Putting Santa in His place

I had a Moment today.  Moment with a capital M. 

Perhaps I should be ashamed to say that I don’t have many of those.  These days I feel like I’m in survival mode rather than growing and reflecting mode.  But today we had a Moment.

The Moment came in the most unexpected of ways, as they usually do.  We were at the grocery store and Catie stopped to put some change in the Salvation Army’s bucket.  The elderly lady accepting the donations let each of the girls take a turn ringing the bell, much to their delight, and they left excitedly chattering about what would be done with the donations.  I was feeling proud of them for their generosity and their kindness, and as any mom will tell you, that’s exactly when it hits.  ‘Pride cometh before the fall’ is never more true than when you’re caught patting yourself on the back for raising awesome little people.

The exact exchange leading up to The Moment escapes me, but it was basically Catie saying something she shouldn’t and me pulling out the tired, “What would Santa think of that?” response. 

For a moment it was a parenting high.  The moments we live for, that make our hearts soar and carry us through the low moments with the memory of how our lessons do get through, at least part of the time.

Annie immediately followed up my lame question with, “More importantly, what would God think?” 

Score!

Someone listens to me!  Someone is learning an important lesson!  The important lesson.  (In spite of my shortcomings, obviously)

But the rug was pulled out from underneath my heart when Catie said, “But Santa is like God, right?”

Ouch.

Just typing it now hurts, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget the sound of those words.  I don’t want to ever forget the sound of those words.  Painful as they are, they contain a very important lesson.

A lesson that, clearly, I’m falling down on the job.

If you’ve met Annie then you have probably seen that she is a wise old soul.  Her spiritual connection is a constant source of amazement to me.  I don’t know how to describe it other than to tell you that more than once when she has spoken to me, I have felt that I am in the presence of God.  He puts words in her mouth, at the most amazing moments, and in the most amazing ways.  At not yet 7, Annie is a spiritual warrior to be reckoned with, and she inspires me.

She’s also made it too easy for me to ignore the dangers of Santa.

It’s easy for Annie to write a letter to Santa and then write him off, because she knows what Christmas is really about.  There’s never been any harm in Santa because he has been in his proper, heavily shadowed place.  But Catie – not so much.

I thought I was doing everything right.  Ok, not everything.  I’m far from perfect.  But the big things at least.

We go to church on Sundays and Wednesdays, we read the Bible and pray together every day, and we talk about God throughout our days.  The kids can all tell you the Christmas story, and if you ask them what we’re celebrating the first words out of everyone’s mouth will be ’Baby Jesus’ Birthday.’  And yet.

And yet somehow, Santa has crept in. 

It’s my fault – I’ve always been fine with the big guy.  He’s fun!  He’s harmless!  I was never traumatized by him!

Until today.  Today I was.

I’m not sure where I’m going with this, but time on my knees is definitely in order. 

This wonderful, delightful, excruciating job that I have is the one I’ve dreamed of my whole life.  When my friends picked their majors in college, they were excited about the career in front of them.  I chose English Education, because teaching is a good job for a mom (and anyone who knows me can attest to my appalling lack of mathematical ability) and I didn’t know what else to do.  Emotionally, I floundered in school because my heart wasn’t in it; all I’ve ever wanted to do was be a stay-at-home mom. 

Fast-forward a decade year or two and here I am, living the dream, doing what I know is not always my best, but I’m trying every day to do better.  While not about to win a mother of the year award, I thought I was at least moderately good at this.  But alas, it seems I am failing to impart the one single most important piece of knowledge I can ever teach my children.  I’ve fallen down on the job of spiritual enlightenment.

I’ve allowed Santa to take His place.

I’m glad this Moment happened on December 1st.  It gives me a whole month of opportunity before the big day.  25 days to set the record straight.  25 days to refocus her holiday attentions.  25 days to put Santa back where he belongs.  25 days to make a decision about Christmas Future in our home.

Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy, watch out.  Your positions might not be secure either.

And the top 10 things Annie loves about Christmas are…

(from the list she gave me tonight):

1. Jesus’ birthday
2. Christmas morning breakfast
3. giving presents
4. making cookies
5. the gingerbread house
6. wrapping packages
7. Santa
8. new toys
9. playing games
10. being together with her family

I was touched to see that Jesus ranked #1 and Santa was #7. And highly amused to see that the extended family get-together was at the bottom of the list. Can’t say I blame her for that one!

Get in the Christmas Spirit!

Allison at A Slice of Heaven had this cute meme up last week and I made a mental note to play along later. Since I am now sick and not at all creative, this is the perfect fodder for easy blogging. And it’s fun!

So without further ado, here are our holiday traditions (I know you’ve been dying to know):

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper hands down. I get an abnormal amount of satisfaction from selecting just the right one and carefully wrapping every package. Coordinating wrap every year, double faced tape to ensure the perfect finish, and handmade to/from cards to match. In recent years I’ve abandoned the too-expensive custom of using fancy wired ribbon as well. Three kids to buy for now, so something’s gotta give.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial. No way I’d deal with the mess of a real tree.

3. When do you put up the tree? As soon as possible! It used to always be the day after Thanksgiving, but lately I’ve been moving it up a week or two.

4. When do you take the tree down? After New Year’s and before Lilly’s bday on January 7th.

5. Do you like eggnog? Never tried it – the name sounds gross.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Mickey Mouse rollercoaster.

7. Hardest person to buy for? Pretty much all the men on our shopping list, but my husband’s uncle is probably the worst.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Annie

9. Do you have a nativity scene? We have two – a ceramic grown-up one, and a plastic Little People one. I confess to preferring the Little People version.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? People email cards, seriously? I mail a photo card with the kids pictures – never ours. I love to receive pictures of my friends though, so I probably should do better about that myself. Maybe next year.

11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? ha! Hard to narrow down just one, but it would definitely be the clearance Christmas ‘snubs’ that are the worst. Not because of their price tag of course, but because of the not-too-subtle “You are not part of this family” message that they convey.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It’s a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story, depending on my mood.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Um…the day after Christmas? Seriously I shop all year, and am always completely done before Thanksgiving. I don’t like battling the crowds.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Absolutely! Glitter sweaters are sure to be sent straight to Goodwill, FYI. Don’t even bother sending me one, just send the $ straight to charity please. (Oh wait, regifting? No, I don’t think I’ve done that. If I don’t like it, I doubt anyone else I know would. But I just might sell it!)

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Stuffed mushrooms

16. Lights on the tree? Yes – but only white ones. And never flashing. Never.

17. Favorite Christmas song? That’s harder than I would have thought, since I love them all…and listen to Christmas music year-round. A few non-traditionals that come to mind are James Penguin by Brad Paisley, I Pray on Christmas and What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve by Harry Connick, Jr, Emanuel, God With Us by Amy Grant, and Jesus What A Wonderful Child by Mariah Carey.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer’s? Yes…but more than anything, I’m troubled by the grammar here. “reindeer’s,” really? That stings.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Neither – we have a bow. Not too fond of it really, but I’ve never found just the right topper, so this remains for now.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning of course. Christmas Eve is just wrong. How would Santa even pull that off?

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The attitude of people in stores doing their Christmas shopping. It seems a few people have forgotten that Jesus is the Reason for the Season. Jingle, Jingle, Jingle Ka-Ching!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Our tree has copper, burgundy, plum and gold elements on it. I’m big on coordination, so again this is an area where I’m probably too picky to buy for. Unless you’ve seen my tree, please don’t buy me an ornament. I have so many beautiful ones that I don’t know what to do with, because they don’t match my trees. I can’t take that guilt.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Christmas day dinner is really not a big deal to me. Christmas Eve appetizers and Christmas morning breakfast both far outshine the day meal.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Nothing. Sounds strange I’m sure, but I really don’t want much, and when I do I just buy it. I’m not into jewelry or purses or clothes, shoes I’d have to try on, and cool stuff like a new embroidery machine is too pricey. Photography books might be nice, but I have no time to read them anyway.

Tag you’re it! Go ahead, copy the questions, answer them on your blog and give me the link in the comments section and I will come and visit and read about your holiday faves!