Kids and Santa Claus.

[Kiwi Phil]

In this house I have always told my 14yr old Hayden, that when he stops believing in Santa Claus, then Santa Claus will no longer call on him and fill his stocking (which he leaves at the end of his bed).
When other kids working here ask Hayden if he believes in Santa, he says, "if you don't then he can't give you any presents in your stocking".
The kids then come to me "does Hayden still believe in Santa"
"I don't know, you had better ask him".
Well that completely confuses them.

Anyway Hayden always writes a note to Santa, puts out a cold beer and a carrot for Rudolf.

I always reply to his note in the context of Santa.
This year (mins ago) I told him he was one of the oldest kids I still call on, and if he wants me to call next year, I will.

2 days ago he asked for a Safe, so I apologized for not getting him one, as Mary the Fairy only bought it to my attention yesterday and I am all out of Safes.

His mother tells me he has kept all the notes over the years.
So we play this little game between us, both knowing the other knows, and all the other kids are confused as to what is going on.

My intention is giving him warm memories of a special time in his life.

Have a good Xmas everybody:
In 8hrs I will be up opening my presents from Santa.


Cheers
Phillip

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Kids and Santa Claus.

In this house I have always told my 14yr old Hayden, that when he stops believing in Santa Claus, then Santa Claus will no longer call on him and fill his stocking (which he leaves at the end of his bed).
When other kids working here ask Hayden if he believes in Santa, he says, "if you don't then he can't give you any presents in your stocking".
The kids then come to me "does Hayden still believe in Santa"
"I don't know, you had better ask him".
Well that completely confuses them.

Anyway Hayden always writes a note to Santa, puts out a cold beer and a carrot for Rudolf.

I always reply to his note in the context of Santa.
This year (mins ago) I told him he was one of the oldest kids I still call on, and if he wants me to call next year, I will.

2 days ago he asked for a Safe, so I apologized for not getting him one, as Mary the Fairy only bought it to my attention yesterday and I am all out of Safes.

His mother tells me he has kept all the notes over the years.
So we play this little game between us, both knowing the other knows, and all the other kids are confused as to what is going on.

My intention is giving him warm memories of a special time in his life.

Have a good Xmas everybody:
In 8hrs I will be up opening my presents from Santa.


Cheers
Phillip

Its these types of memories that last forever. Tradition is important and is something you'll most likely see him do with his own children in time.

Merry Xmas Phillip. Enjoy unwrapping yours in 8 hours. I unfortunately will be still wrapping mine then

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Kids and Santa Claus.

that is an absolutely fantastic tradition, but wait, 2 years and it will be a 4 wheel drive pickup, 3 years a center console to tow behing the truck. guess they are just too big to fit in the bag.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Kids and Santa Claus.

Cool tradition, Philip!

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Kids and Santa Claus.

That's the Christmas spirit Phill. We will be opening our presents in about 20 hour from now. Its just 12pm now.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Kids and Santa Claus.

That is really neat. I have four kids and it is really tough sometimes to have that personal effect, as odd as that sounds. It's great that he is still being a kid, even though our culture tells him not to.

One question, though.. He wants a safe?? Unless there is a translation problem, I find that a very odd request. (A safe being a hardended steel, often fireproof container with a combination lock to store money and valuables).

 

[pduquette]

Re: Kids and Santa Claus.

He might want the safe to keep his cherrished letters to santa from the rest of his mates!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Kids and Santa Claus.

Over the years we have gotten ornaments and store them in a special box. Recently I opened a smaller box I had found that my first wife had packed away. Inside were older Christmas cards we had received and things my Son wrote to Santa when he started grade school.

I could not hold back the tears in my eyes and carefully repacked that box ..... it was just a great feeling to handle those things from 25 years ago.

Phil that is absolutely a great idea...... keep it up.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Kids and Santa Claus.(2010 Update)

Re: Kids and Santa Claus.(2010 Update)

OK you blokes, 2 years on and there have been some minor changes.
This evening we discussed with him about leaving his stocking at the end of his bed etc, and he couldn't look at us - had to turn away -had a really soft uncontrollable smile on his face.
The outcome is, he has put a stocking out, and said this year he won't try hard to stay awake so he can catch Santa.
Tells me he has tried for years to stay awake to catch him but never has.
This year I may write the note in Mary the Fairy's name just for something different!

Have a good Xmas everybody:
In 8hrs I will be up opening my presents from Santa.
Cheers
Phillip

 

[aspeck]

Re: Kids and Santa Claus.

Too funny! Have fun keeping the tradition alive!

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: Kids and Santa Claus.

Great story!

Merry Christmas.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Kids and Santa Claus.

My two "lads" are 25 and 22 now. Every now and then we get out all their old letters to Santa and have a good laugh over them, such good memories. In a lot of ways, I miss those times. Now I tell them to make the best of everything, because we are creating the good old days.

 

[LonLB]

Re: Kids and Santa Claus.

To us, and me especially, "Santa" is more than just a fat old guy in a red suit that gives toys to kids.
It's a mindset. A spirit of giving that can not be duplicated any other time of the year.
Because of this, I try to keep the secret as hard as the possibly can, and then at some point I'll tell them what I meant by it all.....

And with luck because of this, they will still believe in Santa when they are a parent. Just like I do.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Kids and Santa Claus.

"" puts out a cold beer and a carrot for Rudolf ""

Rudolf likes beer? That must be what I've been doing wrong all these years.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Kids and Santa Claus.

This is the first year that my 4yo really gets it. He has been talking about santa for weeks. I haven't done much to "fool" him but I did sit down with him at the computer and do the NORAD santa tracker!! I told him that if he is awake when Santa gets here Santa won't be able to give him his presents.

He went to bed early!!! That never ever, ever happens. I'm going to wait until midnight and then put his presents out and go to bed. I just hope he doesn't wake me up at 5 am.