Santa Claus is Real to Me

I read an article recently, written by a 27yr old women about how harmful believing in Santa is. She was telling her story how hurt, upset, betrayed and traumatic it was when she was 9 yrs old & learned Santa wasn't real.  It caught me off guard to read this from a grown woman.  There was a lot of bitterness and the spirit of Christmas seemed lost on her.

After I read the article I thought back on my own personal experience with this figure we call Santa.  As a child I looked forward to celebrating the birth of Christ our Savior with the opening of gifts from Santa Claus.  Santa was very real in our hearts and minds.  He brought gifts to everyone who was good and even if we were bad on Christmas.  I never remember any traumatic or hurtful experience from believing in Santa, nor can I say when I stopped believing in Santa Claus. There was no startling revelation that made me lose my faith in the unseen. I never stopped trusting my parents or anyone else.

With time I simply came to a realization that he is not real nor are his reindeer.  I never let on to my siblings that he wasn't real!  Each and every Christmas I kept the Santa alive. I am the eldest of three. I made sure they looked forward to finding gifts from Santa under the tree!

My parents have always kept Santa Claus alive so to speak in our home.  We never got to old or thought it was stupid or silly to say things like, "I hope Santa Claus brings me.....".

Even as we grew up to adults, my parents had gifts for us from Santa under the tree. My parents would also have gifts for each other from Santa. It was tradition and no harm came from it. Instead, we would laugh and giggle, even as teenagers opening our gifts from Santa.

As a parent of 2 young children, I wonder how will I handle that moment when Santa is no longer real to them. My wish is they never lose that joy and magic of Christmas that believing in Santa & his 8 Reindeer bring each year.  I hope they have the same experience that I had and realize that Santa Claus symbolizes so much more then just a jolly old man bringing gifts.

That's me on Christmas Morning enjoying my Coffee.

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I had made a very similar post to this in my Facebook Group Coffee Time for Moms and we had a great time chatting about this.  I do feel bad for the woman who had such a horrible childhood experience.  I can't help but wonder if her parents could have helped her more and handled it all a lot better.

As parents we have such a great responsibility in raising our children.  It is NOT easy.  We are not perfect and we will make mistakes.  I would not fully blame that woman's parents, because she is now a grown woman and has chosen to keep these bitter and angry feelings towards Santa Claus instead of seeking out help and for healing.

To be a parent, our lives change as do our priorities.  These changes can come easy to some, while others may struggle.  It can be easy to rush to judge another mom or dad based on your views and perspective.  I've been guilty of this myself.

I want to be more uplifting and encouraging to other Moms.  We all make mistakes.  It is what we do afterwards that is important.  Use those mistakes as life lessons to become the best Mom that YOU can be!

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and that Santa Claus brought your family all you desired!  And I wish each of you a very Happy New Year!

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Coffee Time with Moms

It's Monday & I sent my child back to school...

Today lil dude went to school.  He is unaware of the kids his age who died Friday while they were at school.  No one brought it up Saturday at his birthday party, no word was ever mentioned on Friday either.

Today I am nervous.  We chose not to let fear ruin our child's weekend.  Friday night his class had a party and Saturday was his birthday party.  This was a time for him to be a child and not have the worries, burdens and fears of an adult.  This is how my husband and I felt and our decision.  (every parent makes decisions based on their situation and their children, only we know our kids best)

I emailed his teacher and let her know that Kyle was unaware of the shootings.  I also let her know that on Saturday the kids never mentioned it either and I had hoped, that it continued for her today.  I also wanted her to know that if Kyle accidentally did hear about it from other kids to please let me know by email or to call me.  I trust her to help Kyle if he gets upset or scared, but Nathan and I want to come and get him; and comfort him and talk to him if this happens.

She thought this was a great plan!  I am praying hard.  At lunch time Kyle is no longer just with his kindergarten class, but with the older kids too.  However I know these older kids are very protective of the kindergartners and know he is in good hands.  This is comforting to me.

Yes I am still nervous though.  I am a mom, what do you expect?

Beware of the silence! Moms always warn....

Oh Please Lord have MERCY!!  

I have, had this cold, stuffy, nose and a cough for a few days but am alive.  My son this morning said he wasn't feeling good and wanted to stay home.  This is not normal for him and so he stayed home.  I could tell he was sick.  I noticed he wasn't acting well the night before.

He was in his room in bed watching cartoons.  My daughter was in her crib. I had changed her diaper and tucked her back in.  They both seemed content and relaxed.  They share a room and if they are in there together they both seem to behave better.  I was happy.

I was taking this time to try to get some peace while getting up.  I had only about 3 hours of sleep and was dragging.  I had been laughing with friends on FB through my iPhone and snuggled under blankets in a comfy LazyBoy Rocker Recliner.  For a moment, I felt peace and that all would be well today.

It was quiet and all was well.........   

~~~~~~~~~~~~WRONG~~~~~~~~~~~~~WRONG~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~WRONG~~~~~~~~~~~~

(not even 15 minutes had past)

Hailey had taken off her clothes and her diaper after she pooped.  She had then proceeded to finger paint her legs, arms, crib and everything in her crib in POOP!!! 

Some how her brother did not smell or notice this even though he was but an inch away from her!!!!!! O_o  

Nathan, who fortunately is home all day, today was the first one to find this mess.  His gagging and proclamations of HORROR as he yelled, "NO...NO...NO...NO", in utter disbelief that his precious little girl was playing in her poo, had me leaping from my comfy recliner.  With blankets flying, I jump into the room and see the horrific site.

So while I bathed my poopy princess, he was getting the bedding all in the wash and running it.  Then he fed and played with the kids (kind of like herding cats) while I disinfected and removed the "shitty" artwork, my darling little girl finger painted all over her crib.

Oh Nathan and I can't get the smell out of our noses.......perhaps it is all just in our heads now.  Perhaps some coffee and time away from poop, we will recover.

If there is anything to gain from this, a great story to embarrassing the kids with when they are older and once the trauma of this Poop-tastrophy passes a whole lot of laughs.

Has my morning gotten any better?

Well I managed to make a pot of coffee and start some chicken and dumplings in my crock pot.  My Precious Princess is down for a nap with fresh bedding and my son is wondering what he will be getting for his up and coming birthday.

I think between Kids Netflix and all his apps on his iPhone, he will manage to rest and not drive us too crazy the rest of the day.

I hope....

My Two Christmas Elves!

*my son's iPhone, is not activated, it was my old phone, that is now being used as an iPod.  As if I would give a 5 or 6 yr old a smartphone to go around texting and calling his homies......  smh