First let me say that I have always told my son that
Christmas was about the birth of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. We sing happy birthday to Jesus and even make
him a cake. But, when my son was young,
I also told him about Santa. I let him believe in someone who was not real and
who could not return his love or admiration.
When my son asked me about the reality of Santa the first
time, he was nine years old. (I had thought I was pretty lucky to have dodged
that question for so long). I told him
that if he believed in Santa, then Santa would surely bring him a gift. I was off the hook for that year. He still
believed. The next year he asked me again. Kids were saying stuff in school and
I knew (and dreaded) having to burst that bubble. He really wanted to know, so
I had to tell him the truth. I had never
thought I was lying to him before and he was always so excited about Santa. And
who wouldn’t be? Santa brings them gifts and money, the best toys and
clothes. But he wanted the truth. And it hit me that I had been lying to him…and
there is nothing I hate as much as a lie, just ask anyone who knows me. I braced myself for the tears, but I knew I
had to do it. So I took a deep breath
and began.
My son sat there listening to every word, listening to me
explain that Santa was an imaginary person that people made up. He had seen all the cartoons and knew the stories,
but I could see the wheels turning.
After I had told him that I was really his Santa, I waited. Then,
all of a sudden, he exclaimed, "Do you mean that all those gifts that said
they were from Santa, were really from you?" I said yes. I could see that he was thinking back and
remembering every Christmas and the gifts that said they were from Santa. Then
he said something I will never forget..."So…YOU loved me SO much you gave
me all those presents?" I said
yes. I honestly thought their would be
tears, a hurt look or something to let me know that I had taken something huge
away from him by telling him the truth.
Instead, I got the biggest hug ever!
I will never forget it!
But the wheels were still turning..."and the Easter
Bunny, is he fake too?? And the tooth fairy??”
I said yes. He was okay. I think he took it better than I did. (I mean we really went all out, making bunny
feet in powder, near sightings of the Easter Bunny, etc.) When I told him I had
saved his teeth, he was very excited! He wanted to see them! No hurt feelings,
no tears, no claiming that I had lied.
Just love, and it was all for me.
Now, here's the thing...
WHY would we ever invent people or stories to continue an
untruth about some imaginary person? We give him credit for bringing gifts and
money to the ones we love more than anyone else in the world? WHY would we let
our children love someone who is not real, instead of letting them love
us? WHY would we let our babies think
that there is a person out there who brings the biggest or best gift to them, instead
of the person they look to for everything they need?? WHY would we let a lie get their love and
thanks, instead of us, the ones who ALWAYS have their best interests in mind?
And aren’t we the ones who ALWAYS want their child to have the desires of their
own heart…even at such a tender age? Thank God that it wasn’t a traumatic event...for
either of us! Thank God that my son knows that I love him more than
anyone or anything. He knows that no one
can love him like I love him, except Jesus. (my mom and my sister run very
close seconds.)
I can’t believe I waited so long to tell him the truth. All the love and hugs and kisses that I
missed out on because of a myth. I
decided right then and there that if I had more children, I would never
perpetrate a lie on them…nor would I do this to my future grandchildren. And my son, God bless him, has already
decided that he will never let his future children believe in Santa. He will teach them that there is only One who
loves them more than their dad, more than their mom and more than their grandmother.
He is the One who gave his life for all of us. His name isn’t Santa. It’s
Jesus. And he gives the best gifts of
all.
