My children are literally bouncing off the walls with excitement. I am threatening to call Santa and let him know that they are not being good little boys (everyone has Santa on speed dial right?). I have also told them that if they are not good they will get sacks of coal instead of presents.
Even as I make these threats I am aware of what absolute crap parenting the whole Santa good list, bad list idea constitutes. As a parent my philosophy’s revolve around being fair, consistent and honest. The whole Santa bonanza blows all of these ideas out of the water.
First up Santa, now obviously I know he is real. However the rest of the adult world is somewhat sceptical and so one day my children are going to come to the same conclusion. They will assume I lied to them and that the whole Santa story is just another of Mum’s insane ramblings (pixies, cloud machines, toast fairies etc). They will be horribly disappointed and then they will go on to do the same thing to their offspring.
Secondly consistency, I think not, if you see my earlier post on Santa facts. I scramble around for information whenever my children need more detail and hope for the best on them forgetting any inaccuracies.
Also when has anyone ever actually given their child a sack full of coal or no presents or whatever your seasonal threat has been? If you ever have please let me know so I can come round and play you “A Christmas Carol” dvd on repeat until you have the idea of Christmas straightened out.
So basically we are making extremely empty threats. An idea unsupported by all parenting books. Does this make me feel comfortable? No, do I still do it ? Heck yes, especially in shopping malls/supermarkets when my two eldest boys are wrestling underneath an extremely wobbly looking stand of mince pies. Empty threats seem preferable to pastry disaster, and at that point my mind is so full of tinsel I can’t access any of my other mothering armery.
Obviously an option is to go with the whole Santa story but omit the bit about being good to get presents. However honestly who in their right minds is going to turn down the opportunity to bribe their children to be good for an entire month? Certainly not me.
Mine just opened some Christmas eve gifts of family and friends. they have been doing a fair bit of bouncing too!
Jake from time to time this week has bought me his star chart as if trying to bring back a bit of decent parenting rather than that done by proxy by santa or elf.
Having lived though the tranistion from believing to knowing child ( which I found quite tearful and traumatic- but that was just the adults) It sort of works its self out and we keep on going with the same old script for Jake and for her too. she doesn’t want the magic to go.
There isn’t enough magic in this hum drum life. I grab it whenever I can.
what does the toast fairy do? and where can I get one?!
The toast fairy makes the toaster pop up so I assume you already have one. I will do a post soon about various pixies and fairies and their roles in modern society.
Yes pls this is essential 🙂
Hope you are feeling a bit better Ella. Are you able to be at home for Christmas Day? I do hope so.
I seem to be digging myself into a deeper hole with this Christmas/Santa/presents malarky. I have Ellie convinced that when the red light on the burglar alarm is on then Santa is checking up on her to see if she is being good. She can often be found standing in front of the sensor and saying ‘I’m a good girl’.
She has seen various presents floating around the house and asks where hers are, to which I reply that hers are with Santa, but Santa only brings presents to little boys and girls so adults have to buy presents for other adults so that they can join in with Christmas Day.
She almost caught me out the other day when she said ‘Jack’s a naughty boy, Santa’s not bringing him and presents’. Jack is my little nephew who is a bit of a demon. How do I explain to an almost 3 year old why a naughty boy still gets presents? I had to tell her that if Jack is a good boy for a whole week then Santa might reconsider and let him have some presents.
Its all good fun, but I know that in years to come I am going to be teaching her that telling lies is not good. It’s a case of do as I say and not as I do…….
Merry Christmas Ella, to you and your family, and best wishes for the New Year x
Merry Christmas to you and yours too !