Rant-a Claus

     Call me a Grinch, but why do people lie to kids about the existence of Santa Claus?

     I've never understood why parents feel compelled to lie about some magical fat man who completes the seemingly impossible feat of delivering presents to every home in the world on Christmas Eve. I mean, I guess it creates a 'magical moment' for the kids on Christmas morning... but I think that moment could still be created in other, less deceitful ways. Plus, it is uber-disappointing when you finally figure out that your parents have been lying to you about said magical man for the last 6 years. Or, at least, it was for me.
     One Christmas Eve I discovered presents marked 'from Santa' in the basement in the wrapping pile. I was not a snooper - I'm not sure what I was even doing down there - but my 6-year-old-self's logic kicked in and I wondered how those presents could be there from Santa already when Santa isn't supposed to come until after I was in bed... That, and I had older cousins, who I am pretty sure ruined it for me.

      I also feel that the whole Santa business takes away from what Christmas should really be about. Kids generally have a one-track mind and it becomes all-consuming for them to be on their best behaviour to make the 'nice' list in order to get the material gifts that they want. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for best behaviour, but I would rather have the motivation be something more intrinsic and less superficial. The problem is, with our society, you can't get away from Santa. I don't want my children to think that they are being punished or skipped over because Santa doesn't leave presents at our house, but at the same time, I am definitely not going to push the issue. Once our kids are old enough to understand Santa and start asking about him, he might leave one or two gifts for them, but until then, I don't think it's necessary.

     I have read in many parenting books that traditions are very important to children - they give them a sense of belonging and what to expect. I, too, am big on tradition, and so want to create special traditions for my family that honour what we value. These are what create those ever-cherished magical moments, not a fat man in a red suit.
Our traditions include:

• painting ceramic Christmas ornaments each year so our children will have their own collection
• including a year-in-review letter with our Christmas cards
• putting up the Christmas tree/decorations the first weekend in December
• making a gingerbread house/ structure (from scratch) the second weekend in December
• Christmas Movie Advent
• New pajamas for Christmas Eve
• Christmas morning at Grandma's
• Taking down the tree New Year's Day

I'm sure there are more that I have forgotten, or that will evolve as time goes on, but it is important to me to keep them the same from year to year so they will become special memories for our children forever.
Merry Christmas!