For-My-Kids.com

The excitement, the joy, the wonder, the warmth of home, the love and cheer to me is what is wrapped up in the memories of Santa Claus. Very young children are often afraid of this stranger in a Red Suit with a white beard that looks different, strange and bewildering. Eventually our children learn to be excited about meeting Santa Claus because of the expectations of what Santa will be bringing them. Then we must break their hearts as they become older and let them know that this magical character isn't really a person living at the North Pole.

How we tell our children that what they have believed with all of the hearts and with all of their trust that Santa is just pretend can affect them either negatively or positively. The excitement and wonder of Christmas doesn't need to end with the truth about Santa Claus. Santa Claus just needs a change of address and a change of understanding that Santa Claus even though is pretend as a man in a Red Suit living at the North Pole is actually really a real person who cares and loves them very much. That person of course is us, their parents, and they already love us and we love them and that love will never end.

My memories of Santa Claus are good and I don't remember being affected by the fact that he was pretend. Every year I expected Santa to visit and leave presents for me and my siblings. Your children should expect that as well, just as mine do.

Leave a comment and tell me how you feel about Santa Claus. Does he still have a warm place in your heart?

Earnie
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