I love Christmas! I love cards and shopping and gifts and Christmas books and parties and the celebration of Jesus' birth! But this year I do not love SANTA.
He is making my life really difficult! Alan and Benson both really want some ski poles, last year we told them that if they mastered a blue run we would buy them ski poles this year. Alan also needs some new ski boots. Well, I always am on the lookout for ways to kill two birds with one stone, so we decided that they would get the poles and boots for Christmas, then that money would come out of the Christmas fund and it would all be great. In our family we have gift traditions, the boys get 4 gifts: 1. Whatever they ask for. 2. A surprise. 3. An outfit. and 4. Something spiritual. Well, all of these gifts come from Santa. So we thought the ski gear could be #4 ,the surprise. I didn't think this through too heavily and one Saturday when we had a couple of hours we took Alan to Park's, tried on some boots and bought them. We took both boys to several D.I.'s where they sell ski poles for $5 a set and purchased them. In front of Alan and Benson. They saw the money exchange hands. And we are planning to ski on the 19th. Before Christmas. With their new (and gently used!) ski gear. Benson wanted to 'try' his ski poles, George told him we had shipped them to Santa, unfortunately he neglected to actually ship them to Santa (or tell me that he was planning to) and Benson found them. Then Alan asked if Santa would get his ski boots in time if he skiied on them on the 19th and then we sent them to the North Pole. Now I'm feeling irritated that the big guy is getting all the credit for the expensive boots and cheap poles that I actually bought! Plus, don't you think the boys are going to be worried about all those shipping costs to the North Pole? I mean they're young, but they know how much shipping costs are! How has this lasted 9 whole years? I am not sneaky, I don't come up with ridiculous stories to explain why I bought the presents that are from Santa by LYING to my children (something I hope I've taught them not to do) about shipping them to someone so he can bring them back to our house later that month! My personal philosophy is to be vague and ask the boys what they think. They come up with way better stories than the gifts are going to be shipped to Santa (I'm being mean, it was a creative way to explain this--if they had been hidden better!) Merry Christmas everybody!
4 comments:
It's ok! Deep breaths! Remember the magic of the season and don't make it so complicated! Remind them of the Magic/Spirit of the Season. Miracles happen!
Thanks for the gmail invite!
Oh I LOVE it! I was going to wrap my presents from the big guy when the boys were over, but didn't because they're pretty smart and I was SURE they'd make the connection. As for keeping it a secret? I dunno how you've done it. I dunno how kids at school haven't spoiled it for Alan and Benson.
I'm with you . . . I hate that Santa gets the credit for all my hard thinking and my shopping in crowded shopping centers (oh, the terror) and my money. I'm ready to pull rug on that one. [rereading that makes me sound selfish . . . I'd just rather get them one thing from me and call it good;)]
That is pretty dang funny. You are creative. I am the worst. I'm all about the "magic" and surprises. But I get so excited I can't wait. By the time Christmas gets here, my kids are lucky if I haven't told them or shown them almost everything under the tree. And yet, they still believe in Santa, who knows why?
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