Sorry i missed last week but i was traveling for work. When work sends me to “work in the field” they mean it very literally. I am not near computers until late at night and then all I want to do is crawl into bed.
Now on to what you all came here for, That’s What She Said: Santa Edition. We have a rule in our house, no Christmas, Santa, or Elf talk until Halloween is over. Halloween is my favorite holiday but my wife is super crazy about Christmas. Growing up I think they had like 9-10 trees in their house. At last count we have two up in our house. Chelsea, the wife, goes all out for Halloween to make it special for me. So I let her have whatever she wants for Christmas. Danni, our daughter, has caught the Christmas bug too.
Danni had figured out Santa brings toys!!! She started out wanting 1 Barbie. You would ask her what Santa was going to bring her. “Um how about 1 Barbie” and hold up 1 finger.” One day she figured out that we were excited that she could hold up two fingers like a peace sign and say two that she changed her answer to 2 Barbies.
I had read that to help kids not be afraid of Santa that to tell them that they are going to visit Santa again. You would ask them questions like “Do you remember sitting on Santa’s lap last year?” or “We are going to go see Santa again just like last year.” We did that and Danni is about to come out of her skin in excitement.
Ever since my wife’s car broke down, we have all had to pile into my Ford Ranger pickup truck. This means I drive, Danni sits in the front seat in her seat, and Chelsea is in the jump seat. Danni loves it because she can see everything. She’ll point out Christmas lights, horses (Memphis has Shelby Farms. It’s a huge metro park that has everything…horseback riding, fishing, off-leash parks, buffalo, kayaking, and tons of agriculture. The city grows corn, cotton, soybeans, etc….all to feed the multitude of animals that call the park home.) and now Santas.
We’ll be driving down the street and Danni will scream, “I see CHRISTMAS! Look Daddy! Oh! I see SANTA!” People in our neighborhoods have those inflatable Santas. As we approach the lawn that has the Santa in it, she will stop talking to me and start talking to the window. “Um, Santa, okay, I want two…” and that is all she’ll get out because we’ll pass it. She’ll whip her head around and scream towards the back window “BARBIES!!!”
My wife is having hearing problems lately.
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Sweet… but how long can you keep up the fantasy? I mean, my 5-year old wants things from Santa that mommy just… um, can’t deliver. Mostly things that come alive and give him super powers. I’m afraid the “magic wand that can poof anything,” which was his ONE request this year is going to be a sad disappointment when all it does is flash and make noise! I’ve considered saying something like… “The elves can only make things that are sold in stores.” ???
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Sweet… but how long can you keep up the fantasy? I mean, my 5-year old wants things from Santa that mommy just… um, can’t deliver. Mostly things that come alive and give him super powers. I’m afraid the “magic wand that can poof anything,” which was his ONE request this year is going to be a sad disappointment when all it does is flash and make noise! I’ve considered saying something like… “The elves can only make things that are sold in stores.” ???
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Practical Mommy, allow the fantasy to last for as long as possible. My children are 20, 17, and 11. Last year was the first year that my son (11 y/o) didn’t believe in Santa and I have to say there was just something missing. I guess the element of surprise, I don’t know. My 17 y/o “believed” until she was 12 because she didn’t want to “break my heart”…according to her, she knew since she was 10.
Your son sounds like he has a wonderful creative mind. I just love that! When my kids would ask for something that “Santa” could not make happen, I would talk to them about it.
Super powers are for the heros on TV and I would explain that to your son. It’s exciting to watch superman on TV and we can dress like him and “pretend” to have super powers. The last thing you want is for him to believe that he has the ability to leap tall building in a single bound only to find out that he cannot fly. At 5 years old, he understands the difference between real and make believe.
Your comment about the elves can only make the toys that are sold in stores is great. It allows him to realize something tangible and something make believe. You son is very creative, so give him the benefit of the doubt in understanding that his super powers are in other things like the way he reads, or draws, or builds things with legos. Magnify his talents and let him know that those are HIS super powers and leave the flying and magic to the heros on TV.
You’ll be surprised just how much he will understand. Cherish this time with him, as they grow up very fast.
Have a wonderful Christmas!
Kelli
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Practical Mommy, allow the fantasy to last for as long as possible. My children are 20, 17, and 11. Last year was the first year that my son (11 y/o) didn’t believe in Santa and I have to say there was just something missing. I guess the element of surprise, I don’t know. My 17 y/o “believed” until she was 12 because she didn’t want to “break my heart”…according to her, she knew since she was 10.
Your son sounds like he has a wonderful creative mind. I just love that! When my kids would ask for something that “Santa” could not make happen, I would talk to them about it.
Super powers are for the heros on TV and I would explain that to your son. It’s exciting to watch superman on TV and we can dress like him and “pretend” to have super powers. The last thing you want is for him to believe that he has the ability to leap tall building in a single bound only to find out that he cannot fly. At 5 years old, he understands the difference between real and make believe.
Your comment about the elves can only make the toys that are sold in stores is great. It allows him to realize something tangible and something make believe. You son is very creative, so give him the benefit of the doubt in understanding that his super powers are in other things like the way he reads, or draws, or builds things with legos. Magnify his talents and let him know that those are HIS super powers and leave the flying and magic to the heros on TV.
You’ll be surprised just how much he will understand. Cherish this time with him, as they grow up very fast.
Have a wonderful Christmas!
Kelli
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Practical Mommy
My guess is that you gently, over time (and I realize time is running out), poke holes in the fantasies. Delineate between what’s real and/or probable versus what is make believe. Maybe even buy a “magic wand” NOW to show him or her that it is just a plastic toy with no special powers. That way disappointment will come now as opposed to Christmas morning.
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Practical Mommy
My guess is that you gently, over time (and I realize time is running out), poke holes in the fantasies. Delineate between what’s real and/or probable versus what is make believe. Maybe even buy a “magic wand” NOW to show him or her that it is just a plastic toy with no special powers. That way disappointment will come now as opposed to Christmas morning.
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My oldest doesn’t believe, she’s 13. But my two eight-year-olds do, one of them will be 9 in a couple weeks (HOLY HECK 9! When’d that happen!?!?!) They’ve come home upset because other kids have said he doesn’t exist. I won’t burst their bubble.
If there comes a day in which they come to me and truly ask me, I will show them by doing something charitable. I recall once reading a story of a girl who came home and told her parents there was no santa, and they asked if she knew someone who was in desperate need of something, and she replied her friend in class needed a coat. The parents took her to the thrift store, got her a coat, wrapped it beautifully, brought it to her house, left it at the doorstep, rang the door, and hid behind a bush and watched the child unwrap and glow at the beautiful gift she was given. The parents pointed out to their child that Santa lives in all of us, and the child never worried about whether Santa existed again. That’s what it’s about here, too. And that’s my plan.
Happy Holidays. May Santa live within all of you as well, now and forever.
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My oldest doesn’t believe, she’s 13. But my two eight-year-olds do, one of them will be 9 in a couple weeks (HOLY HECK 9! When’d that happen!?!?!) They’ve come home upset because other kids have said he doesn’t exist. I won’t burst their bubble.
If there comes a day in which they come to me and truly ask me, I will show them by doing something charitable. I recall once reading a story of a girl who came home and told her parents there was no santa, and they asked if she knew someone who was in desperate need of something, and she replied her friend in class needed a coat. The parents took her to the thrift store, got her a coat, wrapped it beautifully, brought it to her house, left it at the doorstep, rang the door, and hid behind a bush and watched the child unwrap and glow at the beautiful gift she was given. The parents pointed out to their child that Santa lives in all of us, and the child never worried about whether Santa existed again. That’s what it’s about here, too. And that’s my plan.
Happy Holidays. May Santa live within all of you as well, now and forever.
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Beautiful clothes a girl's favorite, ed hardy ed hardy introduction of new, in the cold winter, wear fashion ed hardy clothing ed hardy clothing, make you feel warm and fashion.