When do you tell a child about Santa?? Or do YOU??

As a child growing up......I never asked about Santa. I am not sure when I realized it, but I did. Christmas Eve was ALWAYS a long night for my brother and I.  I would lie there awake...waiting for Santa...glancing out the window, trying to see the red light of Rudolph's nose in the black sky, listening for the Bells on the Sleigh or foot steps on the roof. It was one Christmas Eve, I tried to sneak out of my room, back then, we had our stockings at our bedroom door. The creaking floors alerted my Mom.  She told me to stay in my room, till my Father came to open my door. It was then, after he opened the door, I saw the stocking FULL, behind him. He ushered me quickly into the bathroom, it was then, while sitting on the toilet, I knew........

I loved Christmas and still do, its my favourite holiday. Its the spirit of the season, people are NICER, FRIENDLIER and there is the whole idea of GOOD CHEER to ALL. And yes, the birth of Christ.  But as a child there is something about Santa Claus. What would Santa bring me....I LOVED waking EARLY on Christmas morning, opening my door slowly to see my stocking FULL...sometimes BULGING with GOODIES. I would then slowly slide it into my room and jump on my bed, eager to see what Santa brought me. It was the usual crayons or markers, candies, chips, trinkets and a clementine at the toe of the stocking...I still remember the smell of the freshly opened box of crayons...that's something that will stay with me FOREVER.

When we were all awake, it was the RUSH of running downstairs.  What was under the tree!!! It was all magical, Santa was here, in our house, eating cookies and drinking milk and writing us a letter back. Later in the day, family would arrive with more gifts and we would all EAT the TURKEY that had been cooking all day(it seemed)...the aromas wafting through the house. It was ALWAYS the BEST DAY of the YEAR!!  And I do this ALL now for my kids, except I keep the stockings down stairs by the Tree!! And I set my alarm for about three in the morning.......elves need some sleep too, you know!!

But getting back to the point, do you tell your child?? I never asked! My Mom never told us! It was unspoken...till this day we don't question Santa...he is JUST SANTA and HE COMES EVERY CHRISTMAS EVE. With the kids in school, I am scared that some BIGGER kid will ruin it for mine. Shatter the belief. There is soo much in this world that can be harsh and cold. With Santa, there is still the belief of Good Will Towards Men(and Women and kids..). Santa is magical.  Santa can do anything(this what I thought as a child). There is soo much folklore out there, can he not be REAL?  I think, if my kids ask me, I'll just say, "BUT look at all those books that are out there. He has to be real. I still believe in him. Perhaps that kid just wants to be mean, and they aren't having a good day!?"

I don't know....what would you say???

He might not be real....but I know that his SPIRIT will LIVE forever!
And for me.......he is out there, checking his list, gonna find out who's naughty or nice!!