Comments on: Rock? Meet Hard Place. http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/21/rock-meet-hard-place/ I'm the scofflaw in your mother'hood Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:39:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.1 by: Jen http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/21/rock-meet-hard-place/#comment-3806 Fri, 28 Dec 2007 16:05:07 +0000 http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/21/rock-meet-hard-place/#comment-3806 It's days after Christmas and I'm just now catching up on your blog. I remember that I was about Diva Girl's age when I figured out that my mom was Santa, but I played along for my sister's sake (she's 5 years my junior). The next year, my mom took me aside and softly asked whether I knew the secret of Santa at our house, I replied "Yes, but I like keeping Samantha believing in him." For years after that, my mom and I had that special connection and would revel in watching my little sister open all her gifts with such wonderment. And, honestly, it was a lot more fun for me to "fake it" for her sake that I remember Christmas mornings being when I believed in him myself. I think it was that extended magic that helped the three of us (my mom, sister, and I) to continue the little joke about Santa even to this day (I am 26 and my sister is 21, and we refuse to let go of that last fleeting hope that Santa is real). I also wanted to say that I absolutely love verybadcat's response above. That is truly special, and I hope to remember that when it comes time for my son to learn about Santa (he's only 15 months old now, so I've got years and years ahead of me). It’s days after Christmas and I’m just now catching up on your blog. I remember that I was about Diva Girl’s age when I figured out that my mom was Santa, but I played along for my sister’s sake (she’s 5 years my junior). The next year, my mom took me aside and softly asked whether I knew the secret of Santa at our house, I replied “Yes, but I like keeping Samantha believing in him.” For years after that, my mom and I had that special connection and would revel in watching my little sister open all her gifts with such wonderment. And, honestly, it was a lot more fun for me to “fake it” for her sake that I remember Christmas mornings being when I believed in him myself. I think it was that extended magic that helped the three of us (my mom, sister, and I) to continue the little joke about Santa even to this day (I am 26 and my sister is 21, and we refuse to let go of that last fleeting hope that Santa is real).

I also wanted to say that I absolutely love verybadcat’s response above. That is truly special, and I hope to remember that when it comes time for my son to learn about Santa (he’s only 15 months old now, so I’ve got years and years ahead of me).

]]> by: landismom http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/21/rock-meet-hard-place/#comment-3455 Wed, 26 Dec 2007 02:35:29 +0000 http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/21/rock-meet-hard-place/#comment-3455 You dodged a bullet there! We lost Santa this year. It wasn't pretty. You dodged a bullet there!

We lost Santa this year. It wasn’t pretty.

]]> by: Sandi http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/21/rock-meet-hard-place/#comment-3129 Sun, 23 Dec 2007 20:28:12 +0000 http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/21/rock-meet-hard-place/#comment-3129 I just had this conversation with my mother last night. My son is 3 1/2 and ready to learn about the true meaning of Christms, but since my faith has been totally shaken, I have ignored that lesson and this Christmas is all about commercialism and Santa. I'm well aware that this is completely the wrong thing to do, but I'm doing it anyway. I just had this conversation with my mother last night. My son is 3 1/2 and ready to learn about the true meaning of Christms, but since my faith has been totally shaken, I have ignored that lesson and this Christmas is all about commercialism and Santa. I’m well aware that this is completely the wrong thing to do, but I’m doing it anyway.

]]> by: SweetyPi http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/21/rock-meet-hard-place/#comment-2978 Sat, 22 Dec 2007 05:30:45 +0000 http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/21/rock-meet-hard-place/#comment-2978 That's awesome! I loved teachers like that, and almost oops. The Boy seems to want to believe (he's in 6th grade you know) so I haven't told him there is no such thing as santa, but I did threaten him that if he didn't believe in Santa, all the presents for him would magically disappear. I'm a mean mom I know, but I have two daughters that still believe in everything I tell them:) That’s awesome! I loved teachers like that, and almost oops. The Boy seems to want to believe (he’s in 6th grade you know) so I haven’t told him there is no such thing as santa, but I did threaten him that if he didn’t believe in Santa, all the presents for him would magically disappear. I’m a mean mom I know, but I have two daughters that still believe in everything I tell them:)

]]> by: verybadcat http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/21/rock-meet-hard-place/#comment-2917 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:38:25 +0000 http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/21/rock-meet-hard-place/#comment-2917 I don't know if it's time to spill the beans, but I do know that when we figured it out, our Mom told us that the spirit of Santa was in all of us. She said that she buys us presents, and then we clean out our toys and give what we don't have room for to the kids whose parents can't afford to buy them presents, and the mitten tree, and the canned food drive- that Santa is alive because we are all Santa because we take care of each other. I don’t know if it’s time to spill the beans, but I do know that when we figured it out, our Mom told us that the spirit of Santa was in all of us. She said that she buys us presents, and then we clean out our toys and give what we don’t have room for to the kids whose parents can’t afford to buy them presents, and the mitten tree, and the canned food drive- that Santa is alive because we are all Santa because we take care of each other.

]]> by: Amber http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/21/rock-meet-hard-place/#comment-2915 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:19:29 +0000 http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/21/rock-meet-hard-place/#comment-2915 Whatever you say to Diva Girl will be kinder than what her peers will say. When I was in grade 4 a little girl brought in her letter from Santa for show-and-tell and it was supremely ugly. I wouldn't want to subject my kid to that, especially at a school where she's still the new kid. I do think it's great, though, that Diva Girl still has this faith. You've clearly created a lot of magical memories for her. This is what she'll remember for the rest of her life, no matter when she gives up literal belief in Jolly Old St. Nick. Whatever you say to Diva Girl will be kinder than what her peers will say. When I was in grade 4 a little girl brought in her letter from Santa for show-and-tell and it was supremely ugly. I wouldn’t want to subject my kid to that, especially at a school where she’s still the new kid.

I do think it’s great, though, that Diva Girl still has this faith. You’ve clearly created a lot of magical memories for her. This is what she’ll remember for the rest of her life, no matter when she gives up literal belief in Jolly Old St. Nick.

]]> by: bubandpie http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/21/rock-meet-hard-place/#comment-2913 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:20:12 +0000 http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/21/rock-meet-hard-place/#comment-2913 A friend of mine was saying just last night that her FOUR-year-old was asking whether Santa Claus was real, and the parents are divided on how to answer. It seems so sad to me to think of losing that magic so early - I was six and I thought even that was too early. A friend of mine was saying just last night that her FOUR-year-old was asking whether Santa Claus was real, and the parents are divided on how to answer. It seems so sad to me to think of losing that magic so early - I was six and I thought even that was too early.

]]> by: Lady M http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/21/rock-meet-hard-place/#comment-2912 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:14:07 +0000 http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/21/rock-meet-hard-place/#comment-2912 My sister and I still officially believe in Santa Claus, because when you stop believing, you don't get your stocking filled. ;) My sister and I still officially believe in Santa Claus, because when you stop believing, you don’t get your stocking filled. ;)

]]> by: Sheryl http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/21/rock-meet-hard-place/#comment-2911 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:07:41 +0000 http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2007/12/21/rock-meet-hard-place/#comment-2911 Oh, no. That is a tricky situation, indeed. I don't know what I'd do in your shoes. Probably try to dissuade her from the show and tell with probing questions about WHY she feels the need to provide this service for her fellow students. Maybe try to convince her that no one needs convincing, or that the Santa experience is different from everyone, and perhaps Santa hadn't been so kind to the other kids in her class. Not lies, exactly, but suggestions around the truth? Good luck to you -- and please do let us know how it turns out! Oh, no. That is a tricky situation, indeed. I don’t know what I’d do in your shoes. Probably try to dissuade her from the show and tell with probing questions about WHY she feels the need to provide this service for her fellow students. Maybe try to convince her that no one needs convincing, or that the Santa experience is different from everyone, and perhaps Santa hadn’t been so kind to the other kids in her class. Not lies, exactly, but suggestions around the truth? Good luck to you — and please do let us know how it turns out!

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