I went to grab a couple of things from the shops the other day and discovered Christmas has arrived in retail land. It led me to think yet again about the whole Santa concept. Thankfully, I don’t have to do the whole ‘Santa’s coming’ thing just yet with my daughter, but it will definitely be the last time.
I’m wondering if I’m the only person in the western world who isn’t so keen on Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas …. whatever you like to call that bearded bloke who delivers pressies.
Trading The Material World for Good Behavior?
I don’t know why I can’t shake my lack of desire to tell the whole made up story of Santa coming and giving you presents, but only if you’ve been a good little girl or boy. I don’t like the whole concept of lying about the existence of Santa. I don’t like the idea of encouraging my children to want, want, want and demand, demand, demand, whether it be in the form of a letter, list or lap sitting request to Santa personally. I certainly don’t like the material reward for good behaviour idea.
Yet Santa is an accepted concept in our culture and it probably can’t be avoided. I’m not suggesting children shouldn’t have ‘magic’ in their lives, or excitement at Christmas, or be deprived of toys. But I just can’t help hating the mere thought of the Santa phenomenon.
This year, with ‘stranger danger’ having just come into my daughter’s life, will I try and force her to like jolly old Santa and try and convince her she should sit on his lap for a photo or two? I am wracking my brains for a way to avoid the whole Santa thing for the extent of my daughter’s childhood. Okay, that’s a little impossible given he’s at every shopping centre, not to mention in books, at work Christmas parties, and talked about in great detail among children and adults alike.
Spoiling The Idea
I can’t bring myself to ‘spoil’ the idea of Santa and cause problems for my daughter in the playground but can someone please, oh please, tell me why he still exists? I know there are historical reasons for Santa’s presence during Christmas, but in this modern world where children have access to endless information and technology, why do we still perpetuate the myth of a man who delivers presents to every child in one night? It just doesn’t make sense.
The Pressure
As a parent, there is so much pressure to uphold the tradition of Santa. We are bombarded with images of happy families gathered around the Christmas tree, eagerly awaiting Santa’s arrival. But as a mother, I can’t help but feel a little unease about lying to my child and promoting this idea that someone else is responsible for bringing her gifts. Shouldn’t we be teaching our children the value of hard work and gratitude rather than relying on an imaginary figure to fulfill their wishes?
The Disappointment
Let’s face it, not every child receives the same amount of gifts from Santa. And as much as we try to make it fair, there will always be that one child who gets more presents than others. This can lead to feelings of disappointment and even resentment among children. Is it really worth perpetuating this myth if it means potentially causing these negative emotions in our own kids or others?
The Commercialization
It’s no secret that Christmas has become increasingly commercialized over the years. Companies use Santa Claus as a marketing tool to sell products and generate profit during the holiday season. It’s easy for children to get caught up in the materialistic aspect of Christmas when they believe that Santa is bringing them endless gifts. As parents, it’s important to teach our children the true meaning of Christmas and not let them get too caught up in the consumerism that surrounds us.
The Pressure on Parents
Not only does perpetuating the myth of Santa put pressure on children, but it also puts pressure on parents. Many parents feel the need to go above and beyond in order to make their child’s Christmas magical, often spending large amounts of money they may not have. This can lead to added stress and financial strain during an already hectic time of year. By taking away the idea of Santa bringing all the gifts, we can alleviate some of this unnecessary pressure on ourselves as parents.