A Strange Custom

This whole Santa thing is really a strange custom if you think about it. You teach your kids all year long to avoid strangers. You want them to be a little fearful of strangers or at least be aware that they could represent danger. And then, Christmas comes along and what do you do? You plop your unsuspecting toddler in the lap of a STRANGER. And kind of a weird looking stranger at that. Big man, long white beard, dressed all in red. It's a strange custom.

Last year were were quite pleased with the results of our Santa visit. Santa called Brian, "Santa's Boy," because he smiled for the picture and didn't shed a tear. That was when Brian was 6 months and unaware of the concept of a "stranger."


This year has been a bit different. We are working up to the whole Santa thing. We saw Santa the Saturday after Thanksgiving with Brian's friend Addison. Shawn and I took the kids on a Santa Train Ride, which benefited the free pharmacy my mom runs. Brian was not a fan. In fact, we had to pose in the picture with him. Notice that he even refused to LOOK at the jolly old elf.


Then last week St. Nicholas visited the preschool. Brian knows Gene, the man who was playing Old St. Nick, so I thought maybe the results would be different. Not so much. I had to be in the picture with him. Again.


The second day when St. Nick came back to see the 4 year olds. I outsmarted my 17 month old. I waited until he was asleep to put him on St. Nicholas' lap. That did the trick!


Then yesterday we were at the mall and Brian actually SMILED and waved at Santa Claus. Progress people! By Christmas maybe we will have a smiling picture of Brian on Santa's lap. A girl can dream, right?