Oh, No! My Kids Don’t Believe In Santa Anymore

I knew this day was coming. In fact, it probably should have come a long time ago. My son Josh told me recently, he no longer believed in Santa Claus. What's a dad to do?Suddenly, gone are the milk and cookies left for the guy in the red suit to snack on. Gone is the wide-eyed look of anticipation on Christmas morning wondering what Santa left under the Christmas tree while everyone was sleeping. Yes, the magic is gone and I'm more surprised about how long it lasted rather than how quickly it ended.

You see, my children are old enough to work and attend college. I have a feeling my son, who's truly a kid at heart, gave in to peer pressure from his sister Allison, who gave up on Santa a few years ago.  She was so vocal in her disbelief that Santa actually put coal, (ok it was the candy variety from Enstrom Candies), in her stocking that year.

Not that Santa is the primary focus of our family's Christmas celebration. We have always celebrated Jesus' birth as the real reason for the season including a birthday cake. But still, it's nice to think your children will always, without question, believe everything you tell them.

I have to admit, I think the real reason my children stopped believing is that they have in some way become Santa. Watching them select cards off the Salvation Army Angel Tree and then shopping to make sure children, who otherwise wouldn't have much to celebrate, receive some very special gifts makes me think that's what believing in Santa Claus is really all about.