never lead her children to believe in something that didn't exist. I truly can't say that I blame her. I remember when I found out about Santa, I just felt stupid. As in, really, really gullible. And very irritated at myself that I had fallen for it so long.

So, after hearing my friend's story {which was truly heartbreaking. The whole story left me with a hole in my heart}, and thinking back to my own experience, I began to fret. I started thinking, "I don't want to lie to my kids! I want them to know that they can ask me anything and I will tell them the truth and I will never lead them astray."

But we were already into it with Hailey! She believed, and she was adorable. Spotting Rudolph in the sky, waking to the treats the elves would leave her during the week leading up to Christmas, and she just plain loved the idea of Santa Claus.
 

Two years ago, Hailey asked for a teddy bear. She wanted a teddy bear because she'd lost her other one. That was all she wanted. An 8 year old girl asking for a teddy bear. Does that even happen anymore? Moms from her school were naming off their children's lists, and I listened to the desires of all of these kids. I was shocked! Cell phones? iPods? BMWs? {okay. exaggeration.} Really though? 8 YEAR OLDS???

In the middle of the insane wants of her peers, Hailey was unashamed to ask for a teddy bear. And I love her so much for it. I can't describe the amount of love that swelled in my heart for my humble little girl when she made that request.
 

On Christmas morning, she got her teddy bear. She hugged that thing for what seemed like forever before moving on to anything else. When she did get around to emptying her stocking, she found a note from Santa. He told her that he was so proud of her for what a good girl she had been throughout the year. She had been such a big helper for mommy and daddy. She helped out so much with David & Nora, without even being asked. She was obedient, kind, friendly, and loving to everyone she knew. He was also amazed that she was happy to ask for only a teddy bear. He told her that she of course earned her teddy bear, but that He thought she deserved a bit more. He told her she had a surprise waiting for her on the back patio, and that she should go look right then.

Waiting for her was a brand-spankin' new, pink, beautiful bike (and helmet). The look on her face was priceless. To see the humility in her expression as she read the letter, then the excitement light up her eyes when she peeked through the blinds of the back door... Magic happens on Christmas Day, I tell you. She was so happy, and so thrilled to have had her good deeds recognized, without ever expecting them to be.

The awesome thing? She loved and still loves that teddy bear just as much as the bike. She leaves me in awe.

A few days after Christmas, Hailey asked, "Mom, is Santa real?"

Hm.

"Why do you ask?"

"Well, in my stocking at Daddy's house, there was some lip gloss that had a sticker on it from the store."

Ah. Nice.

"Let's sit down and talk about it."

We sat and cuddled on the couch. I said a silent prayer for guidance. I started.

"Santa is real, but he doesn't live at the North Pole, he doesn't have elves that make his toys, and he doesn't have a sleigh with flying reindeer. Santa is a tradition that lives in the hearts of parents all over the world.

The tradition of Santa Claus allows parents the opportunity to create magic for their kids anonymously. {"What's anonymously?" "Without them knowing. Like, when we bake cookies and drop them off at our neighbors and you run away? That's anonymous." "Oh."}

Didn't you feel the magic when you came out every morning and found the treats the elves left in your shoes? "Yes!"

And when you found your sweet teddy bear?

And then, when you read that note you found in your stocking?

And, most of all, when you found that you had a bike waiting for you in the back?

"Yes!"

And do you remember how good it made you feel to leave cookies on people's doorsteps?

"Yes!"

It makes parents feel good to see their children so happy.

That is what the tradition of Santa Claus is all about. It's another way for parents to show children they love them, and add a bit of magic into the mix."

We discussed that it is not up to her to tell anyone else about this tradition; it is for the parents to decide when they tell their kids. {I still feel badly about ruining it for my dear friend Amy!}

We also discussed how the magic of the tradition is the same with the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny. Parents are performing acts from the heart.

At that point, Hailey looked up at me, smiled her sweet smile and said, "You must have the biggest heart in the whole wide world."

Um. I love her.

Then, we discussed that she can ask me anything and everything and I will always tell her the truth.


To be safe I told her Jesus Christ is real, that He lived on Earth and that He will come again. I told her He truly performed miracles and does to this day.

I told her I love her and I am so proud to be her mother.

And I told her since she now knew, she would be able to help create magic for her younger siblings. She was ecstatic!

I was so happy it went so well, and she was so receptive to the message I was trying to convey. I hope it goes as smoothly with the others when it's time. I hope I can help our other children understand the tradition of Santa. We may need to go about it differently with each. It will be interesting to see things unfold as they get older.

In the meantime, I'm all for magic. "