There's No Such Thing As Santa Claus

"There's no such thing as Santa Claus," five-year-old Megan replied yesterday when I told her we were going to have Santa pictures made. Now, I know that everyone doesn't do Santa, or even Christmas for that matter. However, Brian and I have always enjoyed the fun of playing Santa. This year, I really just wanted to tell Josh and Megan the truth and be done with it. Brianna already knows and it would just make my life easier not to have to sit around until they fall asleep Christmas Eve so that we can play Santa, then, get up early with them to see what he brought. Plus, this fat guy in a red suit is getting all the credit for the best gifts! However, Brian balked. "She's just five years old!" he said. "Are you going to ruin her childhood?"

Okay, I really don't think telling her the truth about Santa is going to "ruin" her childhood, but the guilt trip worked and I decided we'd keep the fun going for at least another year. Then, yesterday, Megan comes out with this "no such thing as Santa" comment. Now, I've always said that I would not lie to my kids if they asked me, point-blank, about Santa, but I do always try to find out what they believe before I shoot down their childhood dreams. (Yeah, now he's got me doing the "ruin their childhood" line of thinking!) So, I asked her who she thought brought all the gifts. The parents. Did someone tell you there's no Santa? Nope. I just figured it out.

She's sounding really sure of herself and it will make my life easier if she knows, so I just said, "Well, there's no fooling you, is there? You're just one smart cookie." She just grinned. So, then, I called Josh upstairs and asked him if he believed there was a Santa. Yep! (This was said with complete conviction.) Megan pipes up and says, "There's no such thing as Santa Claus!" Sheesh! This kid's starting to sound like a broken record!

"Hey, leave him alone, " I say. "He can still believe in Santa if he wants to." (Did you see the way that I cleverly validated both of them without lying?? *grin*)

So, we went to get Santa pictures. He asks the standard "what would you like for Christmas" question. Brianna tells him she thinks she has everything she needs. (Yeah, right! Think I should hold her to her answer to Santa??) Josh tells him what he wants and Megan, very eagerly, tells him what she wants. Later, I asked her to tell Dad what she told me earlier about Santa Claus. Nope! She doesn't want to. "Did you change your mind?" Yep.

So, folks, apparently...Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.