Santa Extremist

I have a feeling that I am viewed by many as a Santa Extremist.

I don't often feel like an extremist, but when Christmastime comes around, and people discover that I don't tell my children they'd better be good or Santa won't bring them any presents, I don't read stories to them about Santa Claus and the North Pole, I don't do Elf on a Shelf - in short, I don't teach them that Santa Claus exists - I get this weird "crazy person" vibe from friends, co-workers, even some family.  It's like I'm some sort of freak because I don't teach this "gospel truth" to my children.  And I find it, well, confusing.

We do not teach our children that there is a Santa Claus for several reasons:

1. There isn't.  I have had enough conversations with Santa-enthusiasts to know better than to say "it's a lie," however, I have yet to hear an explanation that doesn't boil down to this.  There is no Santa Claus, and telling my child there is one is being untruthful.  Same thing with the tooth fairy and the Easter bunny.  We want our kids to believe the things that we tell them, and telling them things that are not true discredits us and sets a bad example.  I know not everyone agrees with this, but again, I have yet to hear an explanation that ends differently...
2. We want their behavior to be motivated by Jesus, not being good for Santa.  Our oldest is in the throes of 3-year-old-dom.  He is prone to whining, not sharing, being rude, and, just this week, even lying (though when his Daddy got in his face about it he reverted to the truth).  Saying, "You'd better be good or Santa won't bring you any presents" promotes the idea that Santa's opinion of him is what matters. We want to instill in him that it's Jesus he is trying to please, not Santa.  And we don't want him motivated by the idea of getting something.  He should do the right things because they are the right things.
3. We want them to understand that Christmas is about JESUS.  Gift-giving is already such a big thing at Christmastime.  Of course, gift-giving began because God gave us Jesus, but often in the hustle and bustle of the season, that part gets overlooked.  Adding Santa into the mix seems to me just one more thing to get in the way of remembering that Jesus is the reason we celebrate.

These seem so simple and obvious to me, but I know that I just trivialized very sentimental and deep-rooted traditions in the eyes of others.  I get that.  I am not saying that everyone should think this way.  I'm not on some crusade to rid the world of Santa.  But, as a parent, I am bound to do what I believe is best for my children.  I wouldn't be doing it otherwise!  Do you know how easy it would be to tell the kids there's a Santa?  Our culture already promotes it WAY above Jesus.  But I hope I am never the type of parent who makes decisions based on what's nice and easy.

I have talked about my views on home-schooling before.  It makes me so very sad when I think of what these kids will miss by not going to school.  Music programs. Open House. School carnivals. Class parties. Read Day. Class pets. Surprise blackouts. Teachers. Friends. I imagine Santa-enthusiasts feel something akin to this sadness when they think about what my children will miss - mailing off a letter to the North Pole, setting out milk and cookies on Christmas Eve, lying in bed wondering if Santa is flying over the house right now.  But ultimately, I remind myself that those parents are keeping their kids home because they believe they are doing what is best for their children.  I might not agree with it, but I can at least accord those parents the respect of understanding that it's their prerogative and they are acting in the best interests of their child.

So am I.  And that's why I can wear my "Santa Extremist" badge with confidence.  And when my children have children of their own, they will be free to make whatever decision they believe is best for them, too.