We get a holiday card every year from the medical study Kitty Cat is in. She has a gene. One that's not so great and could someday turn into something chronic (but probably won't). So the people who work for this study poke her and examine her toenail clippings and evaluate our drinking water.
I hate the whole endeavor, to be honest. But I know we're doing something good, helping to advance research, etcetera, etcetera.
The card is festive and is all "Happy Holidays! Season's Greetings! Thank you for collecting your daughter's poop every month and mailing it to our East Coast lab! Thank you for letting us draw her blood far more often than a baby/toddler/preschooler should have her blood drawn! Thank you for the privilege of also testing her for celiac disease and worrying the shit out of you this past summer even though it all came to nothing!! Thank you for opening our letters every three months (with trembling hands) as we send our Yea, she's developing the Evil Antibodies or Nay, she's still good, after every blood test!"
Each person involved in the study signs the card. Because we're all friends. These do-gooders and us.
I glance at it and toss it in the recycle bin.
*-*-*-*-*
I'm ambivalent about Santa. We've told the lie and perpetuated it all these years (J. going to great lengths to keep the kids believing). It's fun. It's absurd. It's totally not what Christmas is about. And yet...and yet...I believed as a kid and I don't remember that learning the truth did me great harm.
I do recall extreme irritation when, at 7, I grilled my mom, demanded she tell me definitively if there was a Santa or not. And since Christmas was just days away, she said, "The SPIRIT of Santa Claus is real. We'll talk more in January."
"The Spirit of Santa?" I thought. If I had known WTF then, I certainly would've uttered it. I could not grasp what The Spirit of Santa meant.
Looking back, though, I think she handled it well. And I know Fruit Bat will ask soon. He's already announced that he doesn't believe in magic. Magic is how I've explained so much Santa ridiculousness.
How does Santa get in through our chimney-less gas fireplace? Magic, of course. How does Santa make it to every hut and yurt and house and condo in the world on one night? The big M. How do Santa's elves mold plastic to make it look exactly like the Tonka truck at Toys 'R Us? Why, Magic, my son.
So, the whole gig is blown if he doesn't believe in magic. Which I'm kind of okay with. A few times these last weeks I've been tempted to blurt out the truth. But I haven't. And I shouldn't. Not yet.
There'll be plenty of years during which Fruit Bat and Kitty Cat can hone their cynicism, not enough time for them to just enjoy This.
I think the day is coming for me too where he won't believe anymore. Hopefully he won't put me on the spot since I'm not sure I can avoid the 'deer in headlights' look of panic.
Posted by: Melanie @ Mel, A Dramatic Mommy | December 16, 2009 at 08:35 PM
Santa is here. Santa is here. Hope Santa can come to our place too.
Deirdre G
Posted by: makati condo | December 16, 2009 at 10:05 PM
I just wrote about Katie looking me straight in the face and telling me that Santa is really "mom and dad buying presents!"
The gig is up.
Even though, I still told her that I still believe.
Because I want stuff in my stocking, yo.
Posted by: Carrie | December 16, 2009 at 10:45 PM
My mom said the same words to me at about that age, maybe a little earlier because I had an older brother who managed to scoop my folks on everything from Santa to the birds and the bees: "the spirit of Santa Claus is real." I admire you all for going to great lengths to keep the mystery/magic/belief alive. I still fill adult Christmas stockings with things I now know my Dad put in ours. I can easily believe in the Spirit of Santa when I think about my father.
Posted by: lisa | December 17, 2009 at 04:25 AM
I also explain Santa with magic, and Duncan does his darndest not to ask any tough questions and to have good behavior, because in any case, whoever this Santa is, he is the one who will bring the LEGO Power Miners Command Rig!! He asks questions but if it starts to sound at all unbelievable, he'll change the subject. It's funny. Greed works wonders, I guess. Spencer could care less if Santa is watching him, little goofball!!
Posted by: Leslie | December 17, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Someday my girlie won't believe, and she may not already, but we like the farce for now. It's getting harder - she seems to have bionic ears, and is learning to read.
Posted by: magpie | December 17, 2009 at 12:04 PM
You might have to tell him the truth, advanced physics. There's a book. http://thephoenix.com/BLOGS/phlog/archive/2009/12/09/podcast-gregory-mone-quot-the-truth-about-santa-wormholes-robots-and-what-really-happens-on-christmas-eve-quot-mp3.aspx
Posted by: Vanessa McGrady | December 17, 2009 at 06:42 PM
I'm watching you all and I don't like what I'm reading one bit! I hope you all enjoy receiving the lump of coal in your stockings on Christmas morning.
Posted by: Santa | December 17, 2009 at 10:20 PM
Childhood child be magical. And childhood ends too soon. And we grow up and worry about paying the bills and world peace and toxins in our environment.
I think my 10 year old is only playing along for our sakes right now. But, it is still fun and it is still absolutely magical for my 4 year old. And for that reason we will keep it going as long as we possibly can.
Posted by: InTheFastLane | December 18, 2009 at 09:10 AM
Happy Birthday, Angie!!
Posted by: Leslie | December 19, 2009 at 12:07 PM
The truth?! The truth is, I've never stopped believing in magic. Santa is a very forgiving soul. He brings presents and magic whether you believe in him or not, but it's up to you to notice...now, the Easter Bunny- I'd be careful about bursting his bubble. He can get mean.
Posted by: Cactus Petunia | December 20, 2009 at 01:49 AM
Every year the "To Santa or Not to Santa?" debate comes up among parents in the Blogosphere, and every year I say the same thing -- Y'all do what you want, but my Bean will KNOW AND LOVE SANTA as long as I can perpetuate the myth. Because I love Santa. And also because Santa is a beautiful carrot to dangle before my little bunny's eyes for the ENTIRE MONTH OF DECEMBER.
When I started to ask, I just remember my mom saying "Santa exists as long as you believe in him." Translation: Keep pretending to buy all this crap I'm feeding you, and you'll continue to find extra presents under the tree from "Santa" (nudge nudge, wink, wink).
So I STILL pretend that Santa is real and, to this day, I STILL get presents from the big, fat, bearded one.
Posted by: Bejewell | December 21, 2009 at 02:27 PM