A Visit from Santa

Santa and his helpers

 Today was the annual Santa visit to Rascals, a much anticipated day in our household.

As a christian parent, I face the dilemma each year about how much emphasis we put on the whole Santa thing.  I know my children know exactly why we celebrate Christmas, they know it is Jesus' birthday.   I want my children to trust that when mummy and daddy tell them something is real, that we mean it.  We want them to understand that there is a difference between Santa and the tooth fairy, and God and Jesus.  So although we love Santa and all the fun about him, and we hang up our stockings on Christmas eve just like most kiwi kids, we do occasionally remind our children quietly that Santa is just a man pretending, but its lots of fun to pretend isn't it?!

Completly in awe!

Of course, once we remind them about that, I immediately start to panic that they are going to go and spoil some poor child's dreams and ruin their Christmas. So on the way to the Rascals party, I reminded Jaimee that it is a secret that Santa is just pretending and that we don't tell other children that!  I don't know why I panic though, both girls refuse to listen to me tell them Santa (or the tooth fairy) is a fake, they just love Santa.... When he arrived today, they both went completely shy and round eyed.  The dream is still very much real to them, even with all my parenting tactics!!    I am reminded that the first thing the angels told the shepherds was "Don't be afraid"....they were probably just as stricken to see actual real angels appear to them (Just like my girls went completely shocked to see santa turn up at daycare)!!

Both girls were almost in tears, they were so star struck.  I had to sit with them on the mat, where Kate was meant to be singing Santa some songs they had been practicing.  Kate just sat there with her fingers in her mouth staring at Santa.  She snapped out of it in time for the last song!

All the kids enjoyed sitting with Santa for a photo (and a present for the girls...mummy helped him out there).  Luke stared into his face with this completely baffled look and loved playing with his (real) beard!

Thanks Santa for visiting with us...

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Leanne, Lisa and Dave - the girls daycare teachers