It happened last night while I was out of the house enjoying the company of my ward sisters. Our ten year old confronted Da Man straight-up and asked, "Daddy, are you Santa Claus?" Like a deer caught in the headlights, and with our 8 year old sitting nearby, he ignored her. Not one to be put off, she asked again, "Daddy, tell me the truth, is Santa Claus real?" Unable to ingore her a second time, he quietly and subtlely took her out of earshot of her little sister and asked her why she was asking.
Bee said that she and some friends had been talking and they had said Santa wasn't real and she wanted to know for sure. So, succumbing to the fact that it was unavoidable, he told her, "Yes." He went on to explain that Squeaker still believed and so it was important to help keep the dream alive for her sake. She agreed. She didn't seem disappointed; only satisfied that her suspicions could finally be put to rest.
The dynamic of Christmas is changing for us around here. Only one of our children will hurry off to bed on Christmas Eve, straining to listen for the sound of hoof prints on the roof, struggling to go to sleep for fear that our house will be passed by, only to arise the next morning to find that Santa had, in fact, made his magical visit. Only one will re-evaluate her behavior when reminded that only good girls and boys get presents, while naughty children get coal. Only one will make a Christmas list with visions of tiny elf hands constructing the item of her desire. Only one will carefully think out what sort of treat to leave, including some carrots for the reindeer, and giggle gleefully when only crumbs are left on the plate the next morning. Only one will see the thank you note left in a hurried, jolly scrawl and know that her treat choice was just what he'd wanted. Only one won't notice that the wrapping paper is the same kind that was on sale at Wal-Mart when we were there a few days ago to get a few groceries....
Only one. And, for how much longer?
The thought makes me a bit sad. They don't stay little nearly long enough, do they.
2 comments:
It is a bit sad when one goes down, though I haven't had to endure it yet. Now I just wish Jashon didn't read this blog :)
awww...
not to say I'm suprised.Bee is entirely too smart.
It does make things different.
Good and bad.
*sigh*
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