I’ve been working on my Christmas gift list recently, and I’ve warned the children that Christmas will be, um, leaner this year than in the past, so they should be prepared. I guess I kind of went a little overboard last year, and am trying not to repeat that this year, especially since the big guy in the red suit won’t be putting in an appearance. This year, we know.
I don’t know what kind of a reaction that I expected from them, but as so often happens, my kids surprised me.
“Oh, okay, Mom.” That was it, from both kids. I guess I expected some questions, at least, but no, they were fine with it. Moved right on.
I guess it’s just me then, feeling bad. This is our first personal “Year Without a Santa Claus”. Last year, right after the holiday my daughter approached me and uttered those words that every mother dreads (but every father welcomes): “Mom, you and dad are Santa Claus, right?”
Sigh.
After I told her to go play and I’d get back to her, I furtively placed a call to my husband at work, relayed the devastating question, asking, “What do you think? She’s only ten! Should I tell her the truth?” and he said, “Of course! She’s ten! We should have told her years ago!”.
And right there, folks, is the difference between fathers and mothers (if I may be so bold as to apply our parental reactions to that of all parents).
I told her the truth.
She took it well. At the end, she said, “But the Easter Bunny, she’s real, right?”
🙂
Karen Creamer Author, Coach, Speaker 