He's Checking The List....

Every Christmas since we had our first child, we go and see Santa and then take the kids shopping. Okay...so we didn't take the first one until she was at least a year old. And she didn't cry. Not one tear. She looked extremely worried, but she didn't cry. Her sister never cried either. Just went because her sister did. She is still like that. Well if she can do it, then I guess I can too. As long as the choices are good I'm okay with that. Then along came a boy.

This boy is a boy through and through. We have already suffered a chipped tooth, a broken nose, and a dive into a duck pond. Oh yeah, and there the was lesson about rocks and gravity. He will cause me a heart attack before I am 50, I am sure of it. Aside from his seemingly fearless attitude, he is quite afraid of strangers. This is good in most cases. I mean don't we tell our kids not to talk to strangers. Then on Halloween we dress them up and send them out begging for candy from people they don't know. Strangers. And then comes Christmas. We take our kids to see a very strange man whose face is obstructed by mounds of white facial hair. I think perhaps the best kids eye view of Santa is from A Christmas Story. "HO!HO!HO!" Most kids are pretty willing...most. Poor Santa. Then there are the screamers. Who do you feel more sorry for? Santa or the babies?

Ryan has gone to see Santa every year since birth. Yeah we took him at 2 months old, but that was only by default. He was blissfully unaware of the bearded stranger. My girls were blissfully engaged in a detailed conversation with him about their adventures and things they did at school. The following year....Ryan was well aware of this strange man who was most definitely not his mommy or his Daddy. Each year we hoped and he refused. Santa always understood.

Ryan was sooo excited to see Santa. He was jumping and running and dancing--literally--all over the house that day. He would ask me all day if it was time to go. Exasperated Patiently, I would remind him we would be going after dinner. It was raining. I swear it was raining when we went last year too. It doesn't rain much here so it is likely it really was. We couldn't have timed it any better. The line was short and we hardly had to wait at all. The second Ryan saw the big guy, he wanted me to hold him. I tried to coax him into at least looking at the guy. No go. The girls ran up to him and gave him a hug. They talked about school and what they wanted for Christmas. Santa talked to Ryan and laughed when he turned his head away. Well there is always next year.

Comments

Rachel said…
Yeah, my kids would NEVER sit on santa's lap. Ethan likes to look at him from a distance, but doesn't want to even get close to him! He told me he's glad santa comes only when he's asleep because he doesn't want to see santa.

too funny.
Katie said…
Poor little guy! My daughter hates Santa, too!

...visiting from SITS!
Emmy said…
Doesn't it drive you crazy when they are so excited but then just won't do it. Oh well, maybe next year :)

We have never actually taken our kids to see Santa, they have just seen him at Christmas parties, and last year Lucas wouldn't sit on his lap either.. this year he just hopped right up.
Lee said…
Isn't that the way it ALWAYS works!! LOL!
mormonhermitmom said…
I'm line-a-phobic, especially with young babies/toddlers, so unless Santa shows up at a ward party, forget it.
Michelle said…
You must be a Cubs' fan... there's always next year ;)

I actually think the kids afraid of Santa are smarter than the rest of them for the very reasons you listed. They've got the independent personality thinking for themselves. But ... maybe next year!
Carolynn said…
All we want for Christmas is one picture of Ryan on Santa's lap...maybe next year.
KK said…
I'm afraid of the old man myself :)
Kids are so funny!
My daughter is 9 and fearless. My boys are 18 and cowardly, but NOT enough to be scared to not want to get pounded in a rugby match. Go figure.

I think I feel sorry more for Santa because he's going to try to make a kid happy no matter what. I say be happy that your boy is normal and not the kid creating all kinds of havoc in the line waiting their turn to be rude to Santa = )

May
Oh yeah, my 9 year old is the one taking random photos of the back of everyone's head, shoes, awkward moments ... kids. Gotta love 'em!

May

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