Today I Thought About Traditions, Truth, Magic, and Memories.

One Christmas Eve, when I was 6 or 7 years old, I had gone to bed full excitement and sleeplessness - pretty common for most kids anticipating a visit from Santa.  I can't remember if I dozed a bit and then woke up, or if I stayed up late with no snoozing.  I do recall how around midnight I decided to sneak downstairs and brave a peek at the stockings that were hanging on the wall by the stairs.  I had to tiptoe past Matt and Kara's rooms as well as my parents'.  My parents didn't tolerate their children getting out of their rooms after they'd been put to bed, so this little jaunt was dangerous!

I moved stealthy out of my room, through the hall, and halfway down the stairs until I could see my stocking.  They'd been filled!  Santa had visited!!!!  **squeeeeeeee**  I could see a Potato Head Kid sticking out the top!  Then I heard a weird sound and realized that Santa could be in the other room - STILL HERE!  I lost my nerve, bolted up the stairs and back to the safety of my room, leaping into bed and squeezing my eyes shut.

(me at 1 year)

I swear it wasn't more than two minutes later when I heard someone enter my room.  I lay as still as a statue and kept my eyes closed tight.  Then someone with a soft, gentle touch tucked the blankets in around me and then left, closing the door quietly behind them.  At that point I bounded out of bed, ran to the door and whipped it open.  My parents' door was still closed and no one was in the hall!!!!  It was Santa, I was sure of it.  Only a magical being could have gotten away so quickly.

I had been tucked in by Santa Claus!  I felt so happy and special.

Until two years later when my parents told me that there was no such thing as Santa.  Or the Easter Bunny.  Or the Tooth Fairy.....

(me at 2 years)

Time to grow up!  Haha.  Oldest children really ARE the guinea pigs.

So - here I am.  A parent.  Ash has had three Christmases now and we haven't talked about Santa once.  We have no books about Santa.  We don't sing about Santa.

The Spring Bunny visits on the first Saturday in Spring (March 20th).  There is no Easter Bunny, remember?

(me at 3 years)
                                                              

My parents let the whole Santa Claus thing drop sometime around my 12th year and none of my younger siblings even think about it.  My family prefers to focus on the birth of Christ and the fun traditions that include that.  I'm game.  I'm a Christian and agree that that is where the emphasis should be.  Same thing with Easter.  As a matter of fact, I'm on a mission to figure out some fun, yet meaningful, bunny-less traditions to do this Easter.

But today, when I watched one of my younger siblings discover what the Tooth Fairy had left in exchange for one of their lost teeth - I started to wonder.....

Believing was so magical.  So fun.  So thrilling.  It was fuel for my imagination.  I loved it.  Am I missing  opportunities to give my children the same?

(me at 4 years)

But the truth was such a sad, crushing blow!  And I don't want my kids to feel like that.  So, maybe it's better to never go there in the first place.  And we really haven't missed it.  There are plenty of other traditions to adopt and things to focus on.

I'd love to know what your thoughts and feelings are on this.