Every year, at least the last 3, we have met my parents and Steve’s family for the Missouri City Holiday Parade. I just named it that, I am not sure what it is really called. It is not the best parade, but it is a tradition that I enjoy. We missed you guys this year. However, Alyssa did get all the candy, but only one Chilis coupon. We bundled up and sat on the curb of Cartwright to enjoy this experience. It was Alyssa’s first year to really enjoy it. She waved her “magic” wand to the kids in the parade and even accepted candy from the clowns. Her favorite was the kids in blue that did the stomping routine. Her least favorite was the bass drums banging as they walked passed us.
So we have the tree up, the house lights out and are getting ready for another Christmas. We had the girls from our First Family come over and decorate cookies this week. They had a good time, but no one seems to really enjoy this tradition but my brothers and I. I am struggling with the Santa concept. I have been thinking about not emphasizing Santa this year. I guess this is the first time she is asking all the questions and I feel like I am just making stuff up. Who am I kidding? I am making it up. We all did the Santa thing as kids too, but I want the emphasis of Christmas to be about Jesus. She has learned that we are celebrating his birthday, and I would like her to look forward to this time of year for that reason. Not because some make-believe, fat guy comes down the chimney to leave her presents. Plus the idea of this “guy” scares her anyway. I don’t want to tell her he is not real, but just not emphasize him. I don’t know…any thoughts?
No great thoughts, but I’ve been contemplating the same things for future experiences. I just don’t want Ethan to ever question that what Brad and I tell him is true. Especially when it comes to matters of faith. I don’t know of any kids who left the faith because they were embittered to find out that Santa was a farce and thereby rejected Jesus….however, I think you’re doing the right thing by downplaying it and making the focus Jesus’ birth. I think I have another year or two before I have to really worry about it, but it is good ask those questions.
Well, the wise aunt and uncle can give you some advice, if we must. Tell Alyssa the origins of the Santa Claus story. You can give her some historical info and some cultural info on which the American Santa Claus is based. Here is the link I found: http://www.coolquiz.com/trivia/explain/docs/santa.asp.
She’s a Whaley, afterall, she’ll appreciate all the amazing facts and the mundane way they take the fun out of it. 🙂
Yes. I miss yall too. Those silly times of a gay parade, sure do seem powerful now don’t they. Thanks for the pictures. The kids loved their letter from Alyssa yesterday. Jackson took it everywhere, and put it by his bed for bedtime. Tell her thank you, b/c I’m sure it will be forever before they will call and tell her. And even if we do, they don’t seem to be interested in talking. I’m not sure what we’ll do about cookies this year either. Jen said something about going to buy some to decorate… ugh, they just don’t get it. haha. Merry Christmas sister, I love you.
I am right there with ya on putting the emphasis on the birth of Jesus. It’s true that the faith and trust children have is so pure and innocent. I remember feeling betrayed and lied to…and also like an idiot when I found out the truth that Santa wasn’t real (I was in elementary school and remember it clearly). I think that what we’ll try and do with Jakob is emphasize where the traditon of Santa comes from. That Saint Nicholas was a real person and his kindness and love for others made a huge impact on our world. It will be interesting to see what Christmas time is like in Peru. By the time Jakob is old enough to start asking questions about these things, we’ll be in the midst of a completely new and different culture.
Ethan, as you know I am not that wise of a person. I can tell you what my family has always done. We don’t celebrate Christmas as Christ’s birth. We never have. Christmas started as a pagan festival and then has been formed and shaped into what it is today by economists and capitalism. I am not saying that celebrating Christ’s birth isn’t important and that we don’t do it. Growing up, we always knew that Jesus was actually born in the springtime and my parents separated Jesus from Christmas. We would reflect and remember the birth, life, and death of Christ more in the spring and not set one day for the celebration. Just like Easter (tracking with moon phases and the Passover). My parents are odd like that. My mother actually teaches about Christ’s birth in the spring and the reserection about a month after that. We had Santa (and still do even though we all know he doesn’t exist) and we focus on the time we spend together as a family and the good times. It is alot like Thanksgiving for us, just add presents. It is about the only time all of us get together. My sister even brings her dog to mingle with mine and they still live in Abilene. I know this is all odd to you, but that is how I grew up. Have a Merry Christmas!!