To Santa or not to Santa...

I have waited for this season since I found out I was pregnant with my son.

I love Christmas time! I especially love it here in Germany with the markets and the snow. They don't go overly crazy with lights on the houses but still, Germany does Christmas right in my opinion. The markets are mostly vendors with handmade/homemade items. Candles, pottery, wooden ornaments, hand painted glass ornaments, thick wooly socks and hats, etc...You get the idea. They keep it simple, beautiful and magical.

One tradition that Charlie and I have always agreed on was St. Nickolas Nacht (St. Nick Night) on the night of December 5th, children in Germany (and quite a few other European countries) clean their boots up and leave them on the front steps for St. Nickolas to come and let them know if they are essentially on the right track for being on the good list. If you are good he leaves an orange, candy, sometimes a small gift in the boots. If you are on the naughty list he leaves sticks and leaves in your boots. This pretty much allows kids to change their attitude for 3 weeks before Christmas. St. Nick left a teething ring in (more like on) Sebi's shoes. Yes, I am that mom. I had St. Nick visit my 5 month old.

The idea of Santa is and has always been a hot topic for most parents. There is valid arguments for both sides but here are my thoughts (and arguments from others) on why we will do the whole Santa thing for Sebastian.

1. There is nothing more magical than seeing young children go to sleep and wake the next day to see cookies eaten, a note, a few new wrapped gifts and stockings filled. Children these days seem to get so jaded by growing up too quickly. There is no magic in the world for them. They lose that innocent faith that anything can happen. I want my son to believe in the fact that there is magic in the world. He is magic and a miracle. There is nothing more powerful than child-like faith; and I think the world could use more of it.

2. "You are lying to your children." No. It's not a lie. There is a Santa. Santa lives in everyone. Santa helps to symbolize what this season is about: Love, Hope, Faith and Brotherhood. I am Santa, my husband is Santa, my mother and father are Santa, my grandparents are Santa. Santa is a symbol, a big one, but he is also a teacher. He teaches us to believe in the impossible. This a is a skill you need later in life when faced with what seems impossible in order to overcome it.

3. "Your son will be crushed when he finally discovers the truth." Crushed? No. Maybe a bit disappointed but I like to think I will know when the time is right to tell my son who Santa really is. It will be a discussion. It won't be swept under the rug or ignored completely as mine was. I believe that when that time comes, he will discover something I found a few years later with my younger sisters. It is a ton of fun to BE Santa and watch the joy it brings. One of my brightest and fondest memories was the first year I was allowed to help be Santa. I helped my dad build an IKEA kids table for my young sister, Katelyn. She was 20 months old and the next morning when she saw that table....the delight and the squeals were amazing. She sat at her little table in her little chair kicking her legs while unwrapping presents, we couldn't get her away from that little table all day! It renewed my belief in the spirit of Christmas and Santa.

4. "Santa takes away from the real reason for the season... Jesus." This is a timeless argument. As Christians we do believe this is the time of year to celebrate Jesus' birth and all he brought to the world. But as Christians we also fall short of being like Jesus or even fall short of what God asks of us. Santa falls into the category of following what God asks of us: To love and care for our fellow man, to give to others in need, to have faith. Santa is a good and selfless being. I did have a Christmas with my mom one year when there really was no money for presents. Instead we agreed to do handmade gifts, one for each person. It was a small but humble Christmas and one I won't forget.

5. I want my son to be a child as long as he can. I grew up at 8-9 years old. You lose a lot when you grow up too young. There will be plenty of time for him to grow up and be an adult later. Do I need the the recognition for being Santa, for all the work, effort and money that goes into it? No. As long as my son understands that this is the time of year to help his fellow man, to love and appreciate having a family who loves and adores him; and to remember that there is magic in the world. Falling in love is the most amazing bit of magic there ever was and without the belief in magic and having the faith to be strong enough to love and trust another, I honestly believe that is what makes the world cold and dark.

I am not here to argue with anyone or change their mind on what they choose to tell their children. I am just sharing why we choose to let Sebastian believe. He has given Charlie and I more than he will ever know. Maybe he will understand when he has a child of his own one day but for now, I love seeing him discover and wonder about things.

However you do it, I hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!