The Takeover

November 27, 2006

The Takeover

Whether or not I was ready, the world has begun its insidious takeover of my child's education. Somehow my one year old has discovered the joys of Santa Claus and can't stop talking about him. We were in a store the other day and I made her put back a stuffed animal when it was time to go home. She was very cheerful about it and said "Santa Claus present?" "Uh, yeah," I mumbled. Where did she get that from? I've been deciding whether or not to fully immerse her in the myth of Santa but it looks like it's already been done. There is a 4 foot tall Santa Clause outside the neighbor's door and she has to go over there multiple times a day to hug him and stroke his bag of toys.

And she thinks Jesus says, "Ho Ho Ho."

I just don't have the appropriate arsenal to fight this.

Comments

Anonymous said…

Eh... She'll figure it out in the end. I mean, is it so bad if she's unclear on the Jesus/Santa concept at one? Read her the Bible story of the birth of Christ and then explain that he and Santa Claus are buddies. That's the explanation I got from my Grandma as a tiny child, although it did lead to years of thinking that Jesus and Santa, like, watched football together.

11/27/2006 7:36 AM

Anonymous said…

i think most people start out idealistically on this one, thinking they will be the one family in history to not "lie" to their kids about santa. just like a lot of people swear they will NEVER let their kids play with barbies or play video games. going along with crowd starts pretty early!

i have only known one family who has ever successfully pulled off the "no santa" thing, and they were a group of religious families (not sure what religion, but the kind where ladies always wear dresses and never cut their hair) who lived out in the middle of nowhere and ran a private school for their kids and didn't let them interact with anyone outside of their group. you could always do that!!

11/27/2006 8:56 AM

Anonymous said…

Wait, is the problem that you don't want her even to know about the existence of Santa Claus? Because, dude... Santa Claus! The embodiment of the spirit of man's generosity to each other. How is that a bad thing? Are there really kids out there who were horrified to find out Santa didn't exist? Because, you know, eventually you put two and two together, realize that even though you KNOW Santa isn't real the presents from "Santa" keep showing up at yours and other people's houses... I don't recall being particularly distressed by this realization. Was I weird?

11/27/2006 9:48 AM

Anonymous said…

Santa, Satan, one LETTER apart! Coincidence? I think noT!

Just kidding. This is the classic first time mom freak out. Get over it. Bigger stuff is coming!

11/27/2006 10:29 AM

Sarah said…

It's not that I don't want to play along with Santa. It's just that up until now I've been the one to tell her about stuff ON MY OWN TERMS and now she's picking it up who knows where. Santa, Schmanta. Let the fat guy live. But don't blame me when she starts sacrificing cats to him. It wasn't my fault.

11/27/2006 11:44 AM

Anonymous said…

Hee! Sacrificing cats to Santa. Sorry, I shouldn't laugh.

Okay, yeah, I guess I understand that feeling. I mean if she were my kid, I'd be all "back off and let me fill her noggin full of fantasy myself, thanks." I think that's probably the most fun part of being a parent. I know my Dad still gets a giggle about the fact that I was CONVINCED until, like, the age of 13 that the car was not physically able to function if I had not fastened my seatbelt. In my defense, the man is an engineer, so I figured he would know these things.

Wait till she wants to wear makeup.

11/27/2006 12:23 PM

Celia Marie (W.) B. said…

Amanda, they were "non-denominational".

11/27/2006 3:35 PM

Annie said…

I think you can tell her all about Santa, just keep reminding her 'he's just pretend'. Then she will be super excited but not mad at you for lying. Actually, I was enchanted by the whole santa thing and didn't mind finding out that he was fake. Even at that young age I just knew that my parents were trying to do something special for me.

11/27/2006 3:40 PM

Suzie Petunia said…

I completely understand your dilemna. I hated started the Santa Claus lie. But like you say it was pretty much unavoidable. Now that my oldest has figured out there is no Santa (the first year that I know of - if she knew last year she was still playing along) I've discovered that it has done no lasting damage. She enjoys perpetuating the myth with her little brothers and somehow I think that is now part of the magic for her.

11/27/2006 3:43 PM

Suzie Petunia said…

I even wrote a post about it, kind of...

http://suziepetunia.blogspot.com/2005/07/oh-tangled-web-we-weave.html

11/27/2006 3:47 PM

dalene said…

WHAT??? There's no Santa? Are you kidding me???

11/27/2006 5:29 PM

Anonymous said…

I gotta say that it is refreshing to hear it from Adrienne's point of view. I played along with my parents for years after I already knew, just because I thought it was fun, and I think I would have felt ripped off if they hadn't played the whole santa game.

11/27/2006 9:36 PM

Anonymous said…

Dear Sarah,

What? You don't believe in me anymore? I still believe in you!

Love,

Santa

11/28/2006 6:05 AM