A Christmas Balance

I have read several different blogs where the parents are not teaching their kids about Santa Claus. I admit they all have valid reasons, but honestly I just dont get how it is harmful. Until I read blogs I never even knew that people didn't think teaching their kids about Santa was a good idea.

I grew up believing in Santa. I was not traumatized at all when I learned that he isn't real. I didn't feel like my parents had lied to me or deceived me in any way. I was actually pretty irritated with my brother because he was younger than me and had decided that Santa wasn't real. As the older sister I had no choice but to agree with him or look like a baby in his eyes (which honestly was VERY important at the time!). But I was upset because I wanted to still believe, not because I felt like I had been lied too.

I do admit to not growing up in the most religious household. My parents are not atheisist, my mom was raised Catholic (although my dad is more agnostic), but they did not honestly focus on Jesus' birth as the reason for the holiday. I *knew* the reason, that much was taught to me. And I knew Christmas was about giving and doing kind things for others, not simply about the list I could write to Santa. But we didn't attend church or set up a nativity in our house (although the nativity came when I was older). I went to CCD and learned about the season, but it wasn't until I taught first grade at a Catholic school that I really taught myself the real meaning of the season and thought about it and concentrated on it. So I am trying to do better with my kids. I am NOT saying my parents did a bad job, not at all! But I want my kids to have religion talked about at home as well as at CCD (and this year at school for Madeline).

I guess my point is that I believe you can honestly have a happy balance of the Christ in Christmas and the Santa in Christmas. I don't think it is an either/or decision. I don't think that my kids will grow up with less respect and knowledge for the season because I allowed (okay, honestly I encourage) their belief in Santa. It is magical and I don't want to take that away from my kids. I do not fear that they will be traumatized when they are older. My only fear is that when they get older Madeline will not allow Ben to believe when she learns the truth. I am hopeful we can teach her to allow him the same magic that she had.

But I am also trying very hard to teach them about the real meaning of the season. And that is one reason we do daily advent activities. We don't read from the bible each day, but many of our activities are about giving to others (making cookies to share with others, making ornaments as gifts, making bird feeders to put outside, donating toys for kids who do not have as much as we do, putting money into the Salvation Army bucket outside the store) and learning about the reason for the season (reading the nativity story, going to A Night in Bethlemham at our parish, attending church as a family, going to Madeline's scholl Christmas show- an actual Christmas show as she is in a Catholic school for this year at least).

There is the chance that I am wrong. I get that. But in everything I do with my kids, although I try my hardest, there is the chance that I will be wrong. That is part of being a parent. But after reading what others have to say (and it is interesting and made me think hard about the choices Jon and I make) I can honestly say I think I can allow my kids to have Santa in their lives and still teach them the real meaning of the season.

What do you think?

Advent- week 2

December is flying by. This happens to me with every holiday. I start by feeling like I have tons of time to get ready. And then before I know it the time is gone and I am scrambling to get everything done. This may have something to do with the three children I have running around, but I'm not putting all of the blame on them.

We are continuing with our countdown to Christmas. Each day we take down another stocking and look inside to find our daily treat and our daily activity.



Friday we made a gumdrop tree. I found the idea at Chasing Cheerios last year. Madeline and Owen had a great time. They had so much fun we went out to get more gumdrops to cover it more after we used the first bag up.

On Saturday we picked out our tree. We went to a local tree farm and Jon cut one down. Madeline and Owen had a great time helping. Here is Owen trying to help Jon pull the tree back to our car.




On Sunday we went and had breakfast with Santa. This is a yearly tradition and for the first time both of the older kids were willing to sit with Santa. We had no crying children!





Monday we decorated a gingerbread house. I buy the premade kit, I don't bake the house itself. But it is just as much fun decorating it. Last year I bought a pre-assembled house. This year I did not but it was not on purpose.


On Tuesday we were supposed to do a coloring page but Madeline had school and by the time she got home I was at work. I don't think Jon did the coloring page with them.

Yesterday we made Peppermint Fudge. The kids had a GREAT time crushing the mini candy canes while I melted the chocolate chips. I used the recipe at allrecipes but I substituted all semi sweet chocolate chips for the milk chocolate they suggested and we used candy canes instead of starlight mints. It came out great.

Today we are reading a version of the Christmas Story and making Bell Angels.

Although I think the biggest hit of the countdown is daily candy, both M and O seem to be enjoying the activities as much as I am.

Visit Liz at Sugarplum Creations for more Advent ideas!

Advent!

Advent started yesterday and Madeline and Owen woke up to find the NEW advent calendar hanging in the kitchen. They were very excited. I was just happy it was done. I decided to make one this year and my genius idea was to make 24 stockings from felt. They are small, the size of baby socks. Not bad you think? Well I don't know how to use my sewing machine. Needless to say it was a learning experience. Jon did half of the sewing since he knows how to sew better than I do (which isn't saying much) and we got it done and hung up on time!
Once they were all sewn I pinned them to a length of ribbon and we pinned the ribbon WAY up high on the wall. I don't want the kids pulling them down and getting stuck with pins. As we empty each stocking I put it in a basket to be kept on the counter.
Each day we start by counting the stockings in the basket (the number of advent days so far) and then we count the number of stockings left (days until Christmas). Then we(I) un-pin a stocking and emtpy it out. Each stocking has a candy treat for Madeline and Owen and a paper with an activity for the day. Yesterday we made our own advent wreaths using green construction paper handprints and paper plates. They came out super cute and I will post pictures when I find my camera (I am sure it is in the house somewhere...) We "lit" one candle and will take it down and "light" a new candle each week.
Today we made Christmas cards with handprint Santa faces on them. The kids had a great time letting me paint their hands and then making thumbprint eyes. Once they are dry we will decorate the inside of the card.
I am trying to find a balance between the real reason for Christmas the santa themed activities. Last year I was happy with the outcome of our advent activities and I am hopeful that this year will turn out the same way. I planned the activities in each stocking around is happening on our calendar. I made sure to plan easier crafts for days when Madeline has school since we have less time on those days or days that I am working. I cannot remember what we are doing tomorrow (I will be as surprised as the kids in the morning). Saturday we are getting our Christmas tree and Sunday we are having breakfast with Santa and decorating our tree.

We did a similar advent activity last year and Madeline and Owen looked forward to each morning (and not just because of the candy!) After the success I plan to make it a yearly tradition.

It's Coming....

Christmas is right around the corner! Last year I started celebrating Advent with my kids, both as a countdown the Christmas and as a time to talk about why we celebrate Christmas. I made a calendar last year out of toilet paper tubes. This year I am unsure of how I will make our calendar (yeah I know I should really get that together!) but I do have ideas on how we will celebrate. I like to do activities each day, not open gifts. I don't feel like having my kids open gifts for 24 days is a way to teach them about advent. I'd rather do activities together (both secular and religious) and talk about why we celebrate Christmas, that it is more than just Santa and getting gifts.

This is the list I have so far:
*make an advent wreath using our handprints and "light" a paper candle each week
*pick out our tree as a family
*decorate our tree together
*make cookies for friends
*make candy for friends
*family movie night
*make our own hot chocolate (if it comes out okay we will share with others)
*make jingle bell bracelets
*make reindeer using our hand and foot prints
*make marshmallow snowmen (after reading a story about a snowman)
*make noodle wreaths
*make cinnamon ornaments to give as gifts
*decorate a gingerbread house
*make a gumdrop Christmas tree
*Christmas coloring page
*visit Bright Nights
*make beaded candy cane ornaments
*handprint santa
*pinecone Christmas tree
*make an angel using hand and foot prints
*make an egg carton bell for our tree
*read a Christmas story
*read the gingerbread man and decorate gingerbread man cookies
*have breakfast with Santa


Last year I put slips of paper with the activities written on them along with candy in our advent calendar. The above list is not the order I will use the activities, I arrange them based on our schedules (busy days do not get creative activities). I will post pictures of our crafts as we make them.

Share your advent calendar and activity ideas please! I am looking for inspiration.