magic

A couple weeks ago, in the spirit of the season, we decided to download the movie Fred Claus. Simple enough. Until the eight year old wheels of logic started turning in my son's head, and the interrogation began. "But how does Santa get in here if we don't have a chimney?" "Does he know the code to the alarm?" "How does he fly through the night when it's daytime on the other side of the world?" (That one made my head hurt). But we dutifully lied through our teeth as the questions got to be more and more detailed. "YES! We mailed him the key to the front door, ALRIGHT?!!"

A few days passed, and I guess it had been eating my husband up. Because the next thing I know, he waltzes into the room to casually announce that he has single-handedly informed our children (the youngest is THREE) that Santa Claus is indeed NOT REAL.

Me: "Are you serious?"

Him: "Yep, I was sick of lying to them."

Me: "Well, why don't you just tell them about the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. And while you're at it, tell them how babies are made. For good measure, why don't you just pour them a drink?!"

But the damage had been done. Or so we thought. A few more days passed, when my oldest asks my husband, "If Santa's not real, then who always eats all those cookies after we go to bed?"

My husband could see in his eyes how much he desperately wanted Santa to be real. He said, "You know what...I never thought about that. But you're right...the cookies ARE always gone the next morning. Maybe he really IS real afterall!" All three children tuned in. And by the end of the conversation, Santa was alive and well again. And so was the possibility of magic. It made me realize that sometimes it's not important to have all the answers, because so much joy comes from just having the faith to believe.

What do you believe in this Christmas Eve?

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Comments

[Kirsten]

What a wonderful story! I'm glad your kids couldn't be thwarted with the truth...it's great to still have a little magic for the season!

[Jennifer]

If you don't believe... he won't come. And who wants to chance that?? Great story~

[Shelby]

What a lovely story! And a gorgeous photo

[Wanda]

I believe...I believe...I believe...in the power of snow, today--but mostly in the power of love.

[Syd]

I don't have children yet. So, I only have my own experience. I don't think anyone ever told me there was no Santa. My father used to tease me, saying he heard the hoofs on the roof while I was sleeping. And one year I remember hearing bells. I wonder if my Dad, in an effort to keep my believe alive, actually went outside and rung bells for me.

Eventually, I just figured it out on my own. No disappointment and sometimes I still like to think Santa is still out there and only delivers to good boys and girls. I'm tracking Santa now, hoping I've been good enough this year: http://www.noradsanta.org/en/home.html

[Christina]

Awww.. the spirit of children always save the day. Nice save, Santa. ; )

[Christy]

My heart sunk momentarily as I read that your Santa was no more, especially for the 3 year-old, then soared as he came back to life.

Santa is very much alive and well in our house for our 4 year old, although we have already had to explain why one day his beard was long and the next it was short, eek! Yet even though she questions, she still has that blind faith about her. Next year I am sure the questions will increase, and I am mentally and emotionally preparing myself for that.

Until then though, we believe.

Merry Christmas to all!

[gonzomama]

i believe 'christmas claus' is going to make our boy so happy with the wonder of it all!

[Karen]

I do miss that time when they still believe. Mine are all adults now, but the magic of the season lives on, even if they've lost the magic of Santa. Great story.

[Jakki]

Oh my God...why does that have me almost in tears! Dang PMS, Halmark commercials and Lifetime Channel!

I'm a crying mess lately over the holidays simplely because I remember when my two believed in Santa. Its better, somewhat, because once they found out who it was they understood how much MONEY went into it but at the same token, it seemed like innocence lost in a major way.

[Emme]

Great post! (sorry if this is a repeat entry...I tried before and I don't think it went through)

[Safire]

I believe in the birth of our Lord, the Savior of our world.

[jenfarnam]

I believe in Santa. When we were kids, on Christmas eve we always went on a drive looking for Santa. It seems that there was alway's a plane flying above with a flashing red light that we alway's believed to be Santa and Rudolph!!

[Sheri]

love me some blurb!!!

[Lori]

I believe children make Christmas magicial regardless of what they believe.

[MelodyA.]

Still Santa for at least one more year. We had to do some creative thinking to help our 7 yo keep the magic a little longer. I know she still really wanted to believe because it hasn't taken much convincing.

[Carol]

My kids are teenagers ... I've always told them that Santa only comes to those who believe in him. Case in point ... my stocking is always full! They roll their eyes, but believe none the less!

[Alli]

I believe in family and just being together. We aren't traveling for the first time since Christmas of 2003. And we have had a really nice, relaxing Advent. We've really been able to talk about the meaning of Christmas and focus on others way more than in the past five years. This week my husband has been home working on Christmas present/ projects and it has just been wonderful to be together.

[Sandra]

What a lovely story! Glad to know they still believe in Santa. I still believe in the magic of Christmas!

[Hay]

I believe that everyday is Christmas. My kids know that Santa isn't real, but love is.

[Secret Agent Mama]

Great give-a-way! Oh I hope I win.

Our children believe in the magic of Santa, though I believe that they know that Santa is in everyone's heart and not a physical man that comes down the chimney. It's ok that they believe, though. There's a certain innocence tied to it.

Tonight we'll watch It's a Wonderful Life and remember the true meaning of Christmas. Loving, Giving, and Togetherness!

[Freda]

I'm going to lie to my kids for as long as I can! I enjoy the magic of Christmas and want my kids to enjoy it as long as possible!

[Kath]

I believe that it is all wonderful. My friend dodged the Santa question by answering, "Why honey, Santa is just as real as the Easter Bunny." So that was settled because of course the Easter Bunny was real!
Happy Holidays everyone.

[Jenny]

What a wonderful story! Merry Christmas!

[Heather]

My oldest son is ten, and still believes.

I love that. :)

[deir]

Merry Christmas "Me" says my daughter Eve to me this morning, subsituting "me" in place of Eve. Too stinkin' cute! How long will she believe?

[Esperanza P.]

I believe in the magic of believing :)

[brittany]

how cute are kids!

[Golden]

Sheesh, those 8 year olds are something, huh? I have one here and the questions are so, so, specific, so smart. I think this year mught be it. I just hope it happens in some way that it is preserved for my 4 year old!

[ELK]

he's coming tonight and mine are 16 and 20....but they stay up so late Santa comes early early morning....magic wishes to you all my sisters!

[Camille]

Great story~
We are just really believing in the power and love of family this year. We've had some loss and serious illness, being together just means everything!

[Blazey]

This Christmas Eve I believe I will be having a white Christmas. Which is very odd weather-wise in the Pacific Northwest, but I also believe it is quite beautiful. http://blazeyphotography.blogspot.com/2008/12/winter-wonderland.html

[simplystork]

I believe that my package will arrive before I need to leave today :o)

a girl can hope right :o)

(our magic )

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A1Xbjk4uEks/SVELU482YpI/AAAAAAAAH3Q/romokU0iOAc/s1600-h/still3.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A1Xbjk4uEks/SVELEAGZ_QI/AAAAAAAAH24/sTgeyXItP0U/s1600-h/still7.jpg


~simply~

[Kyla]

My kids are 5/12 and 2 this Christmas season . . . and from the time my oldest was small, I've always told her that God watches over all His children. (Even the older variety!) God knows everyone who is naughty and everyone who is nice . . . and He keeps a list, which He passes off to Santa, right before Christmas. I want my kids to know the REAL reason we celebrate Christmas, but I don't want to leave out the magic of Santa, either. And at this point in time, I BELIEVE we've got a good balance.

[Julie]

Merry Christmas. Thanks for sharing such a sweet story.
julie

[Mami Dearest]

We still believe. My boys are 9 and 6. We are tracking Santa online tonight and also scattering magic reindeer food out back. No matter how old I am....I still belive and hope my boys will too :)

[anna]

Being able to make the most of our altered plans - snow snow and more snow has disabled any kind of travel, so we are having an impromtu Christmas with neighbours and friends who had to abandon plans. It will be a great way to make the most of the situation!

[joy]

This is just amazing!! I don't have children (infertility) so I don't have to deal with the issues of to tell or not to tell about Santa!!! But i remember the magic vanishing one day in December when I was a child!!

[Joscelyne Cutchens]

auwe maile! I'm glad to hear Santa is indeed alive and well. We believe in our home that if you don't believe, Santa doesn't come. of course Santa doesn't bring all the gifts, nor does he bring the biggest gifts, but we also let Santa know he didn't have to send us large gifts this year, so he could give gifts to more kids. We also believe in giving alternative gifts like malaria nets (through our church programs).

[Gypsy Alex]

Oh Maile! I don't even have kids, but just the thought of ending the magic makes me teary! I'm so glad you're stretching it as much as possible! Happy Holidays!

[patricia]

I love this post! I believe that Christmas is really for children, and that once a year faith and love are what fills their hearts. Christmas will be over in a while (in my part of the globe) but I love the spirit that it leaves in our hearts. Merry Christmas to everyone here at Shutter Sisters!

[Melissa]

This is just the post I needed tonight! We have 3 kids - 8,6 and 2. Our 8 year-old has asked some pretty tough "Santa" questions this year as well. We wants so deperately to believe. I told my husband last night that our 8 year run of "Santa" is coming to an end. It's so sad. I'm convinced once our 8 year-old figures it out he will spill the beans to the other 2! Merry Christmas!

[Toni]

My boys are adults now and for the first time we agreed that we weren't going to exchange presents this year. They are still getting gifts from Santa.

I believe in family, faith, and love. :)

[Gale]

So sad when your kids start to not believe. Knowing how to respond is always difficult. Loved your story.

[Risa]

Family...tradition...that the small things you do every year with your children is what they will truly treasure...and not the big gift that is forgotten by the next year. My kids are in their early 20s now, and what they want every year is the same cookies, same holiday music, the same ornaments that we've been hanging on the tree since they were three. Raising them as a single parent, the holidays were not always easy. But now I can see...that I've done something right and I'm blessed.

[Kaitlyn]

such a cute story ;)

[Lisa]

i believe Santa is real and he is in our hearts and thats is what i told my sons when they were up in age that i had to tell them something (now grown). They were very content with that and they couldn't say i ever lied because I didn't...he was alive the whole time...in ME. Now that my oldest is all grown up, i saw today Santa lives in his heart too!

[elizabeth]

the wonder and magic of childhood is what I feel every christmas eve. I wish for a bit of it everyday of the year!

[Tracie]

I LOVE this!

[[megan]]

I am newly married, and this is my first Christmas with my husband... it is also my first Christmas in the United States. I have come to realise how deeply my own family holiday traditions are ingrained in what I have always loved about the holiday, and I have found it deeply disconcerting to find that while my husband (and his family) celebrate Christmas, they don't really "celebrate" it. Gifts are bought and exchanged, turkey is cooked, but for all intents and purposes it could be just any other day.

I am really missing the celebration aspect of the holiday... and I believe whether we're celebrating by taking time to be with the people we love, or are celebrating by giving to those in need, or by instilling the magic and wonder of Santa and elves and flying reindeer into the hearts and minds of young children, or by reinvesting ourselves in our faith (and people of many faiths celebrate around this time of year)... however we choose to recognize the spirit of the season, I believe that celebration is an important aspect of the holidays.