Santa Who??

I am not a big fan of Santa Claus.

The kiddo believes in him and the boys will as well. We read The Night Before Christmas every year and leave him cookies and the reindeer a carrot, but I don't normally play him up anymore.

Why should I? I mean, why does he get all the credit for the awesome presents? I am the one who looked all over the Internet to figure out what it is she wanted and stood in line for almost (sometimes over) an hour. I am the one who saved the money for the gift, then wrapped it perfectly so she could rip it apart Christmas morning and jump for joy because she got exactly what she wanted.

I made my decision about Santa a few years ago, I think the kiddo was 3, maybe 4 when Santa only brought one gift under the tree and filled her stocking. I decided I didn't want to use Santa as a "be good" motive (though I have no qualms over parents who do!) After watching "The Polar Express," I noticed the little boy whose Christmas "just doesn't work out" and I felt so bad for him. I know it is a fictional movie, but there are children out there that Christmas doesn't work out for them and I thought, what if those children think they didn't get a present because they were bad? What if MY kiddo said to one of them "you must have been bad this year!" Good grief, I would be mortified!

This year I got the kiddo a gift she has been wanting for years and many people thought it would be her gift from Mr. Claus, but nope! Mama and Daddy are getting the credit for this gift. Santa is bringing her something she wants and her stocking will be full of gifts that she will love, but the "big" gift is from us. We will put out the cookies and milk and definitely NOT forget Rudolph (you know he will poop on your roof if you don't leave him something!), but when my daughter tells people what she got for Christmas, the gift she will mostly talk about will be from Mama and Daddy. The people who saved, and waited in line, and got her exactly what she wanted.