Santa.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I am not a huge fan of the Santa ruse. However, I feel pressured and obligated to keep it up as long as necessary. I fear if I don't keep it up my children will be weird, not succeed in school, not get in to college, won't be able to get a job, will have no friends, and will generally be unhappy for the rest of their lives.

Parents seem to be pretty divided on this subject, but thankfully I have discovered some folks share my opinion about our absurd parental behaviors. Take this discussion on Babble, for example. Any conversation about Santa that includes Bradley Cooper is a winner in my book. I'm pretty sure all conversations would be better if they included Bradley Cooper in some way.

Succumbing to peer pressure (sorry kids)

Because I'm not big on the Santa business, I have never forced the whole "sit on Santa's lap for a picture" thing with my girls. When my oldest was our only child, she was way too scared of him to even consider a picture. I was OK with that, except I felt horrible and stupid for even making an attempt at a picture. Last year when our baby was a baby, we had a neighborhood party that included Santa so I just went with it (so my children wouldn't be weird - damn peer pressure). The baby was OK - my oldest not so much. So again, I felt bad for putting them through the experience.

Fast forward to this week when we happened to be at a mall with some of our family. While spending some time with these family members we rarely see, my darling five year old was very easily talked into to visiting Santa. My toddler would have no part in it, but my big girl just went right up to Santa to tell him about all the My Little Ponies she wants and posed for a picture. I'm pretty sure they are best friends now.

One year later: BFFs

So now I am knee deep in the Santa business. And my daughter is happy. So basically, I just need to get over it, right?

Yeah, that really doesn't work for me.

For now, I just try to not talk about Santa. If my daughter talks about him then I will just go along with her. I would rather just omit him from the conversation than force my point of view on her. The thing I don't want to do is use him as a threat. I have already found myself doing that with our Elf on the Shelf when my five year old is being difficult. Again, I feel foolish for even uttering the words, "Edward can see you - do you want him to tell Santa how you were acting?" Yuck. I can't believe I really said that.

So, what is my problem with Santa, you ask?

My first problem with Santa is the lying. This is the same problem I have with the Elf on the Shelf.

My second problem with Santa is that Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, and Santa (as he is viewed today) has nothing to do with that and everything to do with the "buy your kids more stuff they don't need so they will be cool (and you totally suck if you don't)" thing.

My third problem with Santa is he gets all the credit for giving my kids cool stuff. Bastard.