I grew up in a Methodist home (technically) and was raised with the notion of Santa Claus planted firmly in my brain. We always left cookies for Santa, and would receive one gift from him on Christmas morning - unwrapped, in front of the tree, and usually the one thing we'd really wanted for Christmas.
I assumed I would do the same for my son. I have a collection of the letters J.R.R. Tolkien wrote his children (from Santa) each Christmas, and I'd been excited to share the same experiences I had as a child with my son.
Then my wife and I talked. She and her family weren't against Santa Claus, per se, but she doesn't want to tell our son that Santa Claus really exists. After her arguments, and after our pastor's sermon this past Sunday, I find myself surprised to agree:
1. Why lie to kids?
2. She wants to teach him about the real St. Nicholas, and participate in the Dutch holiday on Dec. 6.
3. For Christmas, she'd rather tell our son that everyone *pretends* that Santa Claus exists - which is true. It's a small, but I feel important, distinction. We won't leave Santa out of Christmas, but we make clear that he doesn't truthfully exist. Because...
4. How can I expect my son to believe in God when he finds out that Santa doesn't exist? "You said Santa Claus existed, but he doesn't. What about God?" Santa Claus is pretend, God is not. The same goes for the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, etc.
And the most important argument:
5. The focus of Christmas is Christ. Ironically, it's during the season when we should be thinking of Christ when we create the most distractions from the true meaning of Christmas. Why encourage that?
Spiritually, morally, and educationally it just makes sense for me to have a fun pretend game with my son about Santa Clause, rather than trying to convince him that he really exists.
Thoughts?
I assumed I would do the same for my son. I have a collection of the letters J.R.R. Tolkien wrote his children (from Santa) each Christmas, and I'd been excited to share the same experiences I had as a child with my son.
Then my wife and I talked. She and her family weren't against Santa Claus, per se, but she doesn't want to tell our son that Santa Claus really exists. After her arguments, and after our pastor's sermon this past Sunday, I find myself surprised to agree:
1. Why lie to kids?
2. She wants to teach him about the real St. Nicholas, and participate in the Dutch holiday on Dec. 6.
3. For Christmas, she'd rather tell our son that everyone *pretends* that Santa Claus exists - which is true. It's a small, but I feel important, distinction. We won't leave Santa out of Christmas, but we make clear that he doesn't truthfully exist. Because...
4. How can I expect my son to believe in God when he finds out that Santa doesn't exist? "You said Santa Claus existed, but he doesn't. What about God?" Santa Claus is pretend, God is not. The same goes for the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, etc.
And the most important argument:
5. The focus of Christmas is Christ. Ironically, it's during the season when we should be thinking of Christ when we create the most distractions from the true meaning of Christmas. Why encourage that?
Spiritually, morally, and educationally it just makes sense for me to have a fun pretend game with my son about Santa Clause, rather than trying to convince him that he really exists.
Thoughts?
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