This is my fourth Christmas season as a mother and I still haven't decided how Santa Claus fits into our yearly traditions. I've always felt weird telling L about this jolly old fellow who starts showing up in malls this time of year, wants her to sit on his lap so she'll spill her deepest wishes for Christmas and then he's going to sneak into our house one night to leave surprises for us. It just seems silly and it doesn't help with our effort to keep the commercial aspects of Christmas at bay.
Of course, I remember as a child being swept up in the magic of the "Miracle on 34th Street." I also recall the year Santa left me the Rainbow Bright doll I had dreamed of having right there on the tiny chair I left for her under the Christmas tree before heading to bed. Setting all of my qualms with Santa aside, I've decided there's always room for a little magic on Christmas Eve.
So without any overt exposure, N and I have waited for the stories and anticipations of St. Nicholas to filter into L's awareness over the past few years. And here's how L is understanding it now.
Last year we borrowed a book about Charlie Brown's Christmas and L studied it carefully for weeks before Christmas. She saw the children writing letters to Santa and she wanted to do the same. I took dictation as she spoke warm greetings to Mr. Claus and asked simply that he would bring her a candy cane that year. The mailman took the letter and on Christmas morning, the classic stripy peppermint confection was indeed in her stocking. L remembers how sweet it was and she is anxious to welcome Santa back into our home for more midnight surprises. Today L was thinking about the logistics of Santa's visit while we peeled Clementines at the lunch table.
"How will Santa open the fence on the fireplace?" she asked, referring to the grating and doors on the front.
She hopped down from the table and inspected the hearth.
"Oh, he can just open them," she concluded. And then he would freely pop out from the fireplace and enter our cozy livingroom for easy stocking-stuffing.
"And if I hear something go bump on the roof while I'm sleeping, I'll know it's just Santa," she said in a reassuring tone.
Later, after lunch I found L in her room, cradling her baby doll in bed because: "Baby Ella heard a bump on the roof and she needed to sleep with me because she was afraid."
"Santa has experience with these things," I said. "He knows how to be quiet on the rooftops so as not to wake the children."
L smiled. Good old Santa.
When I asked L if Santa is real or just pretend, she said: "Just pretend." Then I asked if he would be coming to our house for real on Christmas Eve. "Yes," she said.
And I suppose he will.
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful entry. It was an absolute pleasure to read.
ReplyDeleteYou could send this entry in to a woman's magazine for publication. It is precious and my grand daughter is amazing.
ReplyDeleteThank you! WD here I come!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, D.
ReplyDeleteOh D, what a sweet story. L is so good. K's also been curious about the logistics of Santa's visit this year. She's asking so many questions about the sleigh--How can Santa land if there's no snow? How will he get off the rooftop since we don't have a chimney? He can't land in the yard, Mommy, our big tree will get in his way!--I finally had to direct her to Daddy. He's a pilot too, I told her, so he knows everything about flying sleighs. It's always an adventure, isn't it?
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