aimee-lou
Totally Outnumbered!!
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2008
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Santa is a nice magical man who brings presents to children who are 'good'. I.e. they get good reports, are helpful and kind and all the stuff you'd expect. I don't use him as a threat as lets face it, i for one would never follow through and i would just feel horrid leaving them with coal!!
The elf is also supposed to do mischievous things and bring gifts. Its not supposed to be creepy or threatening, its additional magic. Its just a lot of effort and money fore i cant manage.
I tell my 5yo that i can contact Santa on the phone. He gets to put 2/3 things on his list and if he's good Santa will bring them. He know that the good rule applies to presents from us and other relatives too.
I am trying not to build santa up too much but at the same time i know that the more vague i make it, the longer he'll believe. I concentrate on the magic of Christmas eve etc. We watch NORAD Santa to track him. I use icing sugar to make footprints. Last year i even got some little bells and as earl had seen polar express i left 1 outside the back door (we leave it open for Santa as no chimney) and he was blown away that he had a Santa bell off his sleigh.
Growing up i used to play along, even as a teenager. If you don't believe you don't get presents. For me, shamming belief in Santa became part if the fun and belief in Christmas as a whole was still magical. I would never deny my children those memories. When that day comes when they're all too old and no longer believe I'll still carry on.....keep that doubt going lol. And it should be a natural organic part of growing up to acknowledge that Santa himself isn't 'real' (i still think maybe lol) but what he represents and Christmas as a whole is still a wonderful time if magic and generosity.
The elf is also supposed to do mischievous things and bring gifts. Its not supposed to be creepy or threatening, its additional magic. Its just a lot of effort and money fore i cant manage.
I tell my 5yo that i can contact Santa on the phone. He gets to put 2/3 things on his list and if he's good Santa will bring them. He know that the good rule applies to presents from us and other relatives too.
I am trying not to build santa up too much but at the same time i know that the more vague i make it, the longer he'll believe. I concentrate on the magic of Christmas eve etc. We watch NORAD Santa to track him. I use icing sugar to make footprints. Last year i even got some little bells and as earl had seen polar express i left 1 outside the back door (we leave it open for Santa as no chimney) and he was blown away that he had a Santa bell off his sleigh.
Growing up i used to play along, even as a teenager. If you don't believe you don't get presents. For me, shamming belief in Santa became part if the fun and belief in Christmas as a whole was still magical. I would never deny my children those memories. When that day comes when they're all too old and no longer believe I'll still carry on.....keep that doubt going lol. And it should be a natural organic part of growing up to acknowledge that Santa himself isn't 'real' (i still think maybe lol) but what he represents and Christmas as a whole is still a wonderful time if magic and generosity.