As surprised as I was when I walked into Fred Meyer last night and saw all the holiday decorations, it actually might be a good time to bring up this particular topic. I checked out a book from the public library, called The Santa Story Revisited: How to Give Your Children a Santa They Will Never Outgrow by Arita Trahan.
This book has helped me solve a personal dilemma about how and what to tell my son (now age 2) about Santa Claus. I really didn't want to lie to him but I also did not want him to feel excluded. Arita presents a great idea for how to turn Santa Claus into a game that kids of all ages can play without lying to them. Santa becomes a story about anonymous gift giving and receiving without threatening other kids who do "believe" in Santa Claus. As a consequence they don't have a moral crisis about parents lying to them because they never experience finding out who "Santa" really is. The book is 146 pages long! but for those of you who are in a hurry - the main concept is explained in pages 73-76 "The Santa Story" or in a less saccharine version on pg 9-10.
I really like the book and it's going back to the library for anyone who wants to check it out :) You can also ask me about it and I will do my best to explain.
She also has a website, but you really need the book to get the whole concept: http://www.thesantastory.com/i
XXXXXX
p.s. Note that I am extremely aware and respectful of different cultural traditions and non-traditions. Not everyone celebrates Christmas. The author even has a section on her attempts to create a winter solstice celebration. This is just for your info in case anyone else was struggling with the same dilemma I was. Christmas is a very important holiday for me but as I was growing up Santa Claus was never really part of it. I am trying to raise my son in a blended family so I am doing my best to incorporate traditions from both families.
1 comment:
As you prooo'bly dont know, bro,
lying is a mortal sin which takes
you to Hell which you wont
like after 1 or 2 seconds:
hair on fire, body on fire.
Lucifer hates you with a passion
as you fall to the center of earth.
Not a very wise decision.
So here's the deal.
Wanna wiseabove to see Jesus?
Cool.
Better than hot.
Much better than luke-warm.
Find a choirch.
Get baptized.
Receive the Gift
of the Holy Spirit.
Wiseabove on the LastDay.
Start loving God.
Start loving yourself
and loving everyone else.
And I'll see you in Seventh-Heaven.
Getchur kids baptized, too.
God bless your indelible soul.
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