I didn't take this picture, but it was the best one I could find from searching google images. This morning I heard a siren coming down our street and looked out the window expecting some signs of peril. To my surprise, I saw Santa riding on top of a fire engine waving to everyone. I called out to the kids to open the front door so they could see Santa. For the rest of the day Adriana was counting the times in her life that she has seen Santa Claus. We just saw him last night at our ward Christmas party too. Ariel looked shocked and said to me, "Mom, that is not the real Santa, " Incredulously, the tone of her voice was more like, "Can you believe the lies and deception they are perpetuating here?" It reminded me of when we were in the Museum of Fine Art in Boston the day after Thanksgiving and she came up to me equally as shocked saying, "Mom, they have pictures of disgusting body parts here!" I explained to her that the human body is a beautiful thing and so many artists like to paint it or sculpt it. It was a lot for her to take in. Anyway, later today she asked me if Jack (our Christmas mouse) was real. She said it like, "Jack isn't real because Santa wasn't real." But it was more of a question that needed a confirmation. She was so serious I almost cracked up. Before I confirmed anything, I had to find out if she was talking about the Santa at the party last night or Santa Claus in general, because last year we had a very logical discussion about all of Santa's helpers who dress up like him around Christmas time to go to all of the Christmas parties and events, but I guess she forgot about that, because if Brother Espinoza was dressing up like Santa last night and some random fireman was dressing up like him today, he can't be R-E-A-L (she spelled it out). After she figured it all out for herself I had to make her promise not to tell Adriana and Annika and ruin it for them, before I confirmed it, . . . then came the barrage of questions. One of my favorites was, "Do you and Papa really climb down the chimney?" and "If it wasn't really Santa who brought my presents last year, where did you get them from?""The toy store."
"Oh."
It is a little sad, but Emily warned me that 2nd grade is when they start to figure it out.
Well I better get back to my time consuming project that I have to finish before we head out to Texas. I can't really say much about it except that I'll post lots of pictures of it after a certain wedding, I just want it to be a surprise, not that these to lovebirds have time to be reading my blog, but just in case.
5 comments:
What a crack up! My youngest is 7 and I dread the day he figures it out--Christmas is so much funner when there is still a believer in the house. I was ten and still believing when my twin sister pulled me aside one day and dropped the bomb on me out of the clear blue sky (she was mad at me for something--mostly just for being me, I suspect). I cried for two hours.
Heather, you are a dear! Let me tell you a secret. Anytime you see someone that you think is "doing it"--they aren't. They just aren't and I am NOT. I wrote my book when I had one child only. I am having a heck of a time finding how to get to writing another. As far as blogging goes, I am blessed with super fast reading and typing skills--that helps. However, because of it, I a way behind on Christmas. Yikes! I have read very few books since I started blogging--one big reason I haven't read BD, yet (btw, I just found out that one of the members of our bishopbric is cousin to Steph Meyer!) and my house is rarely clean. I have three kids--19, 13 and 7--the little one just started first grade. This is the first time I have really been able to order my day the way I wish (except for school pick up and drop off) and it has been a long time coming. However, doing the kid thing is the best! I wouldn't trade those years for novel or blogging superstardom for anything! (I am a bit concerned about Steph Meyer, though--I think she might look back and regret how much she missed of her kids' lives). The dali lama once said (or so it is rumored) "Success is measured only by the price you paid to get it." Love and hug and kiss your little darlings and enjoy every second of them--and don't forget to feed yourself with whatever it is that nurtures you--because you can't fill others from an empty vessel. Finding that balance is a mother's greatest challenge. Hugs!
My ten year-old probably doesn't believe (pretty sure he doesn't), but he has never said it. Maybe he is hedging his bets!
It sure is fun to have younger kids around during Christmas. I love it!
It's a bummer that Ariel has figured it all out now. But aren't you glad she got to have those, albeit few, years of magic? There's nothing like those years. I've heard some people say that "he who does not believe does not receive" meaning, if you don't believe, act like you do! Would hate to have it spoiled for the little ones. Is she taking it better than the fairy revelation?
This is so funny. I can't believe how strange it is for me, now that I share my husband's perspective, to read about people telling their kids that they've been lying to them for years! Or hoping that their child won't find out, or maybe they actually do know the truth etc. SO CRAZY!! Greg is absolutley against all forms of deception, really, and told Evie when she was two that Santa wasn't real. I was surprised and upset, but not for long. We still talk about Santa filling the stockings (that's all he does around here, no presents) but we all know what we mean. It's still fun.
Really, it was so interesting reading this! :)
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