Ho Ho Ho

It’s the season -and grade – of Santa. My 2nd grader has been asking me if Santa is real. His friends at school don’t believe anymore.
Second. Grade.
So sad
Anyway, I obviously told him he is absolutely real. Then he asks, “yea, but the ones at the malls taking pictures aren’t real, right? They dont have real beards.”
I concede, “Right, those are his helpers. But you know what? You never know where Santa will show up. If I were Santa, I would sneak in and do the pictures in random places. That way, a kid could be meeting the real Santa and get an actual picture with him and never know it.”
He liked that idea a lot. It was a magical parenting moment. One of those times the planets align, and the stuff your saying off the top of your head actually makes sense and works.
So today was the day we all get set to go meet & get a photo with local santa. On the way down, I told the kids to think about what they are going to ask Santa for. My son immediately says, “Mom, I dont need anything. I have a good family, and that’s all I need. … I mean, I would like some toys, but I dont NEED anything.”
I was shocked, needless to say.
I told him how surprised and proud I was of him and that answer.
He looked pretty pleased.
So we drive down, find parking, and i’m rushing to get to the Santa hut before the crowds. I’m surprised we are second in line! We prep and primp, walk into the little Santa hut and we see Him! I grab my son and gasp, “Do you see his beard?! It’s rrrrrrreal! I think you got the real Santa!”
There was no settling him after that. He was beside himself. He was so convinced, he told me the candy cane Santa gave him even looked different. It tasted different too, evidentally. After eating the whole thing he whispers to me, “mom! i feel stronger now!”
as we were going to the car:
“Mom, we so totally got our picture with the real Santa, huh?”
“Yup!”
2 hours later: “Mom! we like totally met the real one, right?!”
“Yup!”
And on the way back from shopping & Santa, my son tells his sister, “Gemma, you should have told Santa you didnt want anything because you have a great family and thats all anyone needs… and then he’ll bring you a TON of presents!!”
bells went off in my head.
“Do you believe thats true, or are you saying it to get more gifts?”
“For the gifts.”

Just when you think you’ve gotten through way down deep to the good stuff, BAM! Reality hits you right between the bells.