New Ideas

As a new parent, you are likely to believe that you have control over what your kids will know and believe. Not true. For example, LoLo learned about Santa at school. Our resulting conversation went something like this.

LoLo: Mommy, Santa brings presents down the chimney.
Me: Yeah?
LoLo: Mommy, who is Santa?
Me: I don't know baby.

Don't get me wrong I am no Santa hater and I love me some Christmas, but Husband and I had not decided which approach to take. We're we going to, as he put it, lie to our kids and murky the story of Christ's birth or were we going to have the kid that ruins it for everyone else by telling them the real reason why there is a song about mommy kissing Santa Claus. In this case we just went with it. We never confirmed or denied it. When he brings it up, we just go with it, but Christmas is easy. He was going to get presents regardless of if he believed in Santa or not.

What about other things? Like the Easter bunny (a concept that baffles me even as an adult) or the tooth fairy. You would like to think that you have a say in whether you want to introduce an idea that will allow your kids to shake you down for cash based solely on an evolutionary necessity. Humans have to lose teeth. Why am I paying? Oh yeah, because my son saw it on an episode of Bubble Guppies. Thanks Nick Jr. I am glad that I am not really por and struggling because I would probably have to come up with some horrible story to explain why she and Santa never come. A tragic accident? To morbid. They can't find our house? Not believable. You've been naughty? Too mean and not really true. It is recession and they can't afford the gas to get here? Too real!

All I know is that my kids don't need anyone giving them more new ideas about fictional characters coming to bestow gifts  upon them. I don't want to keep feeling pressured to lie to my kids. So please everyone, stop helping.