Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

I recently saw this on Pinterest and wanted to make sure I saved it for my little girl.  It is a letter from parents to their child, who has recently discovered that Santa isn't real.  Our little girl learned about Santa from school.  We aren't against Santa, but we haven't figured out how we will incorporate him, if at all, into Christmas.

My husband grew up in a family at was all about the REAL story of Christmas instead of Santa.  My parents tried their darndest to make me believe in Santa, but I figured it out at an early age.  We both grew up in Christian homes.  Whether or not Santa takes away from the story of Baby Jesus seems to be the central question.  Then there is the issue of your children being angry for being lied to.  This letter answers all of those issues in a very sweet and heart-felt way.  This is what it says:

"Dear Ryan,

You asked a really good question, 'Are Mom and Dad really Santa?'  We know that you want to know the answer, and we had to give it careful thought to know just what to say.

The answer is no.  We are not Santa.  There is no one, single Santa.

We are the people who fill your stocking and choose and wrap the presents under the tree- just as our parents did for us, their parents did for them, and you will do for your kids someday.

This could never make any of us Santa, though.  Santa is lots and lots of people who keep the spirit of Christmas alive.  He lives in our hearts- not at the North Pole.  Santa is the magic and love and spirit of giving to others.  What he does is teach children to believe in something that they can't see or touch.  Throughout your life you will need this capacity to believe: in yourself, in your family, in your friends, and in God."

At two, our little one is just starting to understand the joys of Christmas.  Whether Santa brings the presents to your house or Mommy & Daddy, we wish you a very Merry Christmas.