The Magic of Christmas?
Green kids — By Stephanie on December 16, 2008 at 12:57 pm
The stockings are hung by the chimney with care
Yesterday marked a milestone that I knew was coming sooner or later. I just wish it hadn’t happened before Christmas. My 11-year old got cold, hard confirmation about Santa Claus. It was completely unintentional, and yet even more crushing than I expected it would be.
I had hoped that over time, he would slowly come to realize the truth about Santa Claus. I certainly didn’t want to be there when the reality stared us in the face together. And somehow I feel responsible for his loss of innocence when it happened.
I know that Matt has had his suspicions over the past two years. He is in “the know” about my brother-in-law’s annual tradition of dressing up like St. Nick on Christmas Eve. He pretends to spy elves around the grocery store and shopping mall to the delight of his younger siblings. Yet, he has clung to the idea that the real Santa would come later in the evening when everyone was in bed. I thought he was just acting for the benefit of his brothers and sister. Nope. He still believed.
The view of our front porch yesterday
Enter Amazon.com and the UPS man. I’m not sure what brilliant mind decided that it would be acceptable to ship Christmas gifts that had not been boxed in plain cardboard to hide their contents. Nor do I understand the thinking behind leaving said gifts on my doorstep, propped up so that anyone could see them.
As we drove into our driveway yesterday afternoon, Matt was sitting in the front seat. We turned and started to drive into the garage. I noticed the black, yellow and white box on our porch, which clearly read “Fuzion Scooter.” I couldn’t believe it! Matt couldn’t stop staring either, and then appeared to catch himself. It was as if he was going to try to pretend he didn’t see it. He stammered for just a moment, looked at me and then burst into tears. It was among the saddest moments of my life.
I hugged him and stroked his hair, trying to comfort him. Wondering what to do next, I suggested that we send it back and he could ask Santa for a different gift. Matt said he wanted to “sue” them (now there is the son of two lawyers….), but that he really wanted the scooter. He continued, saying that he had hoped to be surprised by the present. Frankly, I know that the overwhelming sadness of knowing that Santa was just plain old Mom and Dad was the true source of his tears and upset.
While I put on a brave face for Matt, I am at a loss as to what to do to preserve the magic of Christmas for my oldest son. Not quite a teenager and yet too old for many childhood traditions, I don’t think either one of us is ready for him to grow up. But it cannot be stopped. We cannot turn back the clock.
Today, we’re going to rent The Polar Express, the classic tale of Christmas joy and wonder. But I am also appealing to you, our reader, for ideas. What would you do to rekindle the magic of Christmas in these circumstances? How can we keep the spirit of Santa from slipping away so soon?
Tags: believe in santa claus, magic of christmas
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8 Comments
Wow! The ignorance of companies ruining the human spirit once again. There is a silver lining though, at least he was with you when it happened, and didn’t have a friend at school ruin his innocence. It is just one of those things that just happen.
Something like this happened to me personally, and my parents had a great idea, and this could work for you. They got me more involved with the whole ’santa’ deal, helping pick out my little siblings stocking stuffers. The best lesson that I ever learned is that its better to give than receive.
Hi Alex, I am totally with you on this! I am still considering how to choose my words when I email Amazon.com. I really like their prompt shipping and great deals, but someone clearly dropped the ball here.
You are right that it was a blessing I was with him instead of his friends. He is such an innocent spirit. Even today, he was still telling me what he hoped Santa would put in his stocking. Your parents have a wonderful idea. Matt would love to be involved in the “behind the scenes” stocking stuffing. He really does want to keep the season special for everyone else too.
The best gift I gave my kids this year was the day before Thanksgiving when I handed them $5 and told them to give it to a homeless man on the streets. They talked about how happy he was all the way home that day. Generosity is the true Christmas Spirit.
Best to you and your family, Stephanie
Stephanie -
My heart goes out to you right now… because I know just how hard we work as mothers, to create magic, and not hurt for our children.
But, this will pass. It always does. As each one of my own children figured it out for themselves, I engaged them in the magic of Christmas for their younger siblings. This becomes great fun, and is truly a right of passage for all – in the “know”:-)
tDMg
Kathryn Skaggs
Hi Stehanie:
In the late 1800s, a young girl named Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of the New York Sun. I found it at http://www.newseum.org/yes virginia/
I hope this will be helpful to Matt.
Rachel
Hi Kathryn,
Thank you so much! Matt is a dear boy and he is so excited to see his younger cousins this weekend. He loves playing with them all and will be great in his new role as a “Santa’s helper.”
All the best, Stephanie
Hi Rachel,
I love the Virgina letter!! Thank you for finding it for me. I can’t wait to share it with Matt.
Merry Christmas,
Stephanie
Stephanie,
We are dealing with the same thing in our house tonight as my 11 year old daughter, with a very loving and beautiful heart was crushed today at school as kids talked about Santa at lunch and stressed that there is not one. One of her friends tried to hush the boy and discretely told him, “she still believes”. My daughter saw this and then another girl at the lunch table said “Oh waahhh, the baby still believes” My daughter then felt compelled to say “No I don’t!” My heart is so sad for her. We have talked at length tonight and she knows that I still have all of the joy and love and MAJIC of Christmas in my heart as does she. We talked of St. Nick, I plan to buy a book on St. Nicholas tomorrow and read it with her and remind her of the beauty and majic in the giving. On Christmas I will put sacagawea gold coins in her stocking ( along with all of her other treasures) as a token of the $ that St. Nick left for the children in their socks so many years ago. Good luck to you.
Merry Christmas
Hi Jillian,
I am so sorry to hear about your daughter’s experience at school. Some children can be so heartless, calling others names! St. Nick is a special story to share, and my mother told me more about him. She said that we can assure our children that a miracle occurred after St. Nick passed – parents continued the gold coin traditions for their families in the spirit of St. Nick.
All the best to you and your daughter.
Merry Christmas! Stephanie