Its coming to that time of year, the ads on the TV have been on since October, my kids trawl the toy section in various catalogues. Nick Jr ads are the worst! My kids demand everything from toys that contain slime *eww* to Lelli Kelly Shoes! Ben 10, Bakugan, Barbie, Toy Story 3, basically EVERYTHING that is being advertised, my kids want it. And hey, Father Christmas can just bring it right!!
That is according to my 5yr old son, my 7yr old daughter is now sitting on the fence with the belief of Father Christmas. We were sitting at dinner the other day, when she pipes up with ‘Is Santa real?’ Fork midway in my mouth I just sat and started at her, I really didn’t know what to say to her. The big jolly fellow, dressed in red has always just been a part of Christmas. At Christmas parties he is there handing out a small present and the ‘stranger’ tells the little excited children he would see them on Christmas Eve.
So here was my 7yr old daughter asking me the question, I just asked her, ‘what do you think’, I honestly thought I would maybe get another 3 or 4yrs of Christmas magic. She told me that a boy in her class told her that Santa was actually his daddy.
Strange as it sounds, my heart was aching a bit, she still believes in the tooth fairy, so why not Santa? We were at their Sunday School party yesterday, and she knew straight away that Father Christmas was not real as she recognised his voice! Last year, he was the real deal because he gave the best presents compared to the other Father Christmases she sees. Yesterday she got a Disney Princess Plaster of Paris thing…cheers Santa! But because she recognised the voice now, he is just someone from the church dressed up.
I say she is sitting on fence, I think she doesn’t really believe, but is frightened not to in case she doesn’t get anything.
In the house, we have motion sensors dotted around the house, they connect to our alarm system, but to my kids, they are Santa Cam. We moved to this house 4yrs ago, the kids were still little. My daughter noticed the motion sensors and asked what they were, instead of telling her they were for the alarm system and then scaring her with stories of bad men and police men, I decided to say they were Santa Cam’s and whenever the red light comes on Santa is watching to see if they are being good.
It actually worked, in fact many of my friends have adopted the idea, those of them that don’t have sensors, use their smoke alarm systems.
I spoke to my mother about the situation, apparently I was 10 when I questioned Santa, it seems so young at 7, my mother thinks I might just get one more year out of her and this makes me sad. Christmas to me is about magic, and kids absolutely bring magic. I love their excitement on Christmas eve sprinkling the magic reindeer food in the garden. Leaving carrots for the reindeer and a small dram of whiskey (sorry, I don’t condone drunk sleighing, but daddy thinks a whiskey will warm up Mr Claus) and they not being able to sleep as they really want to stay awake and see Santa.
When they do finally get asleep, they are then up every hour from 3am!
I am really sad that she is questioning the idea. But I just have to hope that come Christmas Eve she will be back to believing. I need to sit her down with ‘A miracle on 34th street‘
post script; We make reindeer food to sprinkle every Christmas Eve, the kids love it and its so simple to make.
In a small food bag throw in some porridge oats and glitter then zip it up and shake. The birds love it and if you are lucky enough to get snow, the glitter sparkles in the moonlight 
