The Magic of the Season

I subscribe to a parenting list. Recently someone asked what to do about present requests that Santa cannot fulfill. My answer made Alan laugh out loud, but I think it may only be funny because he knows how much I hate laundry.

Message: 2
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2004 07:24:01 -0500
From: Sarah Wayland & Alan Thompson
Subject: Santa puzzler

>Any ideas for the following situation?
>
>This year is the first Christmas that our 5 year old
>understands that he can ask Santa for something.
>So, he wrote a letter this weekend that requested
>two things only -- a dog and a cat. Since he will be
>getting neither of those, I'm ready for any ideas
>about how to handle this Santa thing. How do we
>set this up right, so that it makes sense
>to a five year old?

We are dealing with this as well. Our 6 year old wants only things that are completely out of stock everywhere we look.

I am considering telling him that sometimes Santa tries to come up with presents that will be really cool, even if it isn't what you think you might want. You just have to see what he brings, and give it a chance. Sometimes Santa Knows Best?

I don't know. You hate to disappoint the short people, but I guess disappointment is part of the drill....

And of course there's always the option of blowing Santa's cover and revealing *exactly* why the desired present won't be coming. I waiver on that one too, and have totally been sucked in by the magical promise of Santa.

A friend's child told me at Thanksgiving that she was the daughter of a wolf and the moon. I love that kids can think these magical things, and hate to squash that creative view of the world. When did I start to understand that I could never be the daughter of a wolf and the moon? Why do we give that up as adults?

Is it the reality of laundry?

-Sarah