My thoughts on Santa...

This was last night’s new book that we added to our Christmas collection. I wrapped it up & gave it to the kids. They crack me up with how excited they get to open a gift.  

It had beautiful illustrations & a sweet story.  It’s the same author as Red & Lulu.  I didn’t know that but it makes sense. 

I laugh that we still do Santa at our house after all the pondering I did about it with my older kids.  Although, I realize now, that there are far weightier matters than whether to believe in Santa or not as they grow older. (Side note- If I could go back I’d lose less sleep about such things & I’d save my grey hairs for their middle school/ teenage years.)  🥴

That being said, I probably still wouldn’t have gone with Santa much this time around (just didn’t see the need) except that my daughter (who was 10 when Ezra was born & 13 when Eliana was born was dead set on telling these children all about Santa Clause.  She did all the things with them. The books, the movies, all of it!  It was amazing to see her little eyes sparkle as she told them all about Santa. A man who she knew wasn’t real.  🤫 

For me Christmas is all tied up with sweet memories of vintage Santa’s all over my house, warm family meals & glowing nativity scenes.  My mom has always loved Christmas & vintage jolly Santa’s too.  When I see one, it instantly brings me back to my childhood.  To twinkling Christmas lights, family movie nights & sausage balls cooking on Christmas morning.  Maybe for my daughter there’s a bit of that nostalgia too. 

After all, it’s the memories that we get to carry with us through life & the memories we get to give our children. When we see, say a Santa Clause figurine, does it bring us back to a good day. A good memory?  A part of childhood? I love that something that will be seen so much throughout their life, will remind them of home. 

No matter what sparks good memories for my children, whether the smell of gingerbread cookies, sausage balls or an old vintage Santa, I hope they have so many to choose from they can hardly stand it.