The Miss Elaine-ous Life

random acts of life, family and photos

The Real Santa

by

The Saturday afternoon before Christmas I was given the chance to go play Santa.  Tim sent me off to go shopping for a bit and I was able to finish up my shopping (mostly for him!).  I was so joyful, happy with my purchases, feeling the Christmas spirit in the chilly air and smiling on my way back to the van.  I even caught a glimpse of this…

The sunset over the shopping center. So pretty

But when I got home, Ben was clearly upset.  After talking to Tim for a minute I found out that while I was gone he had taken it upon himself (Ben, that is) to tell Gavin that Santa Claus is not real.  Tim was upset with him for telling him that… And Gavin was too, apparently.

When I took Ben in another room to talk about it, just the two of us, he told me he was confused and that he knew there was no way one person could deliver ALL those toys in 12 hours.  (He’s very logical).

I figured it was time to spill and so I told him that we would discuss it more after we got back from our dinner out.

So we did.  And Tim and I used some of the wording and explanations from the letter below.

(a friend posted this on FB, that’s where I go it… no idea who “Ryan” is…)

I am not sure if he was more surprised to learn that Tim and I are technically his Santa or that our elf, “Elfie” is not “real” either.

And I cried a little telling him since I could literally see part of his childhood innocence seeping right out of him…

I think in a way he was really relieved to know but then later he told me he was a little disappointed to learn that there isn’t necessarily a man in red who comes from the North Pole.  I kinda wanted to immediately make him watch The Polar Express again and use one of those mind-eraser doo-hickeys, like from Men in Black so he could believe in it ALL again.

But alas, that is not meant to be and now Tim and I have an extra helper next Christmas who is most excited to move “Elfie” around during the 2013 Christmas season.  Plus, this year he bought gifts for his siblings and me (while out shopping with Dad) and kinda played “Santa” himself.  And was most happy to do so.

I just REALLY hope he continues to believe in the magic of all, if even just a little bit…

“Santa” and his little “Rudolph” 


So, have you had to share the secret with any of your elves yet?  If not, how will you handle it?

p.s. Be ready for many follow up questions… 

Comments

  1. Oh I love that letter. My 10 year old still believes and I really think she will for awhile. But I love this explanation.

    I found out when I was 5, but I was the type to go around trying to prove everyone wrong…and always hated surprises. I was also the one at 8 who walked out of First Communion classes and told the nuns they were crazy for believing all of that… My mom used to call me the ‘fun ruiner’ and I used to correct her and tell her that I was just a realist. oy Thank god my children are not like me. lol

  2. I saw that letter on Facebook too. So sweet.

    Joey knew two years ago that Santa wasn’t real but he played along with it until Christmas was over and then approached me about it. I asked him what he thought and he told me he thought it was his dad and I. I said, “What about that red light I saw in the sky when I was little. That had to be Rudolph.” (I told them about a time when I was little and I swore I saw Rudolph) Joey said, “Mom, it was probably just an airplane or something.” Haha! He wasn’t too upset but I was really bummed out. It takes away some of the magic of childhood I think. 🙁 And it just confirms that they are growing up.
    *sigh*

  5. I saw that letter last week. I’m going to have to pin it or something, so I have it when I need it. I’m a little sad for you. I was so afraid that this year was going to be the one we had to tell my youngest. Somehow we managed to pull it off, but it’s only a matter of time. In a way, I will be relieved! It was exhausting to keep up with this year.

  6. That letter is the best way to explain it. My girls have seen Santa each year, but at 4.5, this was the first year that they really got the Santa concept. Hopefully as all of our kids age, we can guide them to believe that Christmas is still magical, even without a giant man in red bringing toys. 🙂

  7. My dad told me “If you don’t believe in Santa, he won’t believe in you”.
    My kids are 11, 17 and 19….none believe any more, and that takes some of the magic out of Christmas for me, I must admit.
    Enjoy it while you can….

  8. I think you handled it beautifully, and the letter really is a good (and fairly logical AND magical) explanation. It’s wonderful that now he’s ‘in’ on it, he can throw himself into making next Christmas wondrous for his siblings!

  9. Jack still seems to believe…he’s 11. Gulp. I am at the point where I am not so careful anymore. I think they know but as long as they play it up, so will I. They are both realists so I don’t see any harm.

    An extra helper sounds like a lot of fun!

  10. I think everyone holds on to the magic. That’s why Santa continues year after year, generation after generation. I’m sad for him that the magic is over. How is Gavin handling it? Does he still believe?