A Visit With Santa
I have a feeling this may be one of our last visits to the guy in the red suit. I can’t believe it since Declan is only 5, but he is starting to figure things out – especially after our discussions about imagination and lying.
Last week we were sitting at the dinner table, talking about Santa, what the kids at school were saying about him… and while looking me straight in the eye, he said:
“Mama, do YOU think Santa is real?”
Holy cats. Talk about a crisis moment. Do I lie? After all this talk about NOT LYING? Do I tell the truth and crush this beautiful fantasy, a fantasy that we’ve barely even begun to enjoy?
I said, “I think he pulls off some pretty amazing things.”
Aimee: 0, Cheap evasive maneuvers: 1.
Apparently my words were enough for him, because the subject died until this evening – when we went to the mall – and our own version of a Christmas miracle happened: the line was short!
We asked Declan if he wanted to see Santa and he nearly peed his pants – telling me: He. still. believes.
So we have this year, at least.
So, what did he ask for, after all that?
One of these:
No Wii, no Heelys, no Transformer Megatron Killing Machine… just a string of letters saying “happy birthday” that cost $1.99.
I seriously love my kid.
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P.S. The photo above is from Bryan’s phone because their picture was fairly crappy. Don’t get me started on the “Overpriced Crappy Santa Photo Plus Stupid Ass Borders” epidemic that has taken over every mall in America. What the hell is that about? I see your equipment, people! It makes me want to take over and change the settings and the lights to get your customers at least SOMETHING close in value to what they are paying! Sheesh!
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I love that he wants a birthday sign for Xmas!!!
well are you getting him the sign or wha?
Babs, duh, already boughted.
There’s no Santa? What the f$&@?
awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!! so cute and adorable 🙂
My five year asked, “Mom, you are buying so much stuff…what’s Santa going to bring?”
“Uh, Santa brings gift only for kids, this stuff is for the grown ups.”
Whew!
i love how the photographer in you came out and showed her claws. 😉
That is a seriously cute photo and the fact the quality of it is not so good makes it all Christmassy misty in a fuzzy sort of way.
This photo is beautiful … so innocent.
“Happy Birthday” … Jesus =)
That is such a cute photo.
The rule at our house growing up – as long as you believe, he’ll keep coming. I never questioned. Same goes for my kids.
That’s the best Xmas present ever!
I think your answer was perfect!
That picture is sweet. I think he’ll be good for another year at least of “believing”!
What a cute picture!
I only remember seeing Santa myself once when I was little and was terrified. Never did take my kids to the “store” santas… they didn’t seem interested.
They certainly kept the myth alive for the youngest of them all, though… as a matter of fact, we still have a few “santa” gifts that manage to pop up. 😉
Adorable photo!
love it!
that photo is amazingly sweet.
I seriously love that kid, too. That’s all he asked for? Amazing!
Mine want all the other things he didn’t ask for.
And BTW, my daughter is also figuring things out. She’s asking lots of questions and noticing that every Santa she sees looks different. She referred to one she saw at a store recently as “a phony Santa.”
So cute! And actually you can get those banners at Dollar Tree for $1. Would make an easy stocking stuffer:P
When I started to figure out the Santa thing I think I was 7, I figured it out with the Tooth Fairy first. When asked my Mom’s evasive maneuver was “What do you think?”
Tell Declan I still hear the bell!
Oh god. I was 7 or 8 years old when I found out. I know this makes me sound like a complete MORON (I was), but I was an extremely sheltered (and gullible) child. I felt so betrayed, I didn’t talk to my dad for a week.
Sue… I appeared in the newspaper as a child on Santa’s lap. There was a photo of an angelic child all happy to be in Santa’s lap and a child screaming her head off, terrified.Guess which one I was????
OMG – I think that photo is precious. I think you need to set up your own Santa booth next year and take some kick-ass photos that people will truly love. And Declan can be one of your elves!!!
btw – I tagged you for a meme. Play along if you’d like.
He is sooooooo onto you. Cute picture, BTW.
Also, I loved the post on the origins of Greeblemonkey. I had always wondered….
thanks all! 🙂
and P.S. Mitch, I burst out laughing.
ha ha, he wants paper letters for Xmas! I love it!
So cute! And you know, even though it isn’t “perfect”, I think that photo has a certain charm to it, and you’ll always remember everything from that day when you see it year to year.
We’ve never done the Santa thing. Between my kids being scared and the tacky/overpriced photos (we take better ones – don’t we?).
But what an awesome kid you have!! You are all lucky to have each other.
At this time of the year suddenly the lawyer in me comes out. I can manipulate words and syntax and context and justify to myself “I am NOT lying.” I can rationalize with the best of them! But if push comes to shove and he (just the older one now) asks me flat out…I’m gonna tell the truth. Is that bad?
that is too sweet.
Oh, that is just the cutest thing ever! (The requested gift and the pic.)
No kidding on the overpriced undervalued, huh? It makes me want to find a volunteer free take-your-own-photos Santa.
Then again, that sounds creepy.
Doodaddy – I would think about it (Bryan looks great as Santa) except… think of all those crazed parents… eeks!
Oh, and thanks for all the nice comments, everyone. You all seriously rule.
Aim, I gotta tell you what one of my nieces, Val, said. We were leaving Homestead Garden Supply, and she looks at me and says, Hey, I thought Santa drove a sled pulled by 8 tiny reindeer? I said, Yup. She says, Get this: I just saw Santa pull out in a truck!!! I laughed so hard. I said, maybe it’s too warm out for the reindeer. That is the best I could come up with! How lame is that!