Portable North Pole

BritMumInNZ

The girls have received a very special message from the man in the red-suit…

See Charli’s message and Sophie’s message.

They were so amazed to receive their messages… asking, ‘How does he know my name? How does he know where we live?’

They were particularly amazed when he said how old they were and what they would like for Christmas. Charli got her question answered, ‘How does Father Christmas deliver all the presents round the world in one night?’ and Sophie got her question answered, ‘Does he eat all the cookies and biscuits left out for him?’

They are getting so excited. However, I’m finding all this Father Christmas thing a little bit much in a way. The girls definitely have the message of ‘giving’ and not just ‘receiving’, having spent hours happily making cards for so many people that have made a difference in their lives this year. The part that makes me feel a little miffed (and I’m having to keep a lid on it) is that it is us parents that are the true big people in red suits and doing all the hard yards; whilst at the same time making up fabricated stories about a man in a red suit who doesn’t actually exist. I know it’s all a bit of fun and was magical when I was a child, but I find it so contradictory to be teaching my children not to lie and yet blatantly doing just that! I’m trying to keep it all in perspective and be good humoured, but I generally tell my children the raw truth of life (in a language that they can relate to) and so this build up to Christmas, with lies aplenty, is getting a little tiring and perplexing! The more lies I tell, the more questions I am asked. I’m beginning to wonder what they really make of it all in their heads.

Some lies for this week…

In response to Sophie suggesting to Charli that they hide and peek on Father Christmas when he delivers the presents:
‘Father Christmas won’t visit until you are asleep on Christmas Eve. He keeps flying past until you are sound asleep.’

In response to Sophie noticing that the Father Christmas on ‘PNP’ above looks different to the one she met at Kirkcaldie and Stains:
‘He has lots of helpers around the world to talk to all the children. Of course he can’t actually be everywhere at once before Christmas Day, as he’s far too busy in his workshop in the North Pole.’

How does he get into our house as we don’t have a chimney?
‘Well, he has a magic key.’

In response to Charli asking how he gets round the world in one night?
‘It’s magic!’ (and now thanks to PNP, in the video above, there is a whole physics behind it, with Father Christmas controlling time and slowing it down!)

Who gives Father Christmas a present?
‘Oh Mrs Christmas and the elves’ – Charli has since written Father Christmas a special card, which I am to send off to him.

Sophie: Why doesn’t Father Christmas give you and Daddy a stocking?
‘We had a little present from Father Christmas when we were children, but we don’t need anything now‘

Though sometimes we choose a board-game for the family and pretend it is from Father Christmas – even writing the label in different hand-writing to our own (there is no end to our deception and lies!).

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2 thoughts on “Portable North Pole”

  1. I so agree with your thoughts on Santa. We too did the PNP message for Noah but he wasn’t that fussed about it and hasn’t asked to see it again. Instead he has enjoyed an interactive card where you have to click on the chimney to light the fire, click to put candles on the tree, click to light the candles etc, he’s actually old enough now to ‘help’ with the clicking to make things happen.

    Growing up, we never had Santa in our house as we preferred to focus on Christmas being about the birth of Jesus, and the gift giving and receiving being a celebration of this amazing event instead. I never felt hard done by that I didn’t believe in Santa. So far Noah is interested in the concept of Santa and was excited to see him various places such as daycare to give him a little present, but this year at least all his presents under the tree are coming from Mummy & Daddy, and I’m glad he hasn’t really started asking all the hard questions about Santa as I’m not sure I’m really up for the intricate stories I may have to concoct!

    So hard to find the right balance though isn’t it, between allowing children a little harmless fantasy and make-believe, and encouraging the blatant commercialism and overselling of a concept which somehow diminishes the true value of Christmas…

      Thanks Meghan, yes finding the balance that’s the key. I’m feeling a lot more ‘balanced’ today 🙂 Sarah x

  2. Ths is a hard question. We were all horrified at school to hear that one colleaque whose little boy is 2, doesn’t mention Santa at all because he wants him to know that the presents come from mummy and daddy, we all thought that was selfish. There has to be magic at Christmas along with the Christian message. That’s part of what makes it special. For many years my boys only had one big present each – from Father Christmas. And of course you have to leave a drink for Santa and something for Rudolph. In all the years I have been teaching I have never had to lie about Father Christmas. When faced with awkward questions such as ‘is he real?’ I simply turn it around and say ‘What do you think?’ or ‘How do you think the presents get here?’There is a natural growing up process when children begin to realise that Santa rates with fairies and talking teddies or dragons but linked to that there is the realisation that there is as much pleasure in continuing the myth.

      Dear Ruta, as always, thanks for your words of wisdom Ruta and helping to keep things in perspective. Life is richer for having a dose of fantasy and the myths of old are so wonderful to pass on through the ages. I was just feeling a little ‘jaded’ yesterday. Thankfully, I haven’t had to tell any lies today and have spent the day enjoying nature and singing some traditional carols at the piano with the girls, Sarah x

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