Santa is not the reason for the commercialism of the season.
December 10th 2006 23:42
When did Santa become evil?
That's what I want to know? I grew up in a Catholic family. My sister and I went to Catholic schools. Santa visited the school every year. It wasn't THAT big of a deal. Santa never took away from the religious aspect of the holiday. Santa was awesome!
In the last few years, I've noticed a trend among parents. Being part of the parenting community online has always been very insightful for me. I've learned things I never would have learned otherwise. One thing I have learned is that for some reason, people are really troubled over Santa. I don't get it.
They feel that by "doing" Santa they're teaching their children to want, want, want at Christmas time. Huh? I don't even see how that is possible. In my opinion, if your children want, want, want at Christmas time, that isn't because you introduced Santa into their lives, it's because you taught them that. You can have SAnta without the commercialism. Santa has been around for hundreds of years. Commercialism, is fairly new. You know why he isn't the reason, because YOU'RE in charge of Santa. Santa can do whatever you want him to do. Santa can bring them one gift, or all their gifts, or some gifts, or just a stocking. In my house, Santa brings one big gift. Usually the big "Wow" present of the day, and a stocking. Which brings up another point people make about why Santa is bad. They feel like Santa is getting credit for the gifts they bought.
Give me a fucking BREAK people!! Is your self esteem THAT low, that you would rather your child miss out on a fabulous holiday tradition so you can get CREDIT for a gift or gifts? This blows my mind, because of the selfishness behind it. "Oh Boohoo, Santa (who is ME) gets credit for the bike I got like Jakey for Christmas. I'm so sad" How bout this? When the kids says "Santa is the best!! Thanks Santa" Just remind yourself of this one little nugget of info. REady? YOU'RE fucking Santa Clause. YOU'RE the one who bought the bike,and it made you child happy. Because the kid isn't kissing your ass, you feel bad? Get over yourself!!
Also, people get upset becuase you're lying to your kids. Another one, I have a hard time wrapping my mind around. Is it really lying, firstly? So, anytime a kid believes that by clapping their hands, Tinkerbell comes to life, or that their imaginary friend is sitting at the dinner table, you're just going to spell the truth out there for them? Tinkerbell is just a flashlight, and their imaginary friend is just that, imaginerary? Santa is a great exercise in imagination first of all. Put two kids togehter and have them draw the north pole, I guarantee they wouldn't be the same. Ask two kids how they think reindeer fly? One would say magic food, the other would say because they fart a lot. Either way could work in a childs mind.
In this world filled with just crap, war, murder, drugs, violence, what's wrong with feeding our kids a healthy, old fashioned dose of imaginary magic? Where's the harm in that? I didn't feel betrayed by my parents when I found out he wasn't real. Now as a parent, I have great fun with surprising my children on Christmas morning. Or when Aislinn's teeth fall out and we slide a dollar or two under her pillow. To see their eyes wide with wonder that once again, MAGIC happened? Why, you couldn't PAY me to not do it.
That's what I want to know? I grew up in a Catholic family. My sister and I went to Catholic schools. Santa visited the school every year. It wasn't THAT big of a deal. Santa never took away from the religious aspect of the holiday. Santa was awesome!
In the last few years, I've noticed a trend among parents. Being part of the parenting community online has always been very insightful for me. I've learned things I never would have learned otherwise. One thing I have learned is that for some reason, people are really troubled over Santa. I don't get it.
They feel that by "doing" Santa they're teaching their children to want, want, want at Christmas time. Huh? I don't even see how that is possible. In my opinion, if your children want, want, want at Christmas time, that isn't because you introduced Santa into their lives, it's because you taught them that. You can have SAnta without the commercialism. Santa has been around for hundreds of years. Commercialism, is fairly new. You know why he isn't the reason, because YOU'RE in charge of Santa. Santa can do whatever you want him to do. Santa can bring them one gift, or all their gifts, or some gifts, or just a stocking. In my house, Santa brings one big gift. Usually the big "Wow" present of the day, and a stocking. Which brings up another point people make about why Santa is bad. They feel like Santa is getting credit for the gifts they bought.
Give me a fucking BREAK people!! Is your self esteem THAT low, that you would rather your child miss out on a fabulous holiday tradition so you can get CREDIT for a gift or gifts? This blows my mind, because of the selfishness behind it. "Oh Boohoo, Santa (who is ME) gets credit for the bike I got like Jakey for Christmas. I'm so sad" How bout this? When the kids says "Santa is the best!! Thanks Santa" Just remind yourself of this one little nugget of info. REady? YOU'RE fucking Santa Clause. YOU'RE the one who bought the bike,and it made you child happy. Because the kid isn't kissing your ass, you feel bad? Get over yourself!!
Also, people get upset becuase you're lying to your kids. Another one, I have a hard time wrapping my mind around. Is it really lying, firstly? So, anytime a kid believes that by clapping their hands, Tinkerbell comes to life, or that their imaginary friend is sitting at the dinner table, you're just going to spell the truth out there for them? Tinkerbell is just a flashlight, and their imaginary friend is just that, imaginerary? Santa is a great exercise in imagination first of all. Put two kids togehter and have them draw the north pole, I guarantee they wouldn't be the same. Ask two kids how they think reindeer fly? One would say magic food, the other would say because they fart a lot. Either way could work in a childs mind.
In this world filled with just crap, war, murder, drugs, violence, what's wrong with feeding our kids a healthy, old fashioned dose of imaginary magic? Where's the harm in that? I didn't feel betrayed by my parents when I found out he wasn't real. Now as a parent, I have great fun with surprising my children on Christmas morning. Or when Aislinn's teeth fall out and we slide a dollar or two under her pillow. To see their eyes wide with wonder that once again, MAGIC happened? Why, you couldn't PAY me to not do it.
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Summer Banks
Romance Writers
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by AnneNY
Comment by Candice
I can't help but think there's a bit of 'a go' at me there seeing I posted on this topic and said a couple of things you've criticised here. I didn't know you felt that way because it didn't come across in the comment you made on my blog. Anyhow ....
I got quite a lot of criticism for my post, and I think what I wrote has been misconstrued (I obviously wasn't too good at writing that one!). Santa's been a great tradition in my family and will continue to be but I do think the concept of Santa has changed.
There's no denying that the retail industry uses Santa as a sales technique. After all, Coca Cola did use him as a marketing tool and it's carried on from there. For this reason, I think Santa stands apart from tooth fairies, Easter bunnies and many other wonderful imaginary critters and creatures.
I totally agree with you that it's great for kids to have this magic in their lives and everything else you said. But I think too, it's okay to question the exploitation of this. In my post I didn't mean parents personally teach their kids to want but that the way Santa is often presented in shops etc is. It's great fun to do things like Santa but personally, I wanted to think about how I'd want the story to go when it was time to tell it to my daughter.
Comment by Sandi
When I write, I do not write so much with the Orble community in mind. I write in reference to MY life with My friends involved.
I am sorry if this has caused you offense.
Comment by Candice
Comment by Anonymous
I have a four-year-old daughter, and she will not be brought up believing in "God Lite". Believe it or not, some thinking people can actually disagree with you, and have good reasons for it--unrelated to "bad self esteem", as you put it.
I'm not going to lay out all of my reasoning to you, but some of the main ones are:
I don't believe in lying to my child. And yes, it is a lie. Not only is it a lie, it is a lie that requires more and more elaborate methods of deceit as time goes by, particularly when the child begins to ask questions about Santa Claus.
I don't want to indoctrinate my child into a manner of thinking that allows for supernatural (and yes, that is the correct term--supernatural) phenomena. Teaching her to accept that kind of nonsense will stifle critical thinking skills. "But how do reindeer fly?" "It's magic. Don't think about it. Have a cookie."
I have no desire to teach her that some magical man is able to watch her at all times, no matter what she is doing. ("He sees you when you're sleeping...he knows when you're awake...")
Further, I am disgusted by the notion of teacher her that this magical man passes judgment on her as well ("He knows if you've been bad or good..."). And there will be no grading on a curve--you're either "naughty" or "nice".
I was told the Santa Claus lie by my parents. When I finally figured out the truth, I felt stupid for having believed it. The Santa Claus myth hurt my self-esteem.
You say that Santa can be whatever a parent wants him to be. He can give one present, or all of them. Sure, great. But what if Santa gives my child two presents, and gives her friend ten? What then? Do I simply need to think up some nice, colorful lies?
What if we're having trouble making ends meet, and can only afford to buy her a couple books--while all her friends get video games or other expensive toys? How do I lie that one away?
The fact that you are so passionate about Santa Claus, and the fact that you bend so far over backwards to perpetuate this lie to your child, simply means that Santa Claus is about what YOU want, and not what your child wants.
Comment by Sandi